Page 30 of The Cordial Bride

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“Don’t overdo it.”

Ian stretched and lifted his face to the sun. The warmth of it as well as the fresh air was a kind of medicine in itself, nature’s endless way of giving someone strength. “You worry too much, wife.” He tightened his grip on Calan’s hand. “I may not be a hundred percent myself yet, but I feel strong enough for a stroll.” He leered at Calan. “Maybe for even more, if we find a secluded spot.”

With a gasp, Calan swatted at Ian’s chest. “Your sister can hear.”

Ian glanced at Isabeau, who stood primly on his other side. “That’s all right. She’s a mother, after all, and therefore well-acquainted with what married people get up to.”

“Don’t tease the boy, brother. He’s gotten very little sleep these many days of nursing you back to health. You’d be a better husband if you find a place for you both to take a nap, as in sleeping,” she emphasized.

The last thing Ian wanted to do was lie down again, but his sister was right. Calan’s lovely eyes had dark circles under them. He ran the fingers of his free hand down one soft cheek. “You have overtaxed yourself, darling. Let’s take a blanket into the maze and rest by the fountain.”

Calan’s face lit up. “That’s a wonderful idea.”

Ian loved making the boy happy, but before he could order one of the guards to fetch a blanket, Councillor Fennic hurried over. Ian resigned himself to having a conversation that he would have preferred to put off a little longer.

“My lord, it’s so good to see you up and about. When no word of your progress came forward, we feared the worst.”

“My recovery has been slow, but thanks to my wife and my sister, I am quite well now—well enough to venture out.” And because there was no point now in beating around the bush, he asked the obvious question. “Where is Celia?”

Fennic averted his gaze. “I know not. Around somewhere, I suppose. The council has not met since your… We wanted to wait until you were well before tackling the problem.”

Calan huffed. “So you haven’t even confronted her or confined her to her house?”

Fennic shrugged. “You should know better than your husband, Countess, that Shadow Valley doesn’t have much in the way of crime, let alone attempted murder.” He focused again on Ian. “We usually force some kind of restitution for matters such as theft. For more violent matters, because we have no prisons, we use banishment.”

Ian lifted an eyebrow. “Making the guilty party someone else’s problem.”

Fennic had the good grace to look embarrassed. “Just so. Your…guidance in this would be greatly appreciated.”

“I will handle it. Rest assured, Councillor.”

The man’s relief was obvious. “Thank you, My Lord. We won’t question your decision or how you decide to mete out justice.” With a bow, he raced away.

Calan opened his mouth, but Ian overrode whatever objection he was sure the boy intended to make. “We’ll talk about Celia later. For now, let’s enjoy the day.”

“Are you sure you’ll be safe?”

Ian gestured to the guards standing around them. “Quite sure.” Because he would never take a risk with his wife’s life, but he wasn’t going to add that point. Calan didn’t appreciate his value…not yet. Ian would change that—and soon. “And as we’ll have no privacy anyway, we may as well make it a picnic.” He looked at Isabeau. “Would you and Amalie care to join us?”

“Of course. As you say, we’ll be perfectly safe, and we’ve been cooped up here as much as you have.”

That settled that. Ian waited as patiently as he could manage for his sister to make the arrangements. He contented himself with gazing upon his wife, admiring his beauty and taking comfort in planning exactly what he would do to and with the boy once he was back to full strength. Happily, his cock stirred ever so slightly at such thoughts, testament that he was on the mend.

Eventually, they were off, guards ahead, behind and flanking them, Ian leading the way from the middle with Calan firmly in hand. Isabeau walked behind them with Amalie and her nursemaid, except the little girl danced around, despite her mother’s efforts to hold on to her.

As they reached the topiary, Amalie grabbed Calan’s free hand. “Uncle Calan, will you please make shrub animals for me at Truehart Manor?”

Calan glanced at Ian before answering. “Of course, if your mother approves.”

“Oh, she will. She already said yes, so long as you were willing. And a maze! We must have one of those, too.”

Calan chuckled. “Again, if your mother permits. They are fun.”

“And we’ll do the same at Charteris. After all, I’m going to be countess one day, so I should have a say over it now, don’t you think?”

Now, Calan shot a look of alarm at Ian. “I was already planning something for there, although I haven’t had a chance to discuss it with your uncle.”

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