Page 69 of The Forsaken
Guy gently brushed a stray curl from her face and tucked it behind her ear. “I never see you with your hair down,” he said. “I’ve forgotten how glorious it is. You are glorious,” he whispered.
“Guy, don’t,” Kate said, but her treacherous body leaned toward him, seeking his touch.
Guy caressed her cheek and then his lips found hers, brushing them very lightly before he drew back, his eyes still blazing. “I could kill him for hurting you. He had no right.”
“He had every right. He’s my husband and he can do what he wants. You know that. Besides, he’s angry,” Kate explained unnecessarily.
“I know. He had great financial expectations from this marriage, but it isn’t your fault things didn’t work out as he’d hoped.”
“No, it isn’t, but Hugh can hardly slap my father, or Warwick,” Kate replied with a wry smile. “I’m the only one he can take his anger out on.”
“That doesn’t make it right,” Guy protested stubbornly.
“Few things in this world are right, Guy, especially for those who depend on others for their livelihood.”
He nodded. “Hugh wishes me to marry.”
“It’s only right that you should,” Kate said, but her heart contracted at the thought.
“I don’t want to. I could never fully give myself to a wife when my heart longs for you.”
“Don’t say such things. I belong to Hugh. I’m his in the eyes of God and man, and I will remain his until one of us is in our grave. I will not betray him, Guy.”
“I’d never ask you to,” Guy replied. “But perhaps it’s time for me to seek my fortune elsewhere.”
“Oh, Guy.” Kate reached out and cupped his cheek. The thought of life without Guy was unbearable, but he was right. If they remained in the same place long enough, denying their feelings for each other would become harder and harder, and eventually, Hugh would see the truth and punish them both.
“I’ll ask my lord Stanwyck to release me from my obligations for a year or two. He’s a good man; he’ll understand.”
Kate nodded. “God bless you, Guy de Rosel.”How I wish I’d never laid eyes on you, she added silently.
Guy kissed her hand and left the chapel, his footsteps unnaturally loud in the quiet of the passage
FORTY-ONE
Kate spent the rest of the day trying to avoid Hugh. She simply couldn’t bear to look at him after what had happened that morning without her feelings showing plainly on her face. The acute hurt would eventually become a dull ache, this episode becoming just another entry in her list of painful experiences. Hugh’s name would be right beneath that of her father. They were two men who should have protected her, but instead they coddled their pride and used their manhood to dominate the weak.
Kate sighed and retreated to the Lady Chamber. Hugh rarely came in there, preferring to spend his day in more active pursuits.
“It was wonderful last night, wasn’t it?” Eleanor asked. She was standing by the window, watching Adam build a snow maiden with Jed’s help. The boys’ laughter drifted from below, making Kate feel even more isolated in her misery.
“Yes, it was,” she replied as she sat down and rummaged in her work basket for the next garment to be mended. It seemed that for every item she worked on, another two showed up the next day.
“You know what I liked best?” Eleanor asked, her tone dreamy. “The minstrels. Oh, I do enjoy the music. Will used to play the lute when we were first married. He used to write songs dedicated to my beauty,” she added with a wistful sigh. “And he hired minstrels to play for us once a year at the New Year. The earl always invited everyone for a Christmas celebration, but Will liked to have a celebration of our own. Those moments are the ones I miss the most. They were so pure and joyous.”
“My father used to bring in minstrels as well,” Kate replied, thankful to talk of something neutral. “My mother loved to hear them play, and she allowed all the servants to take part in the celebration. She said that everyone was entitled to enjoy the beauty of the music.”
“Sounds like she was a gracious lady. I don’t even remember my mother. She died when I was a child.” Eleanor tore her gaze away from the window and took her seat by the hearth, rubbing her arms to warm herself. “I hope Adam doesn’t catch a chill out there. Hugh says I should stop coddling him, but I worry so.”
“The cold won’t hurt him, Eleanor. It’ll only make him stronger. Hugh and Guy just spent a month living outside and they’re no worse for it.”
“Except maybe in temper,” Eleanor replied, smiling. “Hugh was a right old bear until he bathed and had a proper meal.”
“Yes, that he was,” Kate agreed.
Eleanor was just about to say something when Joan appeared at the door, her round face creased with worry and her hands clasped nervously in front of her bosom.
“What is it, Nurse?” Eleanor asked. “Is something amiss?”
