Page 16 of Suddenly a Bride
The knight gave her a smile. “You have given no offense, Lady Blackwell. Martin was the Langstons’ steward, and there are still bad feelings about him among the villagers. Edmund thought it best if I took over.”
She had so many questions about what had gone on in this castle when Elizabeth was still alive, but she would not embarrass her new husband by questioning his friends behind his back. “And are you a steward as well as a soldier, Geoffrey?”
He grinned. “I’m also a very good guide. I’d be happy to show you everything about your new home.”
They spent a pleasant afternoon out in the sunshine, walking through the orchards and looking out across pastures full of grazing sheep. Some of the farm fields seemed neglected, and Geoffrey explained that this was one of the areas Sir Edmund was working on. There would be more money for grain now. The unspoken conclusion was that this was because of her marriage, and Gwyneth was grateful to have helped. But was her husband perhaps angry that he couldn’t help his estate without her dowry?
Within the broken-down walls of the courtyard, she walked past the kennels where her husbands’ dogs now lazed in the sunshine. Mrs. Haskell must have sent them from the castle first thing in the morning. The dairy seemed especially busy, and plenty of men moved about the stables and barracks. Geoffrey escorted her to the tiltyard, where the soldiers did their daily training on a long, narrow field of dirt and sparse grass. Remembering her husband’s limp, Gwyneth didn’t think she’d find him here. But she did see Lucy talking with Hugh Ludlow, one of the soldiers who had escorted them on the long journey to Yorkshire. He was a short, brawny man with a shock of red hair. Her friend seemed particularly happy as Hugh smiled down at her.
Geoffrey said, “Allow me to show you the fine new horse Edmund has purchased.”
She shook her head and gave him a rueful grin. “You know I am afraid of horses. How many times did you try to make me ride one on our journey here?”
“I promise to be on my best behavior, my lady. Just come with me and see it.”
When he took her arm, she reluctantly allowed him to lead her into the cool, dim interior of the stables. A group of soldiers clustered about one stall, and in their midst, a head taller than any of them, was her husband. He wore a black doublet and breeches this day, with just a hint of white shirt ruffle at his neck.
He stared at Gwyneth and Geoffrey. She felt herself blush. The soldiers couldn’t know that she was nervous and embarrassed. They obviously thought her blush was the result of the wedding night, for they elbowed each other and grinned.
All except Geoffrey, who looked from Gwyneth to Sir Edmund with a troubled frown. Mortified, she wondered what he knew.
Then Sir Edmund was walking toward her, and she noticed nothing else as his gaze swept from her face down her body. Once again, she felt strange and nervous, as he somehow affected her without even a touch.
Chapter 5
Edmund hadn’t known what to expect from Gwyneth after he’d abandoned her on their wedding night. Anger? Relief? But as he approached her, she lifted her chin and smiled at him, like a pleasant, contented wife greeting her husband.
“A good day, my lord,” she said softly.
Behind him, he could hear the laughter of his men as they imagined how he must have made the day good for her. He knew she’d slept late this morn, and he was sure the entire castle thought it knew why. Butheknew she was exhausted because she’d waited up late for him, and he crushed any feelings of guilt. He was not going to remain married to her.
But he wouldn’t embarrass her either, so he took her arm, which felt surprisingly sturdy, and led her out of the stables. Whatever she had to say didn’t need to be said before an audience. Geoff caught his eye and frowned, but he would deal with his friend later.
He led her to the neglected lady’s garden in the corner of the courtyard. Long ago it had been well planted for the enjoyment of the lady of the house, but his first wife had never stayed here long enough to see it replanted. He showed Gwyneth to a bench overgrown with ivy, but she shook her head and looked up at him.
“Did you need something?” he asked.
She hesitated, her gaze searching his face. They stared at each other, and he fought the urge to caress the smooth skin of her cheek, to brush back the blond tendrils that clung to her temples.
“My lord, I wanted to thank you for the gifts of clothing you left in my chamber.”
Gifts? And then he remembered Elizabeth’s gowns, and he suddenly wished he’d burned them all, for he did not want to see them on Gwyneth.
She clasped her hands before her, and her words came tumbling out. “I hope it does not offend you, but I do not wish to wear them. Elizabeth and I are—were not gifted with the same shape, and besides, such garments are for a court lady.”
“But you will go to court someday.”
Her eyes widened. “Are you sending me there?”
“Nay.” He watched the relief come over her face. Was she glad not to be sent away from her mission too soon?
Perhaps she just didn’t like wearing another woman’s gowns. But as he looked again at her plain ensemble, he suddenly had a wish to see her in fine garments made to accentuate her small figure. Even the gown she wore now, though subdued in color, could not detract from the lovely brightness of her hair and the healthy glow of her skin.
Edmund knew he was staring at her, which didn’t help his determination not to touch her. The image of her sleeping was burned into his brain, into every waking second.
He took a sudden step away, and when hurt flashed briefly in her eyes, he didn’t acknowledge it.
“I shall have Mrs. Haskell put the garments in storage,” he said. “Someone might have need of the fabric or trim someday.”
