Page 48 of Suddenly a Bride
“I have not needed help bathing since I was a child.”
“I understand. But I would like to kiss you again. Therefore, in order to make me leave, you shall have to oblige me.”
He frowned. She grinned. But his gaze was on her mouth. Resting both hands on the tub, she leaned over him. Edmund tipped his head back to look at her. He was not smiling, but she thought she saw reluctant amusement in his blue eyes.
“You have grown quite bold for a new wife. Allow me to explain certain facts to you. I am in command of this castle. When I call, my servants will come running.”
“And they will certainly be aghast when they see the lady of the castle in her husband’s bedchamber. ‘How dare she?’ will be the horrified comment that spreads throughout the castle.”
Closing his eyes, he sighed. “Will you not be reasonable about this? I have much to do today, and the delay—”
“Is your own fault,” she interrupted. “All I ask is a kiss.”
He suddenly cupped his hands and splashed her. With a gasp, she backed away. When he threatened her again with the same motion, she retreated to the wall near his account books. She picked one up and held it before her, peering over the top.
“I’m still not leaving. And if you splash me again, some of your valuable work will be ruined.”
He suddenly hoisted himself up to his feet, and she caught a glimpse of his white backside for only a moment before he wrapped the wet towel about his hips and stepped out of the tub. Wearing a frown that was almost mild, dripping water everywhere, he advanced on her. Her breath came rapidly as she pressed herself against the wall and waited with great anticipation. What a wonderful idea this had been!
She gave another gasp of surprised excitement when he planted his hands on either side of her head. His hair dripped a steady stream onto her face, and she blinked, but didn’t stop staring at him. Should she purse her lips? She’d only had one kiss, which she’d initiated. How wouldhedo it?
But he reached to open the door, grasped her underneath the arms, and lifted her off the floor.
“Edmund!” she cried as she dangled awkwardly from his hands.
He put her in the hall, then lifted her hand to briefly kiss her knuckles. “Tell Mrs. Haskell to send more hot water.”
Then the door slammed shut. Pouting, she folded her arms across her chest. Why hadn’t she specified whatkindof kiss?
~oOo~
Will, the groom, perhaps ten years old, not only had sandy hair, but a cheerful face full of freckles. He bowed low before Gwyneth, then strode off at her side, pleased to be chosen. The walk into town took an hour, and the boy kept up a steady stream of chatter about the plants they passed and the places he’d visited that never varied farther than twenty miles from Swintongate.
This time when Gwyneth entered the village, people waved to her. Will introduced her to those she didn’t know, and soon she had a few more young men and women ready to come work at Castle Wintering. She even talked with the seamstress, who agreed to make regular visits to the castle several days a week.
“Would ye like to meet me ma?” Will asked with excitement, when they’d left the seamstress’s parlor. “We live in a room behind the carpenter’s shop.”
“I would love to meet your mother,” she said.
On the way, Will explained that his father had died when he was young and his mother supported them by working at the tavern. “She serves the food, milady, and since ’tis not quite dinner yet, she’ll be home.”
They walked through a narrow alley between gray stone buildings, behind which was a small field planted with vegetables and flowers. He flung wide the only door at the rear of the building, and she winced, hoping his mother wasn’t caught at a private moment.
A woman stood at the table just inside, pinning on an apron. Her hair was shiny black and her face pale and lovely. She must have borne her son when she was very young. She gave a little jump as she glanced up at them, then her eyes flickered back to her son with a worried frown.
“Will! Please don’t tell me Blackwell let ye go.”
“No, Mum. I’m runnin’ errands with Lady Blackwell. Here she is!”
The woman’s eyes widened as if she’d only just seen Gwyneth standing outside her door. “Milady! Please come in.” She gave her son a scolding glance as Gwyneth entered the room. “Will Atwater, ye should have introduced us proper.”
Gwyneth smiled. “Please, Mrs. Atwater, I enjoy your son’s high spirits. He’s a good lad.”
The woman smiled back at her as the boy sat down at the table and lifted a pear from the bowl. “Thank ye, milady. And call me Prudence. Will is doin’ all he should?”
She got the impression that Prudence wished to ask more but wouldn’t. Though the woman was polite, there was speculation in her gaze every time she looked at Gwyneth.
“My husband is quite pleased with Will’s service. He was the first boy Sir Edmund recommended when I asked for a groom to accompany me.”
