Page 17 of Suddenly a Bride
“Thank you, my lord. Also you might want to examine the precious stones sewn on the gowns. You could use the small wealth for other things.”
Precious stones?He had not even imagined that Elizabeth’s gowns might help feed the estate. He tried not to look too approving as he said, “That is indeed a good thought, and I shall investigate the matter.” He started to step around her. “If that is all, my lady—”
But she surprised him by catching his elbow and letting her touch linger as their gazes met. She felt warm even through his clothing, and he knew perspiration was breaking out on his forehead. If this was how he reacted to her every look, every touch, he would have to stay far away from her.
“Nay, my lord, I have one more question.”
He wanted to shake her hand off, but she sent almost a pleading look at him. Would she ask when he would come to her? What would he say?
But with a soft sigh, she said, “I need to know what my role is here.”
“Your role? You are the lady of the castle. Do as you wish.”
“As you may know, Sir Edmund, I have never been a lady of the castle.” Her smile shone with healthy, white teeth and hint of teasing.
“Then ask Mrs. Haskell.”
“You would not be…embarrassed that she would think me ignorant?”
He frowned down at her. “’Twas not long ago that the entire estate knew of my ignorance where land ownership was concerned. I was not raised to this life.”
“And I neither,” she said softly.
He looked into her grateful eyes and knew he’d made a mistake by showing her that they had things in common.
“But I am learning,” he continued gruffly, deliberately sliding his arm out from under her hand. “You will learn as well. I find Mrs. Haskell to be a reasonable woman, and I’m certain she’ll gladly teach you.”
“I thank you, my lord.”
As he limped away from her, she called out, “Will you be joining us for supper?”
“If I can,” he answered, relieved to get away.
Gwyneth remained still, absorbing the peaceful sounds of insects in the garden, trying to let the calm suffuse her. She watched her husband hastily leave her presence as if she were a demon sent to torture him instead of a wife who only wanted his company.
He walked through the courtyard, and she saw the bowed heads of each servant he passed. He didn’t have their respect, only their fear. When the soldiers greeted him, it was obvious they had known him longer and trusted him, which was good to know.
But at least he had answered some of her questions. She could decide her own course here, whether to be heavily involved, or allow the capable Mrs. Haskell to command. Gwyneth thought she would try a bit of both at first, so as not to offend the woman. It was comforting to know that her husband could understand her ignorance, for he had suffered the same and freely admitted it.
But as to the question of her marriage, she was still as confused as before. He was allowing people to think they had a normal marriage judging by the way his soldiers acted. He didn’t look sick with the effects of a night spent drinking, and he had given her no other excuse. She so wanted to blurt out her questions.Why didn’t you come to me? What have I done?They’d been in her thoughts constantly, but embarrassment had finally won out.
She would just have to hope that she’d made a start to their marriage by conversing with him, by acting as normally as she could. She would force herself to be patient. And if she discovered things about his first marriage that helped her understand him—all the better. After all, maybe he was just giving her time to get used to him, and he would come to her tonight.
She kept that thought with her for the rest of the day, even as she went to the weaving chamber to take stock of how much fabric they needed for the coming winter and discover why there weren’t more girls spinning.
When Sir Edmund didn’t arrive for supper, she asked Lucy and Mrs. Haskell to eat with her, and Geoffrey joined them later.
~oOo~
From the depths of the castle, Edmund found it was easy to keep track of where Gwyneth was and avoid her that evening. Anywhere there were cheerful voices raised and laughter heard, was where Gwyneth could be found. He stood at the end of the corridor in the vacant wing of the servants’ quarters and listened as she took her evening meal.
Afterward he stood high on the battlements, although still below Gwyneth’s tower, watching the servants slink away by ones and twos almost secretively, as if they thought he would stop them. As long as they played their part in bringing Castle Wintering back to prosperity, he didn’t care where they lived. As the darkness deepened and the wind picked up, he inhaled the rich smell of the Swaledale valley and was thankful.
Up in the tower, a glow grew steadily brighter as someone lit candles against the night. Soon he saw the shadow of a woman cross in front of the window. She stood there a moment, as if she was looking out, searching for something in the darkness, before she finally drew the draperies closed.
Edmund suddenly remembered to breathe. He put a hand on the wall to steady himself, as if without such an anchor he would again go to Gwyneth’s chamber and this time ease the lust that had kept him awake most of the previous night. He was used to unfulfilled desire—but now a woman waited for him. He knew it was just her duty or deceit, but still the knowledge of her there, perhaps naked beneath the coverlet, burned a hole inside him.
He left the battlements and descended through dark stone corridors into the great hall. There was still a fire in the hearth, and Mrs. Haskell had left a pitcher of wine and a goblet on a low table next to his chair. In their corner, the dogs whined and lifted their heads in greeting, but were obviously too tired from a day chasing chickens through the courtyard to do anything about it.
