Page 71 of Suddenly a Bride
He shook his head.
When he continued to just stare at her, worried about what he’d said and done, her smile grew broader and she stood up. She leaned lightly against him, her breasts so soft, her hips slight but rounded, and reached up to touch his cheek.
“I’ll miss you today,” she murmured.
Enthralled by her scent, by her touch, he leaned forward and brushed a kiss against her cheek; her fingers played in his hair. He almost groaned as he imagined swiping everything off the table and spreading her atop it as his feast. He turned his head and captured her mouth with his, hauling her up against him. He kissed her deeper and harder, memorizing the taste of her, saying with his need and frustration everything he didn’t know how to say aloud. How had he thought he could ever give her up? Though he would have to guard his heart, he would take pleasure in her body and give her pleasure in return.
Though he was bound by a marriage contract to the Langston family, at least when a male heir came along, the land would not leave his descendants. That clause in the contract would be easily fulfilled, since he planned on keeping Gwyneth abed with him much of the time.
Only when he was having trouble breathing did he break the kiss and lean his forehead against hers, staring into her warm, gold-flecked eyes.
“I shall see you tonight,” Edmund heard himself say in an unrecognizable voice.
Her smile widened, and she caressed his face. With a groan, he leaned down to kiss her again. They both heard someone discreetly cough. Though Gwyneth started to push herself away, he held her against his side. They turned to find Geoff watching them, wearing a satisfied grin.
“Excuse me for the poorly timed interruption,” he said, pulling out a chair and sitting down.
“It had better be important,” Edmund answered, trying to sound stern, while still bestowing light caresses on Gwyneth’s waist.
She squeezed his fingers and then broke away, saying breathlessly, “I’ll allow you gentlemen to talk. I have so much to do.”
She gave Edmund another brilliant smile as she left. He stood there staring after her, unable even to remember what he should be doing.
“Please tell me you’ve bedded your wife already.”
He shot a frown at Geoff. “What did you say?”
“Any fool can see that she’s in love with you.”
Edmund gaped at his friend, then back at the door where Gwyneth had just disappeared.In love with me?
“That must mean you didn’t bed her, right?” Geoff laughed at his own joke.
“Must I show you the way to the orchard?” Edmund pulled him up by the front of his doublet.
He only laughed harder. “My duty is to the soldiers, remember?”
“You have to eat this winter, remember? We’re all picking fruit today.”
~oOo~
After a long morning overseeing the harvesting of apples and pears, Edmund sat in the great hall with his aching feet stretched toward the fire. Behind him, the servants bustled between the kitchen and hall, preparing dinner for the weary laborers. Gwyneth hovered over him occasionally, but he sent her off to help Mrs. Haskell. Men and women slouched with exhaustion at the trestle tables, talking tiredly amongst themselves. When the harvest was all over, there would be a joyous celebration of relief.
Before he could sit down to a much-welcomed meal, he saw Geoff stride in, wearing a grim expression. Edmund stood up, even as the voices in the hall were lowered to murmurs, and Gwyneth came to his side.
“Geoff, what is it?”
His friend gave an angry shake of his head. “We’ve discovered holes in the roofs of a couple of the grain storage sheds. The rain a few days ago ruined some of the grain.”
Edmund felt his gut tighten at this new threat to the health of his people. “How much did we lose?”
“Not too much. We should be all right.”
Martin Fitzjames came over to the fire. “Sir Edmund, surely you knew to have the sheds examined before harvest.”
Edmund felt his face redden even as the friendly eyes of his servants became suspicious. Though he’d worked hard here the past few years, he knew some people would always consider him a soldier, not a landowner.
“Be still, Fitzjames,” Geoff said angrily. “Just a week ago Edmund ordered every shed examined for repairs. Those holes weren’t there before, and I don’t think they accidentally appeared.”
