Page 26 of A Husband for Esyllt
Yes, she had, the poor mite.
“Please, it is not a problem. And if you happen to have other sweet little daughters hidden away, legitimate or not, I will welcome them with equal warmth, as long as they call me beautiful, like Jane did.” Esyllt gave him a shy smile as she spoke.
In that moment, Connor wondered if he had not fallen just a tiny bit in love with his wife.
Chapter Seven
“So... Your husband is back.”
“Yes.”
Esyllt didn’t know what to tell her friend. Branwen had heard her complain about her union with a stranger many times in the past few weeks, but today, she didn’t feel like ranting about Connor. The day before, when he had introduced her to his daughter, had made her look at him in a different light. The way he had kissed the little girl had moved her deeply. Then, later that evening, there had been Siân’s joy at meeting a stepsister her own age. She had been beside herself with joy and declared them the best of friends.
It was difficult to speak ill of the man who had given her daughter such a gift.
And, of course, there was the small matter of what he had done to her on the night of his return... Not that she would ever mention that to anyone, even her best friend, but it meant that she didn’t know quite what to think of her husband anymore.
“I don’t envy you,” Branwen observed. “Being married to a domineering Englishman has to be what every Welsh woman dreads.”
“He’s not domineering, exactly.”
No. That was not the word she would have used to describe him. With Gruffydd, perhaps, but not with her. With her he could be devious, stern, even manipulative at times, but never domineering. It was one of the things she liked the most about him. Whatever their differences, he dealt with her as an equal who could, and would defend herself, and what was even more important, she was never afraid of retribution.
So no, her virile warrior of a husband was not domineering.
Just then, as if he’d sensed she was talking about him, Connor strode into view. Crossing the bailey, he made his way to the stables with fluid steps that gave the impression he was about to break into a run.
“There he is,” Esyllt said, struck anew by his masculine presence.
“He’s your husband!” For all that they had discussed him at length, Branwen had never seen him before and her shock was evident. “But... I thought you said he was a monster!”
Esyllt gave a sigh. She had said that, when Gruffydd had informed her of her impending marriage, because that had been what she’d feared at the time. She had then repeated it while he was in England, when she had wanted to hang on to the pretense that she was better off without him. As a consequence, her friend could be forgiven for thinking the worst of Connor.
“Yes, well,” she said with a cough, not knowing how to rectify this impression without appearing like a lovestruck fool.
“He doesn’t look like a monster from where I’m standing, not even near.”
“No,” Esyllt agreed. He did not. In fact he looked nothing short of stunning. A groom brought his stallion to him, and he started to examine the animal as if in search of an injury. His touch was gentle, his gestures slow and careful. For a longmoment he ran his hands over the horse’s legs, then, apparently satisfied, gave him a tap on the rump.
Esyllt’s buttocks tingled as if he’d just patted her there and heat crept to the place between her legs, the place where he had placed his mouth only the other day.Arglwydd Mawr, was she ever going to forget the sensations he had awoken in her with his tongue? To think they had not even yet shared a real kiss, only a swift brushing of the lips...
With difficulty, she tore her gaze from her husband and made to lead Branwen into the solar where she had asked refreshments to be brought earlier. After reminiscing about the scandalous encounter with Connor, she was in sore need of a drink. But her friend did not move and instead kept looking in his direction. She was fascinated, which was all too easily understandable. Anyone would be.
Esyllt waited, hoping he would not see the two of them leering at him. They were hidden in the shadow of the tower but you never knew.
“And who is that?” Branwen asked as a second man emerged from the stables.
“That’s his brother Matthew.”
“Brother! They look nothing like each other. Are we to question the late Lady Sheridan’s morality?” she asked in a mischievous giggle.
Esyllt laughed in turn, relieved at the break in tension. “No. Matthew is his milk brother, actually. But I’ve never seen two men share a closer bond than these two.” The laughter died in her throat when she thought back to the trick they had played on the night before their wedding.
Indeed. The two men did everything together. Had they ever shared a woman, she now wondered? It was not impossible.
At that moment Matthew turned to face the tower. Branwen sucked in a breath, clearly as struck as Esyllt had been the night of his arrival.
“My word. I might have to change my opinion of Englishmen.”
