Page 52 of A Husband for Esyllt
This was a blatant lie, but before he could press her further, Jane burst into the hall, momentarily diverting his attention.
“Father! There you are! I looked everywhere for you, but I couldn’t find you.”
“You couldn’t have, sweetheart. I went to the village by the coast to apologize for my absence yesterday.”
Jane didn’t seem interested by this piece of information, which did not surprise him. Besides, it had not really been aimed at her but at his wife, who, he hoped, would not fail to appreciate the gesture. But she didn’t seem to have heard him.
“I cannot find Siân anywhere, either!”
At the mention of her daughter, Connor looked back at Esyllt. If possible, she had gone even paler. Was the Devil was wrong with her?
“I’m sorry, Jane, I forgot to tell you, but Siân has gone to my mother’s for a few days,” she said, her voice hoarse.
“Oh.” Jane’s face fell.
Connor tilted his head in disbelief. Esyllt had not thought of telling his daughter, whom she knew relied on Siân and why, that her new best friend would be away for a few days? Thatdidn’t seem possible. Matthew caught his eye. Judging from the expression on his face, he was thinking the same thing. But then again his brother was always ready to think the worst of his wife, so he could not let this sway him.
“How about a game of hide and seek with your favourite uncle before we eat?” Matthew scooped Jane into his arms and proceeded to tickle her when the silence in the room threatened to become awkward. The little girl squealed with delight and jumped back down to the floor, agile as a squirrel. “You will see that I am better at it than your father.”
“It’s not that difficult! He’s terrible. But I know all the hiding places here now, so you’d better beware,” Jane warned before dashing out of the room.
Connor threw his brother a grateful look for distracting his daughter. Matthew always knew what was needed when it concerned him or Jane. If only he could extend the same skill to his wife, it would be a tremendous help, especially right now.
“Where does your mother live?” he asked Esyllt as he poured himself a cup of spiced wine. He hated to insist, but he could not rid himself of the impression that something was not right. “You never said.”
“Just on the other side of the village,” she said in a quiet voice. “Siân asked to see her this morning, so I took her. The two of them are very close. I suspect she wanted to tell her all about her new friend.”
“Yes. I suspect so,” he said, handing her a cup of wine. Could that be the truth? It was plausible enough.
But when Esyllt emptied the wine in one gulp, Connor’s suspicious were renewed. She had never been able to dissemble and it was clear something was weighing on her mind. Should he press her? Would she answer? It was far from certain.
For now, perhaps it was better not to insist. She had proved last night that she would confide in him if she felt the need to.
“I will get back to the stables if you don’t need me. I think Storm’s saddle needs to be replaced. I’ll have a word with the groom about it.”
Esyllt nodded absent-mindedly. She was surprised Connor had not pressed her to know the reason behind her odd behavior, but relieved he had not, because she wasn’t sure she would have been able to withstand the assault without crumpling. Would she have told him about the events of the day, warned him against Gruffydd, as she had planned earlier that day? It was not impossible. But she could not, not now.
Now it was not about her, or even him, so she stayed silent and watched him leave the hall.
It was not long before he came to find her again. When she saw him in front of her, all tall and brooding, she almost reached up to him. In three short months he had become such an integral part of her life that she could not believe what she was about to do.
To add to her distress, he had never looked better than he did tonight. Clean-shaven, dressed in a tight velvet tunic the color of ivy leaves, he cut an impressive figure. There was also a gleam in his eyes she had never seen before. He seemed... happy. And he was looking at her with a newfound tenderness.
She almost fell to her knees and begged for his help.
“Night is falling fast. Shall we retire to your room now, little wife?” he purred, leaning toward her. “My longing for you has not quite been satisfied. We could ask for food to be brought up to us.”
“No!” she almost shouted, as panic flared inside her. He needed to sleep in his own chamber tonight. No matter what, she could not welcome him into her bed.
Connor frowned, and Esyllt mentally kicked herself. Damn, she had been too forceful, and renewed his suspicions. “Are yousore?” he asked in a breath, sounding appalled at the possibility. “Is that what it is? Was I too rough with you last night?”
“You weren’t, and I’m not sore.” Esyllt flushed, remembering how thorough his lovemaking had been. Thorough, intense, demanding, but never painful. “I’m sorry. I’m tired that’s all. I think I need a good night’s sleep t-tonight,” she stammered, already knowing she would not sleep a wink. Her fingers closed on the letter hidden in her sleeve, hoping it would give her the strength to hold on to her resolve.
“Of course. I will do what you wish.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it tenderly, lingering over the gesture.
“Yes, please, sleep in your own bed tonight. But know that...” Her heart breaking, Esyllt reached up and placed a brief kiss on his lips. “Rwy’n dy garu di.”
Before Connor could ask her what she had said, she fled.
