Page 46 of A Second Chance for Carys
His fatigue instantly forgotten, he joined them in a dozen swift strides.
“Carys. Welcome back.” Was that his heart beating so loudly in his ears? It had to be, as he could see no one beating drums anywhere.
“Thank you. It’s good to be back.”
Unable to stop himself, he took her hand and squeezed it. He would have swept her into his arms and kissed her with all the strength of his relief but he could not, not in front of her daughters, who, he hoped, did not suspect what had blossomed between the two of them.
It was when he started thinking that they would have to be told, eventually, what he and their mother felt for one another that he realized the last of his doubts had vanished. Being away from Carys for more than a week had given him a taste of what life without her would be like and the prospect frightened him more than anything had for years. That was how he knew he was ready to act on his need to be with her.
Was it his imagination or had she lost weight? But of course she would have, too busy taking care of her daughter to think about herself. Would that he had been allowed to look after her these last few days! Well, perhaps from now on, he would be able to do just that.
Letting go of her hand, he turned to Eirwen. The girl looked rather more pale than usual, and she had lost some weight as well, but otherwise she appeared well enough. What a relief. He’d worried himself sick over her.
“It’s so good to see you back on your feet. I hope you are feeling better.”
“Thank you, I am.” She smiled at him. “I’m glad to be back at Sheridan Manor.”
He smiled back. Thanks to Mistress Ivy, her English had improved dramatically. She was also less shy and nervous than she had been a few months back. Not that she had ever been ill-at-ease with him, he was pleased to say. And he had always had a particular fondness for her. With her black hair, and dainty physique, she could be the daughter he and Joanne had never had.
Branwen took her sister by the hand and turned toward the main hall. “Come, I wanted to show you Rhwd’s new trick. You’ll love it, I’m sure.”
What new trick? As far as James knew, the pup had not learned anything new in the last few days. If he hadn’t known any better, he might have thought she wanted to give him and Carys some privacy.
He frowned. Had he been wrong?DidMatthew’s wife suspect something had changed between him and her mother? She was quite sharp so she might well have. Did he mind? No. Let her think what she wanted, he was not ashamed of his feelings or his intentions.
“How is Eirwen, really?” he asked Carys as her daughters walked away arm in arm. Measles was a dangerous illness, which had claimed more lives than he cared to remember amongst his acquaintances.
“She’ll be fine, she’s stronger than you’d think from looking at her. But for a dreadful moment I thought I would lose her,and I couldn’t bear it.” She choked on a sob and then pressed a hand to her heart as if regretting her words. “Forgive me, James, I shouldn’t have said that. You will know that horrible feeling, of course.”
Unfortunately, yes, he did. But that did not mean she could not worry about her daughter. “There is nothing you cannot say in front of me, especially if it’s something that’s troubling you. I’ll always listen.”
A gleam appeared in her eyes. Relief? If he was not mistaken, there was something she wanted to tell him and she was only too glad to seize on the opportunity he was offering.
“As a matter of fact, there is something I need to tell you. The night before Eirwen fell ill, we slept together. I mean, in the same bed, in your room…I mean…”
He couldn’t help a smile when she blushed the beautiful pink of the roses growing outside his window. Apparently, she could not be quite as bold as she would have liked. Because her shyness enchanted him, he decided to help her along.
“We did. And I think we were both hoping next time we would reallysleeptogether.”
The blush coloring her cheeks crept all the way to her temples but to his delight, she didn’t shrink away from the honest answer. “I certainly am. But I’m sorry, I promised Eirwen I would sleep with her until she felt strong enough to go back to Avice’s niece’s bed. I hope you understand.”
He did. After fearing she would lose her, Carys needed the reassurance of feeling her daughter was still here, next to her, alive and well. It was only natural. “Of course. You don’t have to apologize.”
They did not owe one another anything. He could wait. After all the delays they had endured, what was another few nights?
Torture, he decided, as he lay on his bed later that evening, stiff as a pike at the idea that Carys was back at Sheridan Manor,just yards away, warm in her bed, her body aching for his touch, and yet out of reach. The delay was bloody torture. He would have to do something about it. And he knew just what.
In the morning he entered the great hall with a new determination. If he and Carys could not spend their nights together, then they would have to make the most of their days. It was the perfect, obvious solution.
The only way not to die of frustration.
He found her sitting by the window, her embroidering basket on her lap. Her eyes opened as wide as if she had seen a ghost when he entered.
“You’re wearing a green tunic.”
James’ lips curled into a smile at the unusual greeting. The woman always knew how to delight him. “Good morning to you, too.”
The teasing had the desired effect. Carys blushed all the way to the roots of her hair. His smile widened. It was too easy to provoke a reaction out of her, and far too satisfying. Joy, embarrassment, desire.Pleasure. Yes. That was the one he wanted to provoke the most.
