Page 66 of The Tempest
“What are ye going tae do about my mother’s invitation?” he asked. “She’s asked ye tae break yer fasts together at the Black Cock today. Ye’ve not said if ye plan tae go.”
Astria sighed as he brought up a subject they hadn’t discussed since Maude sent a missive the day before, one that Astria read and then put aside. But now, Payne was bringing the subject up and she wasn’t sure how she felt about it.
“That is because I do not know,” she said. “Although it has been about a week since she brought me here, my association with her has not exactly been friendly.”
“I know,” he said. “But she wants tae try tae make peace with ye, as my wife. Will ye at least give her the chance?”
“You think I should?”
He nodded. “I do think ye should give her the opportunity at some point,” he said. “She’s my mother, after all. She’ll be in our lives forever. And the fact that she captured ye… I suppose ye could say that it was her duty as a pirate. And ye canna fault her for doing her duty. I’m not defending her actions, of course, merely pointing that out. Francis told me that she was never truly brutal tae ye as far as captives go. Would ye agree with that?”
Astria’s lips twisted pensively. “I suppose she was no more brutal to me than I was to her,” she said. “I fought the woman quite a bit, you know. I even kicked her in the face once. She could have punished me terribly, but she never did.”
Payne lifted his eyebrows. “I’m glad tae hear that,” he said. “Love, I’m not asking ye tae forgive her, but she wants tae at least make peace because of me. I dunna think she thought ye and I would become fond of one another, so that puts her in a strange position. But if ye dunna want tae leave the past behind ye, that’s yer decision. I’ll support ye, whatever ye choose tae do.”
“I appreciate that,” Astria said sincerely. “And I’ve thought about it. I’m not naïve, Payne. I understand the way the worldworks, and it is a brutal place. I understand that what she did to me was an opportunity. It wasn’t personal. I know that because I’ve done the same thing, as The Sea God. But your mother did bring me to you, so for that alone, I suppose she warrants some forgiveness. Had it not been for her, I would have never known you.”
“True,” he said. “Then ye’ll see her today?”
Astria shrugged. “I suppose,” she said. “Truthfully, I’ve not seen her much over the past week. I appreciate the fact that she’s left us alone.”
“She’s been more concerned with Declan’s absence than bothering us,” he said. “She sent men tae check the ships at Combwich, but they’ve not returned yet. She’s afraid that Declan might be waiting for her on the road when she returns tae those vessels with the intention of ambushing her.”
The subject turned to Declan’s continuing absence, which had been weighing heavily on Maude as well as on Payne. It was never a good thing to have an unhappy man, with violent tendencies, on the loose, and Blackchurch was still on the alert because of it. It had been a long week of vigilance, but so far, no sign of the errant Matheson brother.
“I was wondering why your mother had remained here,” Astria said. “And given that I know something of your brother because I’ve spent the past five months with him, I would say that her fears are not imagined. Declan Matheson has a vicious streak in him, Payne. I know he is your brother, but he is not a good man.”
“I know,” Payne said quietly. “And I’ll apologize again for any insults or pain he might have inflicted on ye during yer captivity. I wish I could have prevented it.”
Astria went to him, putting a gentle hand on his arm. “You need not apologize for your brother’s actions,” she said. “He is a grown man. He has made his own choices.”
She was right, but Payne still felt guilty for his brother’s behavior. “And those choices have historically been bad,” he said. “And because we dunna know where he is, ye are tae be careful. Be alert of yer surroundings.”
“But what about going into the village to see your mother?” she said. “I will have to travel the road between Blackchurch and the Black Cock.”
“True,” he grunted. “’Tis too bad Lord Exmoor willna allow her tae come tae Blackchurch, still. I think he is afraid that she’ll try tae take the keep and then hoist her flag in victory.”
“Would she?”
Payne shrugged. Then he chuckled, which made Astria laugh. He finished tying off his leather tunic and put his arms around her, kissing her sweetly as the woman practically collapsed into him. Whenever he embraced her, she turned to putty.
And he liked it that way.
“I’ll be with Sin again today,” he murmured, gently nibbling on her neck. “We lost a recruit yesterday when he nearly severed a hand, so we need tae pay attention tae those who are left. If ye decide tae answer my mother’s invitation, then take a soldier with ye from the gatehouse. Have him escort ye tae the Black Cock.”
Her eyes were closed as his lips gently kissed her shoulder. “I was thinking of taking Athdara,” she said. “She’s very much a warrior and she wants to meet Bloody Maude.”
That was true. Athdara had come from a war-torn country and done her share of fighting over the years. She’d even trained at Blackchurch, which was how her husband had met her. Payne gave Astria one last kiss on the neck and let her go.
“Athdara makes an acceptable escort,” he said. “But I’ll see ye back here at supper.”
“Indeed, you will.”
With a wink, he quit the chamber, heading out to accomplish his duties for the day. Astria stood there with a silly smile on her face, already missing him now that he was out of her sight. She was mostly smiling at the question he’d asked her earlier because her instant longing for him when he was gone made her think of it.
Do ye think ye could love me?
She was fairly certain that she already did.
