Page 253 of Historical Hotties
He rolled his eyes as her laughter grew. “Nay,” he said flatly. “Not that. Forget I even brought it up.”
She had her hand over her mouth to soften the laughter that was coming forth. “Were you truly a mercenary?”
He nodded. “A very good one,” he said. “So was my father before he married my mother. There is excellent money to be made in fighting other men’s wars.”
“What made you stop?”
He shrugged as the laughter faded. “I missed my home, I suppose,” he said. “I came home and served my father for a while until Henry offered me the position of Lord Protector. That has also been lucrative.”
“Will you continue as Lord Protector?” she asked. “Even after assuming Tamworth?”
He nodded. “For now,” he said. “But at some point, I would simply like to manage my earldom and live my life for me and not for the king. Speaking of such things, you will have to educate me on Edingale and its functions. I should like to know all I can before we arrive.”
Caledonia nodded. “I can tell you more about Edingale than I can Stafford,” she said. “Robert kept things to himself, so we will have to examine his ledgers when we arrive. I can tell you very little about Stafford Castle, but remember that it belongs to my eldest daughter. When she marries, the title goes to her husband.”
He nodded. “I recall,” he said. “But until that time, I will do my best with it. What about the knights who are now in command? Will I have trouble with them?”
Caledonia shrugged. “The Edingale knights will be easier, I think,” she said. “A pair of brothers who served my father and grandfather. They are quite old, but they are obedient.”
“What about Stafford?”
She sighed. “That may be more difficult,” she said. “I never had any control over them. They only had interaction with Robert.”
“How many are there?”
“Three,” she said. “The captain of the army and two subordinate knights. I know that the captain was with Robert’s father and the two subordinates are his relatives. Cousins, I think.”
Thor considered that for a moment. “Then we will return to Stafford first,” he said. “I think we should settle that location first before moving to Edingale.”
“I agree,” she said. “But… but I think whatever you do, you will succeed with them. You are an elite royal knight, after all. How can they possibly contest you?”
He smiled, hearing praise in that statement. She hadn’t been free with it other than to tell him that he had the bluest eyes she’d ever seen. But there was a rapport starting between them that was warm and friendly. The defenses she had kept up against him since their introduction had come down, little by little, and they were both starting to feel comfortable. He was grateful. The last thing he wanted to do was keep up a running battle, so he would settle for her being overwhelmed and disoriented as their new life began. It was better than the alternative.
But he was very much hoping the warm and friendly mood would continue.
Speaking of warm…
“I suppose it is growing late,” he said, looking around to the torch-lit corridor. “The feast will go on through the night whether or not we are in attendance. Are you weary? Do you wish to retire for the night?”
It didn’t occur to Caledonia what this night truly meant until she realized it was her wedding night. He was suggesting they retire.Together. She knew what that meant. With that awareness, she averted her gaze as she nodded her head.
“If that is your wish, of course,” she said. “I suppose I am a bit weary. I’ve not recovered from thegorzalkacompletely.”
Thor lifted his eyebrows. “Nor have I,” he said. “I will probably still be woozy from it for days to come.”
She grinned. “I would not be surprised,” she said. “I do not see me drinking that terrible stuff again for a very long time, if ever.”
Thor reached out to take her elbow. “The next time I wage war, I’ll bring some of it. It will surely defeat whomever I am fighting without any bloodshed.”
“Your secret weapon?”
“I will conquer the world with it.”
With a grin, Caledonia let him turn her around and together they headed for the door that would dump them out into a smaller section of the bailey. Thor’s chamber was across the compound and beneath a blanket of brilliant stars, they headed away from Westminster’s great hall and toward the beginning of their marital life together. Quite differently from even a day ago. Or so Thor hoped.
He hoped it would be like this for them, always.
Little did he know what lay in store.
