Matthew shook his head. “It is not her choice. She has tried to maintain Wellesbourne in a fitting condition. In the beginning, she worked herself ill over it. But it is difficult to keep up such standards when men do not follow them. I think she just gave up.”
“I see. May I ask another question?”
“Is this one rude also?”
“That depends.”
He grinned; he had an easy smile that came even more easily with her. “What is it?”
“I would ask that you allow me free reign to clean it up and maintain it. It is a disgrace, Matthew. For any visitors that might come here, I would be ashamed.”
He’d never given much thought to the condition of the keep. It was what it was, and always had been. As he’d told Alixandrea, Caroline had tried to preserve it but the men and filth had overwhelmed her small spirit and she had eventually surrendered.
Then he thought back to the time when his mother was still alive; it had been a wonderful place then, fresh and fragrant, full of music and laughter. But when Audrey died, so did the warmth. Wellesbourne keep had gradually decayed into a stale, cold structure that housed men and dogs. They had all allowed this and saw nothing wrong with it, for the change had been so gradual he’d hardy noticed. In reflection, he could see Alixandrea’s point. It was a miserable place.
“I would not want you to be ashamed,” he said. “You are chatelaine now, as my wife. Do with this castle as you will. But I warn you; we are used to it as it is. We crushed Caroline’s spirit and we could crush yours, too. If you wish to keep the place clean, then it may take some serious reconditioning and patience on your part.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “Then we shall lead from the top. If I can have your cooperation, and your family’s, then the men will see and obey.”
“You have it.”
She smiled. “I thank you.” The moment had grown warm again. But there was also a bit of awkwardness with the silence until she broke it. “Where will you go now?”
He still had her by the elbow. His hand moved down her arm until it captured her fingers. He toyed with them, slowly, savoring the feel of her skin in his coarse palm.
“To the yard, where my men are,” he said. “I will be with them this afternoon, but I will call for you right before Vespers. I assume you have enough to keep you busy between now and then.”
“I do,” she said, relishing the new sensation of his fingers fondling her own. “I must find Caroline to see what she has done so far.”
“I’d check the kitchen. Last I saw her, she was speaking to the cook about tonight’s menu.”
Alixandrea nodded her thanks for the information. But there still lingered something on her mind and she hesitated before speaking. “When are you leaving for London, Matthew?”
Not an unexpected question given their conversation in the hall. But as he gazed at her, he realized that he could not,wouldnot, leave her behind. An odd thought, considering it had never crossed his mind to bring her. Caroline had always stayed behind at Wellesbourne and he assumed that his wife would remain, also. But not now; not when he was just coming to know her. He wanted her with him.
“Weare leaving before the week is out,” he replied.
Her eyes widened with surprise. “I am going, too?”
“Did you think I would leave you here?”
Momentarily speechless, she fumbled over her words. “I…I do not know. The thought never crossed my mind. Why are we going to London?”
The easy smile flickered. “Do I need a reason to take my new wife to London to show her off? I shall be the envy of every man in the city.”
Her pretty cheeks flushed. “I am sure there are far more lovely ladies in London, my lo…, I mean, Matthew. I am but a simple noble lady from the north. I have never even been out of Yorkshire.”
“We are going to change that.”
She did not know what to say to that. The past day of her life had been the most disappointing, angering, and thrilling that she had ever experienced. She could hardly imagine what the next fifty years held for her. Before she could think of a smooth reply, he took her chin between his index finger and his thumb and tilted her head up. She received a kiss to the cheek.
“You have a wedding to arrange, my lady,” he said. “Can you find your way well enough in this place?”
“I shall manage.”
“Good.”
He winked at her as he quit the entry. She stood aside as Mark and Adam passed by her, having obviously been waiting for Matthew to separate himself from her. She hadn’t even realized they had been standing there, waiting.
