Matthew shrugged casually, his big hand reaching out to clasp her arm comfortingly. His voice was deep, rich, reassuring. “All she knows is that you caught her spying. I doubt she knowsthe extent of our knowledge and how it relates to Strode and the army.”
“Then what are you going to do with her?”
“Throw her in the vault as punishment for nearly killing you. After that, I do not know. But we can at least keep her isolated from your manservant in the vault and he will have no further source of information. Your little maid has just given us an excuse to cut out the eyes and ears of those inside Wellesbourne who have been sent to do us harm.”
She sensed that he thought this event, such as it was, had a positive side. Slowly, her shaking lessened and she began to feel better, though still exhausted. The past few days had been most taxing. With Matthew’s strong hand still on her arm, she finished the ale and set the empty cup aside.
“If you will excuse me, I think I should like to rest a while,” she said. “It has been a busy morning.”
Matthew stood up with her. “Come along, then. We shall get you settled and then I will return to see what I can glean from your maid.”
Hand on his, she paused. “You are not going to hurt her, are you?”
He gazed down into her magnificent bronze eyes. “Would you think me capable of such a thing?”
“Nay,” she shook her head, suddenly ashamed. “I did not mean it the way it sounded. It is just… Jezebel has been with me a long time. I know she must be punished, but I….”
She trailed off and he clutched her hand, leading her out of the hall. “Trust me that I will do what is best.”
“I do.”
She was still shaking in spite of the fact that she had calmed somewhat. In her mind, she could still see herself falling from the balcony and the thought rattled her; consequently, the trip up the spiral stairs was slow going.
When they reached her chamber, Matthew led her inside and closed the door softly behind her. The bed drew Alixandrea’s attention and with a fatigued sigh, she fell atop the mattress without so much as removing her shoes. Matthew stood by the door.
“Your exhaustion is understandable,” he said with some compassion. “It seems that all you have known is chaos since setting foot on Wellesbourne land.”
She shifted on the bed so that she was looking at him. “Aye, ’tis been a bit chaotic. First there was the battle the day I arrived.…”
“…and the feast the first night, followed by the wedding that almost never happened…”
“…and now I almost plummet to my death from the gallery banister. Is there anything else that could possibly happen to me?”
He grinned. “Let us hope not.”
She sighed heavily, her nerves finally at rest. Truth be known, Matthew seemed to have a great hand in helping her ease. His presence was comforting and calming.
“Hopefully, whatever bad fortunes that seemed to have befallen me will have run their course by now,” she said. “I am not sure how much more I can take.”
“Nor I,” he said, chuckling softly when she rolled her eyes in agreement. “Shall I leave you now to rest, wife?”
Alixandrea pondered the question. It suddenly occurred to her that they were truly alone, without any threat of interruption or spying. Not even Caroline could protest their being alone, as she had been witness to their marriage.
Her heart suddenly began to race, wondering if he meant what she thought he meant. She did not know if she was ready for such a thing, especially after the events of the past few minutes. But the more she thought on what he perhaps might besuggesting, the more the thoughts of her chaotic first days faded. She wasn’t so exhausted, after all. She could feel her cheeks grow hot with a little fear, and a lot of anticipation.
“Do you want to leave, husband?”
“Nay.”
He did not hesitate as he walked into the room. She sat up on the mattress, gazing up at him as he came to a halt beside the bed.
“Do you know that I sat up all night, watching you on the wall?” she said. “I was afraid something horrible was going to happen to you.”
He lifted a blond eyebrow. “So you would watch it happen?”
“Nay,” she shook her head. “I wanted to stop it. If it was going to come from the men of Whitewell, then I felt it my duty to stop them.”
“And just how did you intend to do that?”
