Chapter 6
Arnaud de Privas.
Quinn would never forget the name.He did have a vague recollection of his father hunting at Privas, but thought perhaps his father had not seen eye-to-eye with that holding’s lord.That would have diminished contact between the estates and even mention of Privas.It would scarce be surprising for the lord whose son was to wed the daughter of Annossy to have conflict with Jerome.
To his own dismay, Quinn was irked, yet again, in the presence of his wife.Oh, he had wanted to convince her to invite him, and he knew he could have done as much—but the flash of fear in her eyes had been his undoing.How could she both fear him and provoke him?And how could Tulley have ignored her betrothal?Now, Quinn was caught between the fat and the fire, all to suit Tulley’s dictate.
Indeed, Quinn had greater sympathy for Melissande now that he knew this detail.He could already see the importance she attached to vows, perhaps a trait learned from her father, and could understand how the situation would trouble her.Of course, she felt guilt over her reaction to his touch.Of course, she believed that she was disloyal to her betrothed.He understood all of this, and yet, he found it hard to believe that lovemaking could be so potent if they were not meant each for the other.
Perhaps he was a romantic fool like his mother, just as his father had oft sneered.
“Do I interrupt?”Tulley asked, with no care for the reply.His gaze flicked to the bed and back to Quinn.He smiled, the wily old lord, and Quinn’s irritation found its rightful target.“Is there perhaps an estate—or two—falling forfeit this morn?”
Aye, Tulley would welcome that outcome.“The truth is evident, I believe.”Quinn gestured to the bed, then paced to the window.He dared not trust himself to say more.
He tried to consider how he might take his lady’s cause as his own.He stole a glance at her to find her gaze downcast.
Perhaps they had annoyance with their liege lord in common.The notion was almost sufficient to make Quinn smile.
“Ah!Very good!”Tulley declared.“It is a pleasure to be mistaken on occasion.”He snapped his fingers and his châtelain hastened to gather the linens.Would they be washed or preserved as evidence?Quinn did not know.
The silence grew in the chamber, until Tulley coughed in his precise manner.“It seems to me that all is not rosy this morn.”
No one responded.
“In fact,” Tulley continued.“I could not help but overhear your...discussion.”
At that, Quinn looked up, as did Melissande.There was alarm in her eyes, which Quinn took as a warning.She knew Tulley far better than he did.
“Perhaps I have not adequately emphasized the importance of this match.”Tulley looked between the two of them, his expression forbidding.
Melissande blinked rapidly but did not speak.
Quinn took that as a warning.
Still, Tulley watched him, his manner expectant.
“I understand our union is a matter of some interest to you,” Quinn managed to say.
“This is more than a matter of interest!”Tulley said.“It is of the utmost import that this marriage be seen as unassailable.”He drove his fist into his palm, his emphatic gesture startling Quinn.
“The match is made and consummated,” he reminded the older man.“As you have seen.”
“Yet already there will be talk in the kitchens about the arguments between the pair of you,” Tulley replied.He paced the width of the chamber and back, so clearly agitated that Quinn wondered what he would say next.“Such chatter will travel like the wind.Youwillshare your bedchamber—you must!—and to ensure as much, I insist upon an heir within the year.”
Quinn saw Melissande’s hands tighten into fists and knew that she too was fighting her impulse to argue with Tulley.He moved closer to her side, feeling that they should battle as one.
“That allows but three months for conception,” Quinn said, knowing he sounded more mild than he felt.
“Indeed!”Tulley agreed.“What deterrent to these raids is a crusading knight taking the title of Lord of Annossy if you, Quinn, do not express your claim in every possible way?”
Melissande’s head snapped up.“Lord of Annossy?”she echoed.“Naught was said of Quinn becoming Lord of Annossy!I understood that this match was to assure his claim to Sayerne!”
“Surely you understood that the two estates will be merged with this match?”
Melissande paled.
Quinn did not appreciate Tulley’s manner with her, for the older man spoke as if she were a witless child.Quinn knew that his wife was keen of intellect, and even he had not made what Tulley assumed was an obvious conclusion.
