Indeed, he felt sympathy for her for there was truth in her accusations.Much had changed for both of them in the past day, and the changes were to his advantage.He believed that they would both share in that good fortune, but his father’s legacy was that she did not.
He disliked the tale of her beloved nursemaid and wished it had surprised him.Did she expect him to strike her?Quinn could not imagine doing so, but he respected that his lady wife—who had infuriated him already—might have her doubts.
She thought his half-brother had merit.Could he convince her that he did, as well?
To change Melissande’s thinking, he had to challenge her expectations.
He had to surprise her.
“Shall I send Berthe for you?”he asked, tucking the seal back into the pouch at his belt.Melissande glanced his way with obvious surprise.The sound of laughter carried from the hall below and Quinn pretended to be enticed by it.“I would rejoin my comrades and hear of their adventures since we parted, but I would not insult you with my absence.”
“What is this?”
“Choose,” Quinn said deliberately.“Choose, my lady, whether I stay with you in this moment or leave you alone.You say you have no decisions to make, so I will grant you one.”
“Just one,” she said.
“Just one, for the moment.But when you have none, one is a bounty.”
She smiled reluctantly, as if she could not stop herself.“It is indeed.”
“And Berthe?”
She held up two fingers and that smile gained power.“Another choice?”
“A veritable feast of opportunity,” Quinn said solemnly and her eyes sparkled.
“Aye, Berthe, if you please, sir.”
“A bath?”
Melissande laughed a little.“A plethora of decisions,” she said and Quinn chuckled, glad of a moment of accord.“Aye, a bath would be most welcome,” she said.“I am sorry, my lord husband.It is not like me to lose hope.”
He cleared his throat and lifted a brow, inviting her to use his name again.
“I am sorry, Quinn,” she said softly and he smiled.
“But you have lost much in this, a mere day, and I should be surprised if you did not notice the lack.Annossy is fine beyond all expectation.I would have you sleep well, my lady wife, for I shall have need of your counsel to see all administered well here.”
She considered him again.“I thought you simply said as much for Louis’ benefit.”
“I said as much because it is true.I did not even think of what our guests should eat or drink, never mind where they would sleep.I have much to learn from you, Melissande, and I would hope that you would see your way clear to granting instruction.”
Their gazes locked once more, the chamber seeming warmer than it had.“You try to beguile me,” she said quietly.
“If only that feat could be so easily done,” Quinn replied.He bowed, then turned to the door, only to find Melissande by his side, her hand upon his arm.
“I do not know whether to trust you or not,” she confessed.“I do not know what my place or my fate with be, but I thank you, Quinn, for the kindness of choices on this night.”With that, she stretched up and touched her lips all too briefly to his.Quinn caught his breath at her fleeting touch, amazed that she had kissed him of her own volition, but she had already stepped away.He watched her retreat and dared to hope for their future.
Then he left the chamber, shouting for Berthe from the corridor.
It seemed he had found a way to gain some increment of his wife’s affection and Quinn could only consider that a victory of the first order.No doubt the fire would be back in her eyes by the morning, but truly, he looked forward to that moment.
“A bath for your lady, if you please,” he said to the maid when she came bustling up the stairs.“She is tired from the journey this day.”
“And one for you, sir?”Berthe demanded.
“I will share the company of our guests for a while.”Quinn nodded once, noting the assessment in the maid’s eyes, then returned to his fellows.His appearance was greeted with a cheer and some teasing, but he called for a cup of ale and settled at the board again, most content.
