“My lady knows her mind, sir.”
“And I know mine.As my wife, she is my responsibility.I would see her linger abed on the morrow.”
There was such resolve in his tone that Berthe knew he would not be shaken.
“She will not be pleased, sir,” she dared to say.
Against all expectation, he smiled.“I shall welcome the discussion, Berthe.”
She marveled at that, then thought of the arguments she had already overheard between the pair.It seemed that he was untroubled that her lady had views of her own, and indeed, she had seen him invite Lady Melissande’s council.
She bowed low, knowing she had no choice but to do as instructed, and hoped that he truly did have his lady’s best interests at heart.It would not be all bad for Annossy to have a happily wed lord and lady, much less children in the hall.
“Do not tell her, Berthe.Not this night.”
“She may ask, my lord.”
His gaze was steely.“And you will not tell her of my plan.I will do so.”
“Aye, my lord.”
“Perhaps it is wise for a man to keep his lady wife abed,” Niall murmured when Berthe passed him and she paused to glare at him.“Especially when he has need of a son with all haste.They say that any woman can be tamed with pleasure.”He was watching her, his eyes dancing with devilry.
“You may rest assured that it is not unnatural, butcivilizedfor a man to show a care for his lady wife,” she informed him haughtily.“Should you heed your companion instead of your lust, you might learn something of merit.”
“I have no need to learn of proper treatment of a wife,” Bayard contributed.“For I do not have one.”
“Nor will you, if you continue to listen to that one, and a fine thing that will be for women everywhere,” Berthe informed him.
Bayard blinked in surprise at that, but she turned away, marching to the kitchens.The sound of his companions’ laughter echoed behind her but Berthe did not smile.
She was thinking of a knight who was less of a rogue than his fellow.
Did that still make Sir Rogue too much of a rogue for her?
Berthe reminded herself that she had no need of any man, but felt disgruntled with her situation as she seldom was.She knew what was right.She knew what men such as these desired of women like her and had little doubt of what would happen after pleasure had been claimed.She was neither innocent nor a fool.
Still, she felt the lack of a man in her life as never she had before.
That was the fault of Sir Rogue, as well, and all the more reason to avoid him.
Melissande slept deeply.
She awakened when the solar was still dark and rolled to her back with satisfaction, feeling restored.The keep was quiet as the household slept on and the shadows were deep in the corners.Melissande heard no sounds of activity from kitchen or village and guessed that even the animals had not been tended yet.It was not yet dawn and the brazier had burned down to cold embers.
She should rise, if she meant to offer that cup to Quinn, although the bed was so wondrously warm that she was reluctant to abandon it.
She stretched, savoring her situation, and her hand brushed against warm muscled flesh.
A man’s chest.
Her fingertips had brushed a tangle of curly hair in its midst that she knew must be russet.
Melissande’s mouth went dry and she pulled her hand back in alarm.Quinn had come to bed after all?There could be no doubt of it for he was beside her, his breath deep and even.She had assumed he would remain in the hall, but he had not said as much.
Of course, the lord slept in the lord’s solar.Of course, Quinn had joined her abed, for there was but one bed.
She had slept with her lord husband by her side.He had not seized her in the night, much less demanded the marital due.Nay, he had let her sleep, as he had vowed.
