It might be expedient to bear that son, if she wished Quinn to leave Annossy.
Melissande found him at the board, surrounded by his companions, his attention fixed on a villein who spoke to him.Her heart leapt in a most unruly and unwelcome way at the sight of her husband, the man who coaxed her pleasure and seemed determined to win her trust.
He glanced up then and smiled, his pleasure at her appearance obvious, and Melissande could scarce take a breath.
She told herself that she was a fool, as much a fool as Berthe, who lifted her chin at Bayard’s smile.They had lived without men for too long, it was clear.
She headed for the kitchen to review the inventory, curtseying to her husband as she passed through the hall, even as she strove to envision a menu for the coming days.
They had need of meat, to be sure.
Who could she send to hunt?
It wasclear to Quinn that Melissande had become a lady of ice once again.Her gaze was steady and cool when she descended to the hall and he was struck by how little similarity there was between her composure outside of the marriage bed and her playful manner within it.He knew which version of his lady wife he preferred.When she responded to his touch, when her hair was unbound, she seemed more vividly alive and more honest to him.When her hair was braided back and hidden beneath her veil, her lips drawn to a resolute line, she might have been a stranger—a queen or an abbess—and her thoughts were impossible for him to read.
When she curtseyed before him, as she had this morning in the hall, he could scarce believe she was the same woman who met him touch for touch, much less that he might conquer her heart.
The villeins knew little of import, though it was clear they were glad to have the opportunity to speak with him.Quinn was reminded of the gathering of information before battles in foreign lands—one never knew when there might be a detail that provided some illumination.
He did not see Melissande again until he mounted Fortitude in the bailey and she appeared with a stirrup cup.It was filled to the brim with spiced wine and was in itself a fine vessel of silver.She brought it to him first and he bent from the saddle to sip of it.
’Twas then he saw the shadow in her gaze.
“What is amiss?”he murmured before touching his lips to the cup.
Her gaze flicked but she shook her head minutely.“I will see it resolved.”
Quinn reached for the cup, closing his gloved hand over hers.“Tell me,” he murmured.
She eyed him for a moment, then nodded.“We have need of meat,” she confessed quietly.“I do not know who to send to hunt.”
“No one,” Quinn replied, more sharply than he had intended.He still was uncertain who could be trusted in the holding and who should not be.“I have ordered the gates to be kept closed.”
Her eyes widened and he knew she had forgotten this detail.She frowned.“But your guests...”
Was she truly only concerned with the administration of Annossy and the welfare of his guests?Quinn was well aware that Gaultier lingered in the bailey and feared that his clever lady might have some scheme to be rid of him.More than one unwanted husband had met his demise at the hunt, presumably by accident.Surely she would not, but once he had the thought, it was not readily dismissed.
“I will see the matter resolved myself,” he said, wondering how it might be done.“No one leaves Annossy in my absence, my lady.”He let his gaze bore into hers.“No one.”
She dropped her gaze and curtseyed, but not before he saw the flash of her eyes.“Aye, my lord,” she said, apparently demure, but Quinn could not silence his newfound doubts.
Bayard, Lothair, Niall and Amaury all were in their saddles, ready to ride out with him to the mill.He wanted and needed their protection and expertise, though he wondered if one should remain behind.Annossy was well-defended, though—so long as the gates remained closed.And the boys were within the walls.He did not doubt they would keep their eyes open and bring any tales to him upon his return.
Still, he could not silence his doubts.
When they rode out, Quinn looked back to ensure that the gates were closed.His last glimpse was of Melissande, still holding the empty stirrup cup, with Gaultier close by her side.
It was not the most reassuring sight and his mood turned grim.
Chapter 10
Melissande did not have to seek out Gaultier.He was at her elbow before Quinn and his party had even passed through the gates.She felt a twinge of guilt when Quinn glanced back, but reminded herself that she had done no improper deed.She had shown her husband the respect due to him as Lord d’Annossy.
He could not know the doubts in her heart.
Gaultier indicated that the gates should be secured, just as Quinn had decreed, then bent to murmur to her.“My lady, I would confer with you in private, at your leisure.”
“In private?”Melissande echoed, turning to consider the knight.
