“Now, I should take the piglet inside for his nap.” She stood and reached down to him. “I’m certain you have things to do?”
He stood and straightened his plaid. “Aye, I do. So, I will see ye in the hall.”
She watched as he walked away. She watched the wind blow his hair wild and the long stride he took when he moved. And she loved him more than she had just minutes ago.
30
The next week moved quickly for her. For the first time since her marriage, Anice felt like her old self and worked on a daily schedule with Connor. A year before she had not been able to complete many of the tasks usually undertaken in the autumn so she wanted to be prepared for the coming change in seasons. The clan, still uncertain of how she and Robert came to be married, yet unwilling to involve themselves in the estrangement between them and Struan, missed nothing.
Robert continued to work with the warriors and to improve the defenses of the castle and village. He and Struan seemed to forge some kind of understanding, for she did not notice the outward signs of their dispute. She would like to have known how he gained Struan’s compliance, but feared asking either one. Anice decided to allow her husband to worry about that.
She did fret about her father’s reaction to this. The fact that he had said and done nothing in response to the messages Struan must surely have sent, did make her nervous. When she tried to discuss it with Robert, his reply was the same—he would handle it.
What concerned her most however was how to take the first step towards what she really wanted. Her body’s reaction to his nearness, his smiles, his movements, told her she was ready to try. She did not know how he maintained such a calm demeanor around her, for she knew he caught her staring at his hands and at his mouth as she remembered the feel of them on her that night. The heat that surged through her at those moments was as enticing to her as he was and she searched for a way to make it happen. However, it was her uncertaintyabout the terror returning that kept her from taking that first step.
One evening at dinner, she looked around the hall and searched for Robena. Something tickled her mind and she thought that mayhap the woman could help answer her question.
“Robert, I do not see your friend here. Does Robena not eat in the hall?”
He choked on the food he was swallowing when she asked and it took several minutes and several mouthfuls of ale before he could speak again.
“I have no’ seen her since that night, Anice,” he said in a low voice. “I think she fears yer wrath about what happened here.”
No words about Robert’s behavior that night had been spoken since then, so she was puzzled by his comments. Robert had sworn that nothing had happened between them and she took him at his word. No one had asked how she felt about it, but ’twas obvious what they thought.
“My wrath? Why, Robert? What have I ever done to make you think I blamed her for your stupidity that night?”
She fought to keep the smile from her lips. Her words almost exactly echoed his own when he asked about her preconceived notions of him. And she waited for his reaction when he realized that she insulted him. His mouth dropped open and he stared dumbfounded at her. It felt good to tease him like this.
“Kenneth?” she called out. When the boy approached, she spoke again. “Go and fetch Robena to me, please.”
When the boy had left on his errand, she turned back to find her husband still staring at her.
“Truly, Anice, she should no’ bear the brunt of yer anger. I was to blame for the foolishness that night.” He reached for her hand and then stopped, clearly unsure of whether he should touch her or not.
“I only wish to speak to her, Robert. And if somehow I have given the clan the idea that she should be punished, then I want to correct that up now.”
He looked as if he wanted to say more, but he tookanother drink of his ale instead. A few minutes passed and Kenneth entered the hall, followed by Robena. No one greeted her as they had just weeks before and no one offered her a seat at their table. Instead, the sound of hissing could be heard as she moved through the room. A few men even spit on the floor as she passed by. As she came closer, Anice could see the fear on her face. She stood and walked down the steps to meet her. Robena dropped into a deep curtsy before her, but Anice grabbed her hand and made her stand.
“Robena, thank you for coming so quickly. Will you join me in the solar?”
As they made their way through the crowd, Anice asked her if she’d eaten yet. When Robena said no, she asked for someone to bring a tray to them in the solar. She knew exactly what her actions were saying to those who witnessed this. She could not allow the good that she had done in getting this woman accepted by the people to be lost because of her problems with Robert. She hoped this meeting would be enough without saying something more direct.
A short while later, after the tray had been delivered and after Robena had been assured that Robert had spoken on her behalf, Anice was ready to discuss the real reason behind her summons.
“I need your help, Robena.”
“My help, milady? How can I help ye?”
Anice stood and walked over to the large window on one side of the room. This would not be easy—for either of them—and she did not know how to begin. She heard Robert’s voice in her mind telling her to just say it. She smiled at his straightforwardness.
“How did you get the courage to take men to your bed after Sandy’s attack?”
Anice turned at Robena’s gasp. ’Twas as she feared—too personal a question even for a whore.
“Milady, are ye certain we should speak of this? He is dead and buried and I would prefer no’ to think about that.”
Anice walked to her side and taking the woman’s hand in hers, she looked directly at her. “I think you know that he did to me what he did to you?” Robena answered her with a shakynod of her head. “I need to get past it as you have.” At her frown, she added, “For Robert.”
