“Well said,” Thayer murmured.
His indigo gaze fixed earnestly upon Thayer, Bayard said, “She has not been pampered, yet she has been cherished. As has Margaret, who will go with her. Both have been as sheltered as two maids could be.”
“That is clear to see in their manner. Aye, and that of their kin. Still your fears. I intend to be a good husband to Gytha.”
“You will find times when your patience runs short.”
“John has the right of it,” Fulke continued, grinning faintly. “Our sister has been allowed to be free with her opinions.”
Nodding, John added, “And her sense of humor can oft seem strange.”
Joining the foursome, Gytha’s father said, “And she insists that you listen to what she has to say. Do not mistake us. We do not bind you to a purely disagreeable wench. ’Tis just that she will take few orders in meek silence. She will insist upon an explanation. Aye, and a chance to air her own views on the matter. She can prove most stubborn about it.”
“Aye,” Fulke nodded, “she has been known to cling to things until she has been heard.”
Briefly diverted from his worries, Thayer started to grin. “Cling to things?”
Gytha’s father sighed. “Chairs, tables, even people. Clings like ivy. ’Tis nigh on impossible to unhitch the wench.”
Unable to hold it back, Thayer laughed aloud. “What have you set upon me?”
Lord John grinned slowly. “She will not be a dull wife. There is much to be said in favor of that.”
Before Thayer could respond, Roger walked up to ask, “Has anyone seen Robert or that uncle of his?”
“Aye,” replied Lord John, “the pair left ere the sun had even begun to rise.”
Frowning, Thayer rubbed his chin as he thought on that information. He had assumed his lack of immediate retribution would make it clear that he was willing to give the pair the benefit of the doubt. They had had no reason to flee. The act seemed to confirm their guilt. A moment later, he shrugged aside all thought of them. They had gained nothing from their duplicity. The pair would make themselves scarce now.
What few thoughts he did have were fully scattered when Gytha arrived. Her loveliness took his breath away. It was a beauty enhanced by her unconsciousness of it. She made her way to his side slowly, her progress interrupted by those guests greeting her and relaying their good wishes. Despite that, she kept sending him shy smiles. He saw no sign of reluctance in her yet that only eased his tension a little.
Gytha felt no hesitation as she went to Thayer. Although she felt some nervousness, she also felt eager. Neither William nor Robert had given her such a feeling of rightness. Thayer Saitun did. Neither William nor Robert had caused her dreams to grow sensual. Thayer Saitun did. Those dreams had stirred a curiosity within her. As she placed her hand in Thayer’s, she found herself looking forward to her wedding night despite fears bred of inexperience.
The ceremony took less time than she had anticipated. She suspected her bemusement had robbed her of any real sense of time. All her attention had been on the priest, the words she spoke, and the sound of Thayer’s deep, rich voice as he repeated his vows. She had knelt at his side filled with the knowledge that, whatever trouble lay ahead of them, it was her rightful place. When the celebration separated her from Thayer, she found herself annoyed with it.
The celebrations were well under way before Roger managed to grasp a moment alone with Thayer. “A lovely bride, Thayer.”
“There lives none who will argue that.”
“But you wish she were plainer.”
“Aye, though many would call me mad. Even you, I think. Look you there. We have been wed but hours, and she is already surrounded by moonlings.”
“True, but note her eyes, my friend. That sweet gaze often rests upon you, not those boys gathered around her. Do not be unjust. Do not condemn her with neither proof nor trial.”
Thayer breathed a heavy sigh. “I know that would be best. Howbeit, it will be a battle hard won. Too many seek to feed my fears. Too many tell me that I wed beyond myself, that I now possess something of greater worth than I. They remind me that there will be many who seek to steal that prize away.”
“So stop up your ears.”
“Not such an easy thing to do, as you well know.”
“If the girl seeks naught but a pretty face, then she is worth neither your worry nor your pain.”
“I know,” Thayer murmured, his gaze fixed upon Gytha as he prayed he could heed those words of wisdom.
The face Gytha constantly sought in the crowd was judged far from pretty by many, a fact too many felt obliged to tell her. She smiled and was always polite to the young men besieging her, but her gaze followed Thayer. Try as she would to let him know she wished to be rescued from her court, she continuously failed. Finally, she looked to her father for aid. He proved not so obtuse, soon extricating her.
To her dismay, he did not take her to Thayer but left her with a group of young women. Margaret was there, which pleased her, but this soon proved to be the only thing that did. Margaret was the only one who held her tongue. The others plagued her with expressions of sympathy over the ill choice of a groom for her. Despite her efforts to remain calm, to ignore them, Gytha felt herself grow angrier and angrier.
