“I think he is wonderful,” Cathlina said as the otter came back on shore and scooted right up to her. She was able to pet it but when Sebastian tried, it barked at him. She looked at her brother-in-law apologetically. “Mayhap he only likes girls.”
Sebastian made a face and stood up, watching the otter play and wriggle at Cathlina’s feet. “It’s to bed for me,” he said, yanking his father by the arm. “Come along, old man. Back to bed.”
Justus was fairly intrigued by the otter but allowed Sebastian to pull him along. As they moved back to their cottage, Cathlinaremained crouched on the river’s bank, giggling at the otter that was very playful. He would slither out of the water and rise on his hind legs, making grunting sounds at her as she pet it. But he thought she had something to eat for him and would grab and nibble at her fingers, much to her delight. Soon enough, the otter was back in the bucket, rolling around in it.
Mathias stood over the pair, hands on his hips as he watched the fun. In truth, it was very sweet to watch. Cathlina had such a glow about her, such beauty and innocence, that he wasn’t surprised that creatures sensed it. The otter was being very playful and affectionate with her. He finally reached down and put a hand on her dark head.
“As much as I would like to stand here all night and watch you play with the otter, I really think we need to get some sleep,” he said. “Get your water and let us return inside.”
Cathlina knew he was right. She tried to coax the otter from the bucket and when he finally slithered out and back into the river, she rinsed the bucket out a couple of times before finally collecting the cool, sweet water. Mathias took the bucket from her and they made their way back up to the cottage. They were about to enter it when a flash of wet fur bolted past them as the otter ran into the cottage. Both Cathlina and Mathias watched with surprise as the otter leapt onto the small bed and began burrowing in the covers.
“Oh!” Cathlina cried. “He will get everything wet!”
Mathias was much calmer than his wife. Shaking his head at the antics, he set the bucket down as Cathlina went to the bed, trying to remove the happy otter. The animal didn’t want to come out, however, and she spent a good deal of time trying to coax the furry creature forth. Finally, she simply trapped him in the coverlet and wrapped him up, carrying him like a swaddled baby to the door. Setting the blanket on the ground, she gently unraveled it until the otter rolled out.
“Now, you stay out here,” she scolded as she backed into the cottage. “You cannot sleep with us. Good night to you, my little friend. I will see you on the morrow.”
Even after she closed the door, she could hear the otter grunting outside and scratching at the wood. Mathias threw the old iron bolt and pulled her away from the door.
“Come along to bed, now,” he said. “We will be up before dawn and you must get some sleep.”
Cathlina nodded as she moved to her satchel and began removing her clothing. It occurred to her that their marriage would be consummated very shortly and she struggled not to feel nervous about it. Now, the travel of the day had passed and the evening meal was finished, and all that was left to do was settle down for sleep. She could hear the otter scratching at the door as she began to unfasten her surcoat.
“I do hope he will go away and settle down,” she said, eyeing the door.
Mathias pulled his mail hood off. “He will,” he said, turning to face her and holding out his arms. “Help me with this, please.”
Cathlina went to him, dutiful and eager, but really didn’t know what he meant. She’d never undressed a man before. Mathias indicated his arms.
“Pull on the mail,” he said.
Cathlina took hold and pulled, nearly falling over with the weight of the mail when it came off. Mathias had to grab hold of her so she wouldn’t end up on the floor. She grinned at him.
“I suppose I am not very good at that,” she said.
He winked at her. “You will get better. As the wife of a knight, you’ll have to.”
She watched him drape the mail over the table to dry it out. He then began to pull off his other clothing; tunic and then undershirt, revealing his naked and magnificent chest. He was very broad in the shoulders, neck and chest, with heavilymuscled arms. His torso was trim, with a fine matting of dark hair from his neck to his belly. Cathlina stared at him, absorbing the sight, digesting it, and realizing that it made her very excited simply to gaze on the man. Her cheeks were flushing madly and she lowered her gaze to focus on her own clothing.
Nervous fingers fumbled with the ties on her surcoat. She could hear Mathias moving around, no doubt removing the rest of his clothing. The mere thought made her fearful and excited at the same time. She was just moving to unfasten the back of the dress when Mathias came up behind her.
His body was big and warm against her back. “Here,” he said huskily. “Allow me to assist you.”
Cathlina merely nodded, removing her hands and feeling him deftly undo the stays. She lifted her arms and he pulled the dress up over her head, leaving her clad only in her shift, hose and boots. Mathias pulled up a stool and sat her on it. Carefully, he lifted her shift to her knees and began untying her boots.
“I realize we have only known each other a very short amount of time,” he said softly, “and in essence, you married a stranger. Nothing is more nerve wracking, I am sure, than being a bride on her wedding night. But did you stop to consider it is fairly nerve wracking for the groom as well?”
She smiled timidly, watching him as he pulled her right boot off. “I had not thought on it.”
“You should,” he said, setting her boot aside and moving to remove the other. “I have never had a wife before.”
“But you have had… a woman before?”
He paused slightly in removing the boot, thinking carefully on her question, before continuing. “Well,” he murmured, “I suppose if we are to establish honesty in our marriage, I cannot lie to you about such things.”
Cathlina grew serious. “You do not have to tell me if you do not want to,” she said. “I should not have asked.”
He looked up at her. “As my wife, it is your right to know about me, even the personal things. Aye, I have been with a woman before.”
