She simply stared, her expression unreadable, saying not a word. Rolfe flushed and turned away, making his way slowly back to the bed.
Leonie followed him into the inner chamber. Silence hung in the air until, at last, she spoke.
“If you were looking for my medicines, my lord, de la Mare should have told you my basket is there by the hearth.”
Rolfe sighed. “So he should have.”
“But I must warn you against trying to treat yourself. You could do more harm than good if you are not familiar with the remedies. I am willing to help you.”
“Are you?”
Leonie turned away, unnerved by the suddenly soft tone. “You should have waited until I came.”
“But I was not sure you would come.”
She met his eyes. It was apparent that he hadn’t yetheard about the steward. But something was troubling him.
“Why would I not come, my lord?” she asked pointedly. “You have made it clear that you must always be obeyed.”
“But you do as you please anyway.”
They were suddenly speaking of what was wrong between them, and neither had intended that to happen. “I do not allow anyone, my lord, to command my thoughts and feelings. Otherwise, as your wife, I am yours to command.”
Rolfe nearly laughed. Of course she was right, he could not control her thoughts or feelings and it was unreasonable for him to have tried. What he needed to do was work on changing her feelings, some of them.
“If you would rather not tend me, Leonie, I will understand.”
She found the humility in his voice less than convincing. “The gift I received from my mother to heal and comfort is mine to share. If I cannot use it, it becomes worthless. Now will you let me stop your bleeding?”
He nodded, and she pulled the sheet to the side to remove the stained bandage. As she worked, she glowed with pleasure, proud and glad to be using her skills.
“You find pleasure in helping others?” Rolfe asked suddenly.
“Yes.”
He sighed. He had been wrong. As Thorpe said, it was simply her way to help people. He was nothing special to her.
“Something is wrong, my lord?”
“No,” he lied glibly. “It has just occurred to me thatI may have hurt you by calling for the leech instead of you.”
“I was not hurt,” she assured him quickly. “I was angry at the foolishness of it, because I knew Odo was incompetent. But your order to keep me from you was understandable. You were weak and in pain. You were not thinking clearly.”
“Why do you make excuses for me?”
She shook her head. “If you had been yourself, my lord, I am sure you would have had me put in irons instead of simply barring me from here.”
“Put in irons!” He frowned. “I would never…You are my wife.”
“That is not the issue,” she said angrily. “Someone tried to kill you. That person must be found and punished—no matter who it was. I would expect no less if I had tried to kill you.”
Rolfe laughed ruefully. “I admit I thought of you first when the arrow struck and I saw the villain moving off toward Pershwick. I did notwantto believe you capable of arranging my death, but the thought was there, and not unreasonable, given your past…I am truly sorry for doubting you this time, Leonie.”
Why wouldn’t she look at him? She had finished changing his bandage, and was rummaging in her basket. She held up a small blue bottle. “Will you let me give you this for the pain, my lord?”
Rolfe frowned at the evasion. She wouldn’t meet his eyes, and she seemed most uncomfortable suddenly.
“No!” he snarled, regretting it immediately.
