She could not believe it. Her grouchy husband making a joke? Or was he joking?
She stepped down into the room slowly. “You—actually kept that sheet?”
“Aye, ’tis in yonder chest, and mayhap you should fetch it. This deception we have practiced did not sit well with me. I want your men told the truth.”
Her eyes flared for a moment, but then she relaxed. The deception had bothered her, too. And now that her second wedding was accomplished, there was really no need to continue it.
“Aye, they will accept the truth more readily now and be glad to hear it. I will tell them today.” He appeared surprised that she had not argued, but she was not finished. “However, the women are a different matter. In order for speculation not to arise to start gossip, they must be certain you have no doubt about my virtue, and only you can assure them of that. You may deal with the matter of the sheets however you like, butyoumust do it.”
She thought he would balk, he looked so displeased, yet he gave her a curt nod. He was not so hard to deal with after all, which put one of her worries to rest. However, she still was not finished.
“But what I told Sir Henry must stand.”
“Whatdidyou tell him?”
“That you were my father’s choice for me. ’Twas a deception my father began with Lord Guy, and I will not have him called a liar.”
“Wouldhe have approved of me, lady?”
“Aye, I believe he would.”
“So be it.”
“Good. And while we are clearing the air, so to speak, do you not think ’tis time you started calling me by name? You do remember my name?”
“So the little general is back, and with sarcasm, no less. Just what I need to wake up to.”
Reina stiffened. “I do not likethatname either, husband.”
“What you like is not of much concern to me right now—wife.”
She reassessed her opinion about his being easy to deal with, about as easy as a wild boar, whose temperament could also at times be likened to her husband’s.
“An argument is no way to start the day,” Reina said coldly.
“It suits me fine,” he growled back, just to disagree, she was sure.
“Does it? Just what you need to wake up to, eh?” She threw his own words back at him. “Best I leave you—”
“Where do you go?”
She stopped on the way to the door. “That hardly—”
“Where?”
So already her life was no longer hers to control. That was the one thing she had suspected she might be giving up in choosing him over Richard or John, whom she knew she could have handled with ease.
Reina sighed as she turned back to face him. “Only this robe was brought here last eventide,” she said, indicating the white velvet she had wrapped around her. “I was going to my old chamber to dress, and to arrange to have my belongings moved here whilst we are away on the hunt. Unless, of course, you have changed your mind and prefer not to share these chambers?”
He glowered at the hopeful note that had entered her voice. “You will sleep here, where you belong.”
Just what he had said last night, she recalled. Why was he being obstinate about it when he obviously did not really want her there?
With a nod of acquiescence no less stiff than his had been earlier, Reina continued on her way. She absolutely refused to ask his permission to withdraw. She would stay in this room the rest of her life ere she would do that. He did not stop her again, which should have improved her mood, but did not.
And her mood was certainly not ready for Theo, who was waiting in her chamber to ply her with eager questions.
“Well? How was it this time?”
