“You are not to worry. Wait in the window embrasure until I call you.” And then she tousled his hair and gave him a smile to reassure him. “Go on, Aylmer. You will have naught to fear of him.”
Her smile crumbled the moment he turned away from her. How her mother had ever managed to do this she did not know. But ’twas one of the things the lady had taught her, that in a world where women had so little governance of their own lives, where they needed a man’s yea-say for aught that they did or wanted, they had to take advantage of any occurrence that would help them get that yea-say if they were in doubt of getting it.
Guilt was a prime emotion to play on, her mother had once told her. Not that she had ever suspected her husband of infidelity. She had taken advantage, when alive, of broken promises, neglect, little things like that. She had not had a husband who rutted at the drop of a coin as her daughter now did.
But howdidshe calmly manage to ask for things when she was seething with upset? True, her mother’s temper had not been as vitriolic as was hers. She had managed to let her husband know in subtle ways that she was displeased with him, and whether he were guilty or not, he would certainly think he had reason to be and so had leapt at any opportunity to make amends, be it a new gown or a visit to court.
Reina could not picture her giant husband doing anything so normal as trying to assuage a guilty conscience. Neither could she picture herself calmly putting suggestions to him when she would rather break something over his head. But if her mother could do it, she could, too. However, once she had the agreements she wanted, then she would kill him—that swine, that miserable, dog-hearted wretch!
How could he?…nay, nay, what waswrongwith her? She had no business being so furious over something like this. The common belief was that conjugal fidelity was not important. She knew that, had never expected it to be otherwise. What woman did?—except her mother, of course.
The best Reina had hoped for was that her husband would not shame her by bringing his mistresses home, as some men did. And yet was this not as bad? To visit Red Alma in full daylight, in full sight of every gossip in the village, just two days after their wedding. And Red Alma! Reina could understand more readily if she had caught him rutting in a dark corner with Eadwina. Men drooled over Eadwina. Why should her lusty husband be any different?
But Red Alma? True, the woman was not unsightly with her flaming red hair and come-hither eyes of pansy blue. And she was a curvaceous handful, which Reina knew her husband to be partial to. But he was aware that, unlike most ladies, Reina went among her villeins to tend their ills. He had to know that if he visited the village whore, she would learn of it right quickly, even if he had not imagined she would actually find him with the woman as she had.
So did he want her to know? Was this his way of punishing her for her complaints? And she had been complaining, shrewishly so. Or had he even thought of punishing her? More likely he just wanted a more satisfying ride. Yet she could not forget his question just last night, asking her if she would prefer he lust after someone else. Had he taken her silence for agreement instead of refusal? Could he be that stupid?
“Young Malfed said you wished to speak with me?”
Good. Being forewarned would have him thinking she meant to mention Red Alma. But she had no intention of doing that, which ought to confound him nicely.
Reina composed her features as best she could and turned about to face her errant husband—and was confounded herself. She did not know how she had expected a man to look who was wallowing in guilt, but ’twas not with a mere look of inquiry. Even Lady Ella was purring contentedly in his arms, sensing no agitation in her master.
“Do you sit down, my lord.” She indicated the lord’s chair, which she had moved in front of the hearth for this discussion. “Wine?”
He nodded, taking the seat. Reina raised her hand and a servant rushed forward with the refreshment. She had not missed his sigh when he sat down. Was he so tired from his exertions in the village? She had to force herself to hand him the chalice of wine instead of dumping it over his head.
“My bailiff informs me he took you out to view the fields and the mill this morn.”
“Aye.”
He sipped his wine to keep from meeting her eyes, or so Reina thought. She moved in front of the hearth to look down on him. “I suppose the rest of your day was as productive?”
He choked, spewing wine. The cat hissed, jumping down from his lap. Reina picked her up and smoothed off the wine drops from her fur before setting her down on a nearby bench, where she proceeded to do a better job of cleaning herself. Ranulf was still coughing.
“Mayhap the wine is too strong, my lord?” Reina said in all innocence. “Would you prefer ale?”
With a glower, he rasped, “I would prefer it do you come to the point.”
“Point? I have no point to make. There are a few things we needs discuss, but if you are too weary right now from such atiringday, it can wait.”
Her emphasis on his exhaustion was not lost on Ranulf. He was tired, but from riding hell-bent through the woods looking for outlaws or any sport that would get his mind off what Red Alma had told him. It was either that or give in to the lust her suggestions had inspired, and he was damned if he was going to let his cursed prick rule him this time.
As long as he kept those thoughts at bay, he was doing just fine, even in the presence of his wife. Her innuendos were proving distracting, however. What the devil did shethinkhad tired him? If she wanted to know what he had been doing, why did she not just ask him? ’Twas not like her to dance about a subject, not this outspoken lady. And he sensed her upset. She appeared calm and serene on the surface, too serene, but he could feel the tension of a powerful emotion radiating from her.
“Has something happened that I should know about?” he wondered aloud.
The question seemed to baffle her. “That you should… You would know that better than I, my lord.”
Now what didthatmean? “Never mind.” He sighed. “Just get on with what you wished to tell me ere Iamtoo tired to listen.”
Reina clenched her fists behind her skirt. This was not going as she had expected. Why was he not acting as he was supposed to? He knew she knew what he had done. He might have been able to come up with any number of excuses for being in Red Alma’s house if Reina had not seen him with his hand pressed to the woman’s large breast.Thatsignified only one reason for being there.
Did he not care, then, that she knew? Or did he think she would not dare to upbraid him for what he had done, was confident she would not even dare to mention it? Most wives would not dare, too fearful of a beating should they complain of their husbands’ wrongful behavior. Reina did not have that fear, thanks to her marriage contract, but even if she did, ’twould not stop her from reviling this man did he deserve it.
But not yet. She would first see if he was only pretending to be unconcerned.
“Very well, my lord. This will not take long, just a few decisions I need from you. First, we have had an offer to buy the wardship of the de Burgh heiress. Simon brought me the letter from one of his neighbors, a young lord he vouchsafed is capable of administering to the girl’s holdings. I did not wish to mention it until all our guests had departed.”
