“You refuse to go?”
He gave her a weak smile for the incredulity that erased her frown. “I believe your words were, ‘Do you want me gone, you will have to drag me out of here.’ I seriously doubt you can manage that yourself, my dear.”
“Plague take you, then,” she seethed, knowing full well she could not have him thrown out, at least not without Ranulf’s permission, which she was not likely to get now, or he would have done it himself. “But I warn you, Lord Hugh. Do you hurt my husband anymore by word, deed, or otherwise, I swear I will destroy you and your house and all you hold dear.”
“And if what I hold most dear is your husband?”
“You have been unable to convince him of that. What makes you think I would believe it?”
“Because ’tis true. I love him. I have from the day I first saw him looking at me with my own eyes, my own image. Before I leave here he will know it, if I have to beat the truth into him.”
So saying, he left her standing there in a quandary of doubt and confusion. She did not know now whether to interfere or let him try to convince Ranulf of his sincerity—if he really was sincere. But even were he not, should Ranulf believe him, would that not ease some of this bitterness he had carried inside him for so long? But beat the truth into him? She had to smile at that choice of words, for Lord Hugh was perhaps the only man alive who possibly could.
Chapter Thirty-nine
The eel in a savory herb sauce was still warm, as were the chicken with pine nuts and the spicy creamed rabbit. Ranulf did not touch the fare before him. Hugh did not touch it. Reina was not one to let any emotion affect her hearty appetite, but in deference to the two men on either side of her, she merely sipped her wine.
It was a silent table in comparison to the norm. Walter’s merry wit was sorely missed today. Though Reina’s ladies spoke quietly among themselves, they were subdued by the brooding atmosphere at the center of the table. Even the servants were on their best behavior, sensing the tension in the air.
But it did not continue for the duration of the meal, much to Reina’s misfortune. She had assumed Ranulf’s thoughts were solely on his father, but some small portion must have been spared for her. He rose and with a hand under her elbow, brought Reina to her feet as well. And then without a word of explanation to his father, or to her for that matter, he escorted her from the table. She would not have questioned him if their direction were not the stairwell leading up to their chamber.
“What are you doing?” Reina demanded in an anxious whisper when she could not manage to break his hold on her arm.
“I need a distraction, lady, ere I explode.”
She immediately thought of his lusty nature and cried, “Notnow!”
“Aye, ’tis no better time, for I would not have you dreading the night. Or did you think I would forget what I promised you earlier?”
Promised? Dreading? SweetJesú, he spoke of the chastisement he felt she had earned this morn, not lovemaking. Her color receded, only to flood back with visions of what he intended to do. The way she saw it, did he punish her now, ’twas likely to be quite painful,verypainful in fact, for he needed an outlet for the turmoil raging inside him that his father’s visit had thus far caused. But if she helped toward a reconciliation first, his emotions were like to be less turbulent, so would he not go easier on her, mayhap even just give her a severe scolding instead?
She did not try to stop him, but she did glance back at the table and silently beckoned Lord Hugh to follow. Fortunately, he was watching their departure. And just before they reached the stairwell, she saw that he had stood up. But his expression seemed uncertain. Curse and rot him, was he remembering what she had last said to him?Hewas the one who had said he would not leave here until he had settled things with Ranulf. Did he expect to find a better opportunity to get his son alone?
Reina was dragged up the stairs, not at all certain now that she would have a reprieve. A tight knot formed in her belly, the dread Ranulf had mentioned. She did not want to become acquainted with the palm of his hand, as he had once promised would happen did she provoke him, especially when that hand had been naught but gentle to her since she received that warning. Yet she did deserve some form of punishment. She had deliberately provoked him, as well as forced him to confront his father against his will. But,Jesú, she had never believed he would actually dothisto her. Too often he had threatened her with this same consequence, but naught had ever come of it.
He did not let go of her until they were inside the bedchamber, and then only to close the door and bolt it. Reina’s trepidation increased tenfold. Common sense said it would be over with quickly, that if children could suffer this, so could she. Common sense be damned.
“Ranulf, can we not talk about this?”
“Nay,” he said flatly and crossed to the bed. He sat down on the edge of it, sideways, and patted the spot next to him. “Place yourself here, lady, and raise your skirts.”
Reina blanched. “You mean to humiliate me as well?”
“Humiliation is the foundation of this lesson. You will forget the discomfort right quickly, but the humiliation you will long remember.”
“I will also remember that you took pleasure in this!” she snapped.
“Not even a little, lady. I like this no better than you, but you have defied me one time too many. Now come here.” She remained rooted to the spot. “Do not make me come after you…”
Or it will go worse for you, he could have finished, but did not. The warning was clear enough and she heeded it. But it had never taken so long for her to walk a few spaces. Her hands had already begun to sweat. ’Twas not so much the stinging bottom she feared, but the telling blow to her pride, and she could not think of any way to…unless…
She had reached him, and in a desperate move, slipped her arms around his neck. “Ranulf, you wanted a distraction. Make love to me instead.”
Fire leapt into his eyes, but only for a moment. His lips were a hard, straight line, unyielding. Slowly, he unwound her arms and placed them at her sides.
“I will—afterward.”
Fire leaped into her own eyes then, but of a different kind. “Curse and rot you! If you touch me afterward, I will never forgive you!”
