“I am,” he said, not knowing how to best acknowledge his fears.
“Do you know what it was like to watch you almost die?”
Her words cut deep. He had not considered that side of it. It was his job to protect her, not the other way around.
“Then tell me,” he said.
“I watched the life force all but drain from your body. Were it not for your healer’s quick action, you would not be here right now.”
“I am sorry you had to witness that,” he said.
Agnes sat up and took his face into her hands. She gazed at him intently. “I could not sit around for the next attack. Do you understand that?”
“I do.”
“But you are still vexed.”
He took her hands in his and kissed them. It wasn’t easy to be vulnerable with another person, to reveal his darkest fears.
“I was so afraid when I woke to find you gone. I would move mountains to protect you.”
“William, I understand that fear. I felt it firsthand as I tended you. I was not convinced you would pull through the poison let alone the wounds. I simply had to try. Do you not see that?”
“Aye, I do, and I believe your actions may have helped. We can be strategic now in the missives we send him. I believe you should correspond with him, but you will not leave this place with him. You see that.”
“I do. I have no intention of going with him, but I still think he will reveal something that will give their hideout away.”
She stroked his face. “You look exhausted.”
“I am, and I had hoped my wife would take an afternoon respite with me. The king offered for us to take our evening meal here, so we need not be seen any further this day.”
William helped her out of the tub and into her shift. He pulled back the covers and stripped off his clothes to curl up with her. His body had not fully recovered and he was weak, but one word from her and he would use up every last ounce of strength to please her.
“I just want to lie like this,” she said.
He smiled into her hair as he pulled her body to his and wrapped his arms around her. He tucked his knees into the backs of hers so that every part of her body touched his.
“I could stay like this forever,” she whispered.
Aye, he agreed with her on that much. There were so many ways this business with her uncle could go wrong. They would be strategic, and she would have to write the letters, for he now knew her hand. He put thoughts of her uncle from his mind.
She was safe, he was safe, and the monarchs were safe. For now, that was all he could focus on. William raised a hand to stroke her hair and kissed the back of her head again. As if she needed another trait to endear her to him, she’d displayed bravery that was unexpected and awe inspiring. He had never known any woman, let alone a lady, who would put themselves into such potential peril. Agnes had. And she didn’t excuse herself for it. She’d do it again. So he had to ensure speaking between them was open and clear. He would share everything with her concerning Mugdock and the village.
Never had he thought he would be married to a woman with whom he could share so much. The thought did not distress him; it was pleasing to him to have such a strong woman by his side. She truly had a soul that was one of a kind. Neville had told him he’d given her trews and a tunic to wear to conceal her at least a little as they rode to Stirling. He would have liked to have seen that.
The sun was high in the sky, but William’s body felt like it was much later. Only when her breathing leveled out and he was sure she slept did he close his eyes and let sleep overtake him.
He woke sometime later to a dark chamber. He got out of bed and dressed then checked outside to see if a servant was close by. Fin was just coming down the hallway, so William stepped outside.
“How do you fare?” he asked. “Are you ready for your evening meal to be brought up?”
“I am well. Aye, and a fire stoked too, Fin. Thank you.”
He returned to the chamber to find Agnes still sleeping so he lit all the candles he could find and arranged the table and chairs so they could sit by the fire. He would enjoy her company and the quiet this evening. A calm before the coming storm as it were.
They played with fire in facing this head on. Was it the right approach? Who knew? But they were in it now and there was no going back. Her father had washed his hands of sussing out the rebels, and her actions meant they had only one path forward.
Fin returned and upon William’s urging was as quiet as a mouse as he ushered the servant and the kitchen maids to lay out a generous meal. Once everything was in its place, he motioned for Fin to join him outside.
