Cursing, Valteri closed the doors with a loud clatter and moved her back. “We’ll have to wait awhile for the rain to slacken.”
She smiled, grateful for the weather’s intervention.
His silence almost tangible, Valteri led her back to the stall. “Rest yourself. I’ll wake you when ’tis time.” He moved away.
“Will you not sit with me?”
She felt his reluctance as he took a seat beside her.
Ariel placed her head on his shoulder. He tensed for a moment as if he fought with himself, then he relaxed and draped an arm over her.
Savoring the rich scent of him, the warmth of his body so close to hers, she closed her eyes and wished for the courage it would take to strip his tunic from him and relive her memories of the night before. But should she try, he’d push her away and leave her longing.I will find a way to reach you, Valteri.
Somehow.
Before it was too late.
“Milady?”
Ariel came awake with a slow stretch. She opened her eyes to see Wace standing over her. Frowning in confusion, she clutched the blanket to her chin and scanned her chambers. How had she gotten here?
“Where’s Lord Valteri?”
Wace grinned. “He left early this morn with several men. He said to tell you he’d return this even.”
Wace wagged his brows, the implication of which she knew full well. “He carried you in at first light and warned me to make certain you were left undisturbed.”
She returned his smile, but it went no further than her lips. Why had Valteri not awakened her as he’d promised?
Did this mean he’d kept her by his side all night? Even though he constantly protested her presence and sought to leave it?
She shook her head over her baffling husband.
Wace looked past his shoulder, into the hall. “I wouldn’t have disturbed you now, milady, but a friar has come and he seeks the lord or lady of the hall.”
Ariel scowled at those words. “A friar, you say?”
“Aye.”
A sudden thought brought a smile and lifted her spirits. This just might be the chance to ease everyone’s fear of Valteri. If she could get the friar on their side, surely the others would see he wasn’t a demon.
Throwing back the covers, she rose from bed.
Ariel hesitated as she realized Valteri had left her fully clothed.
Right down to her shoes.
How odd, indeed. They were married now, and even after the passion he’d shown the night they’d been together, he still acted as if he, the fearless, was terrified of touching her.
“Milady, he waits.”
Nodding at Wace’s insistence, Ariel followed him into the hall. The short, rotund friar immediately stood, his face aghast.
Wondering at the strange reaction, she shortened the distance between them. “Greetings, Brother…?”
“Edred.” He nervously brushed his hand over his tonsure. Redness spread over his cheeks and up to the small shaven circle. He cleared his throat and settled a steely gray gaze upon her. “I received a message from a Lord Valteri two days ago asking for someone to come bless graves and administer last rites. I understand some sort of accident took place?”
Of course he did.
