Valteri kicked his horse toward the hall.
As he raced, a sudden dread filled him. He couldn’t wait to be with his wife, and that feeling made him sick to his stomach.
I must never touch her again.
No matter how much she tempted him. If they were lucky enough that she had yet to conceive, he couldn’t tempt any more ill fate.
Gah, I’m afraid of a tiny maid.…
He shook his head at the irony. He’d stood in battle against the best England had to offer without flinching. No scratch had ever marred him.
Now a simple Saxon maid had brought him to his knees. Made him afraid to even return home.
You have to leave her. You know that.
Men only respected warriors, and only as a feared warrior could he keep their lying, gossiping tongues still. With his absence, Ariel’s goodness would win over the people.
In time, they’d forget and forgive her ill-begotten marriage. Provided they didn’t have to look at his cursed form day in and day out.
No matter what, he must leave Ravenswood. In spite of how much his soul argued against it, he knew it was the only choice he had.
The only real hope Ariel had.
One word against his lady, and he’d gladly take the fool’s tongue for it.
If he stayed, it would only be a matter of time before he was forced to murder someone.
Don’t be stupid.…
By the time he returned, Valteri had convinced himself he’d be far better off without Ariel. Setting his mind on the actions he must take, he rode into the bailey.
Children danced about in a frenzied haste, kicking up their feet and more dust than a herd of uncontrolled stallions. Laughter rang out as well as cheers and songs.
What was this?
They hadn’t played in the yard since he’d come here with his army.
Valteri pulled his horse to a stop. Amazed by the sight, he stared at them in disbelief. Not since they’d landed in England had he heard the merriment of children.
Only their screams and curses.
Their prayers for the death of him and his Norman brethren.
Suddenly, the group of dancers broke apart and out of their center Ariel rose to her feet with one child held on her hip, clutching at her braid. His heart stopped. Never in all his life had he beheld a woman more beautiful, more stunning. The sunlight laced through her hair like finely woven gold. Splotches of pink darkened her cheeks, and she smiled the very smile that must make every angel in heaven weep with envy.
His body hardened to the point of pain. He struggled to breathe against the sensation. Once more he reminded himself why a life with her could never be. Why he must never go to her for comfort or release.
But damn it, he really didn’t want to listen to reason right now.
She set the child aside and they joined hands with the others and circled round in a dance. Her voice rang out above the others, more enchanting than any he’d heard before. “If ever a man deserves salvation, because of a grievous separation. Thee shall rightly be that man. For never a turtle in the loss of her companion was at any time more cast down than thee.”
Ariel smiled at the child to her right and drew a deep breath before continuing her song. “Everyone mourns for his land and country when he parts from friends of his heart, but there is no farewell, whatever anyone may say, so miserable as that of a lover and his sweetheart.”
Her sweet soprano melody and words echoed around him, taunting him, consoling him, whispering to his blackened soul, to his craven heart. Savoring each fragile tone, he closed his eyes.
Aye, she was a woman to make any man proud. So why must he, her husband, turn her away?
Because she could never truly be his.
