“How much?”
“Two hundred pounds a year.”
“I see,” she said, considering what some would consider a sizable sum. “Then you are a very rich man because I know my father has given you my dowry. My mother told me so.”
Gar nodded. “He did give it to me,” he said. “Why?”
“It was somewhere around three thousand pounds.”
“Three thousand, two hundred.”
Mattie didn’t say anything. She simply wandered over and sat down on a stump next to him. Gar’s gaze moved over her. He sensed that there was something more on her mind.
“If I ask you if something is amiss with you, will you tell me?” he said.
Mattie scratched her forehead before answering. “I do not know,” she said honestly. “I suppose… I suppose that I want to feel useful, Gar. I want to feel as if I contribute to our marriage beyond bringing you three thousand, two hundred pounds. I have ideas and I would like to help you, as your wife. I mustdosomething. I cannot sit idle.”
A smile tugged at his lips. “I am coming to learn that about you,” he said. “You cannot sit still.”
“Nay, I cannot.”
“Then do whatever you like,” he said. “If you want to have a herd of a thousand goats, then go ahead. Buy your goats if it makes you happy.”
She looked at him, joy on her face. “Truly?”
“Truly.”
“But there is something else.”
“What else?”
“I was speaking to Brickie,” she ventured. “I asked him about feasting items. You know—plates, spoons, knives. Things that are used when you provide a feast. He said you had very little in the way of those things.”
Gar nodded. “That is true,” he said. “I told you that we do not have fine feasts here. There is no call for plates or spoons beyond a reasonable measure.”
“Could I commission some so that when we have a special guest, I will not be ashamed?”
He chuckled softly. “Commission what you like,” he said. “You are my queen. This is your castle. Do what you want to do.”
She brightened. “But it will cost money.”
“Spend what you wish.”
She stood up quickly and rushed him, throwing her arms around his neck. “Thank you,” she said, kissing his cheek. “You are kind and generous, husband.”
She went to pull away but he wouldn’t let her go. His powerful arms were around her and he wasn’t quite ready to release her yet.
“Do it again,” he murmured.
She cocked her head. “Do what?”
“Kiss me.”
Fighting off a grin, Mattie looked him in the eye first. Really looked him in the eye. Then, she leaned over and gently kissed his cheek. She did it again and again, moving in the direction of his mouth. When she came to his lips, she kissed him oncemore as a final prize. She’d only meant it to be a soft, gentle kiss, but very quickly, it turned into something more. Gar pulled her against him, his lips suckling hers, his tongue licking at her. It was clear that he wanted to kiss her deeply, but Mattie was quite aware they were in public, so she put her hands on his face to stop him.
“Not now,” she whispered, her face flushed from his kiss. “There are people about.”
He wouldn’t be put off. “They know we are married,” he said. “I am allowed to kiss my wife.I am allowed to kiss my wife!”
