Chapter Five #6
Dustin stood up and went over to him, timidly. She was studying him openly, touched at his words and comforted by his tone. His voice had a tremendously soothing quality, and she found it amazing that the same voice could bark orders so harshly that it could chip mortar from stone.
He caught her from the corner of his eye and turned to look down at her. Her expression was so unguarded and guileless that he could not help but match her gaze. Christ, those gray eyes seemed to reach out and touch him. Even when she lowered her gaze, he could not take his eyes from her.
“We are family now, my lord,” she said softly. “We are not alone anymore.”
He cracked a smile. “That is true,” he replied. “I have something now I never thought to have, a wife.”
Her head came up and she saw his smile and responded hesitantly. She had a beautiful smile.
“And I hoped I would never have a husband,” she said.
He smiled wider. “Is that so? And why not?”
She turned away from him in a coy move. “Because,” she replied evasively.
He leaned against the window, crossing his huge arms. “Because why?”
She sat back on the bed and teased the cat. “Because….because husbands are only good for one thing.”
“And that is?” he snorted, wondering if she was going to say something rather titillating.
She looked at him, still smiling. “Giving orders.”
Relieved her thoughts were as innocent as the rest of her, he snickered and nodded. “I see. And you do not like orders.”
“Nay,” she replied. “I would rather give them.”
His eyes twinkled when he looked at her. “I thought that of you,” he said. “See? I am getting to know you better already. Mayhap we shall not be strangers too much longer.”
“Mayhap,” she shrugged, watching Caesar chase a piece of string.
Christopher watched her play with the cat. “Jeffrey tells me that you had hundreds of suitors,” he said. “Is this true?”
She shrugged and made a wry face. “Who can count? Men with honeyed words and soft eyes annoy me to death. I paid them no heed.”
“None of them?” he pressed, still amused.
“None.” Her chin went up into the air firmly. “Fools that only wish to talk of love and romance, and the color of my hair. Pah.” She stuck out her tongue.
He laughed then, a hearty booming laugh that made her heart jump, although she did not know why.
“Good girl,” he applauded. “I do not like those fools, either.”
She smiled in spite of herself. “There was one man, a baron, who told me my eyes were the color of bruised clouds. I showed him what a bruise was.”
He laughed until tears came. “My lady, you are a unique soul. I should like to hear more of your adventures.”
She shrugged, somewhat embarrassed by all of the attention.
But she liked it, and she liked to hear him laugh.
She thought a moment. “There was a viscount, son of the Earl of Leeds. Now, there was a slobbery idiot if I ever saw one. He told me I had a spot of dirt on my neck, and when he bent over and pretended to wipe it off, he kissed me.” When Christopher feigned disbelief, she nodded vigorously.
“Aye, he did. Right on the mouth. And do you know what I did to him?”
“What?” He stretched out his long legs and crossed them at the ankles, thoroughly enjoying her.
She held up her index and middle finger on her right hand. “I put my fingers in his eyes, and when he was blinded, I rammed my fist into his nose.” She was animated with her story, mimicking all of her original movements. “Broke it clean through. He had bone chips coming from his skin.”
Christopher winced at the thought, though still smiling broadly. “You are a terror,” he observed. “Although I must say the man deserved worse for kissing you without your permission.”
“Do you think so?” she suddenly went serious. “Do you think I should have broken his….?”
He waved her off quickly. “No, no, my lady, simply a jest,” he said. “I believe your punishment fit the crime.”
“Oh,” she blinked, wondering why she was pleased that he approved of her actions.
He shook his head at her. “I must say I feel most fortunate that I have not spoken honeyed words or tried to steal a kiss from you,” he teased. “I would probably find myself missing fingers.”
She lowered her lashes with a faint smirk, paying attention to the cat. She should have agreed with him but could not seem to bring herself to do it. “As it was, you still became acquainted with my fist,” she looked up at him. “And I do apologize for that. I was tired and not thinking clearly.”
He nodded faintly, his smile fading. Would she bring up Nottingham now, he wondered?
Their conversation had been so pleasant he was hoping not.
Caesar, tired of the game, jumped off the bed and she stood up, opening the door to let him out.
Christopher watched her walk, the sway of her hips and the way her hair moved against her back, thinking how graceful she moved.
But the peasant dress she wore, although it fit her voluptuous figure perfectly, was sadly out of place on a woman of such beauty.
Dustin deserved silks and jewels, not linen and leather.
“Your friend, Mistress Rebecca, told me you went to town yesterday to purchase material for new surcoats,” he said. “I will go and retrieve the fabric for you so that you may begin making them.”
“Rebecca has the material, as she will sew them for me,” Dustin replied.
“I see,” he nodded, gazing out over the bailey again.
Dustin eyed him, wondering where that subject came from. Yet it also brought another to mind.
“My lord,” she began. “About Nottingham. I had hoped to leave today, but obviously I shall not be. I hope that will not create a problem for you.”
He turned back to her. “Why would it?”
She shrugged. “I had told you I would be gone, and if you had made plans for my departure, then I apologize for disturbing them.”
“I made no such plans,” he told her.
She cleared her throat, nodding, suddenly self-conscious now that the conversation wasn’t flowing.
Truth was, she wasn’t at all sure she wanted to go to Nottingham anymore.
She was beginning to feel at ease with her husband and, as they agreed, they were family.
After what he had told her about his own history, she almost felt needed.
Yet she knew full well he didn’t need her.
She cleared her throat again. “To be honest with you, my lord, I am not sure if I wish to go to Nottingham anymore,” she said quickly, hoping he would not be mad that she wanted to stay.
“Lioncross is my home, after all. And I have only met my mother’s family once, so I would be living with strangers anyway.
At least if I stay at Lioncross, my surroundings are familiar. ”
He nodded slowly, greatly relieved she had made the decision herself to stay. “A wise decision, my lady.”
She looked at him, studying him. “You are not angry?”
He stood up. “Why should I be? This is your home, too.”
“But,” she blinked. “But I will be in your way.”
“You will?” he asked, puzzled.
“Aye,” she said quickly, then stopped herself. “What I mean is, won’t I be in your way?”
“Why would you ask me that?” He was moving slowly toward her, his arms still crossed. “I never said that.
“Nay, you didn’t, but you called me additional baggage,” she reminded him. “I promise I shall make myself scarce. I won’t bother you.”
He scratched his head, standing in front of her now. He looked down at her, her honest eyes gazing up at him. He found himself responding to her emotionally. “You could not bother me if you tried, my lady. I consider it a pleasure to have you remain.”
She smiled with growing happiness. “Truly? You do not mind?”
He shook his head. “No.”
She turned away happily, then suddenly stopped and looked at him. “Will you make me serve you dinner every night?” she demanded warily.
He grinned. “Nay, you do not have to serve me dinner,” he said. “But I will insist that you sit by my left hand.”
She smiled back, biting her lip. “I would sit by your left hand, my lord.”