Chapter Eleven #3
That was, of course, in the event that God had forgiven her for both disobeying and lying to her husband.
Ten days after the ambush, she was still convinced that God had punished her for being wicked.
Every time she thought of leaving her room when Stephen was not around, she reminded herself what her disobedience had gotten her.
She could no longer rationalize that she was trying to help her husband by contacting the rebels.
The plain truth was that she had lied to him. She tried not to hate herself for it.
So she relished the time they spent together, especially in moments like this.
Walking next to Stephen’s enormous form, she felt proud and happy, and extremely lucky to be alive.
He was sweet and attentive with her, no mention of her disobedience and lying since she had apologized for it.
For the past ten days, life between them had been unimaginably wonderful.
Stephen and Kenneth were still bantering back and forth by the time they reached the kitchens. Stephen came to abrupt halt and looked at her.
“Your five minutes are up,” he said. “Back to bed now.”
She shook her head vigorously and let go of him, standing just far enough away that his long arms couldn’t grab her.
“Just five more,” she pleaded. “I am not tired in the least. It feels wonderful to walk about. Please, Stephen?”
He put his big hands on his hips and cocked an eyebrow at her. “What did I tell you? If you argue with me, I shall not let you out for a week.”
Gazing up at him with her pale blue eyes, her lower lip stuck out in a pout and he folded like an idiot. Reaching out, he took her hand with gentle irritability and they resumed their walk.
“Oh, very well,” he snapped softly. “Five more minutes.”
But she dug her heels in as he tried to pull her forward. “Can we collect the fawn? He hasn’t been outside in some time and needs to walk about, too.”
“Nay.”
“Please, husband?” she smiled prettily and folded her hands in front of her as if praying to him. “Please?”
Stephen looked as if he were about to burst a vein but he kept his irritation in check.
He simply pointed at the kitchens and she dashed inside, emerging a short time later with the fawn in her arms. Putting the little thing down, it stood unsteadily for a moment before bounding off.
Before Stephen could stop her, Joselyn was bounding after it.
He called to her a couple of times as she chased the animal around but gave up when she ignored him.
With a heavy sigh, he and Kenneth resumed their walk.
“I saw as I arrived that the town is fairly destroyed,” Kenneth wisely changed the subject away from Lady Pembury based on Stephen’s frustrated expression. “Have the raids been constant?”
“They were very violent in the first few days following the surrender,” Stephen was watching Joselyn run around.
“But they have died down considerably in the past seven days. Perhaps two or three very small skirmishes, but for the most part, it has been relatively quiet. However, I know they are not over. I have a very bad feeling that the rebels are building up to something big.”
“What do your scouts say?”
“That there is very little activity anywhere in the city. The outskirts seem deserted. I fear the Scots have gone somewhere to regroup and attack in larger numbers.”
Kenneth grunted in agreement. “They simply would not have faded away voluntarily.”
“Nay, they would not have.”
They had circled around the yard and had reached the postern gate that led to the river.
Joselyn had cornered the frolicking fawn a few feet away and they watched her as she knelt down to pet the little animal.
Stephen looked particularly pensive as he watched his beautiful wife tend the little creature.
His frustrated expression had softened into one of adoration.
“Joselyn’s cousin is one of the rebel leaders,” he said quietly.
“The man has been in my vault since the city surrendered. We have tried repeatedly to wrest information from him and what information we were able to obtain ended in Joselyn being wounded. I am concerned that he is our only link to the Scots who are unwilling to accept English rule of Berwick.”
Kenneth grunted. “Let me talk to him. Perhaps I can… persuade him to tell us what he knows.”
Stephen wriggled his eyebrows. “Be my guest.”
As Kenneth split for the gatehouse and the vault within, Stephen made his way over to his wife as she knelt down next to the fawn. He stood over the pair for a moment, watching her scratch the spotted little head.
“’Tis time to return to your room,” he told her. “Your five minutes have long been expired.”
She gazed up at him. “Can I bring the fawn?”
He shrugged and she stood up, holding the little animal to her chest. Stephen put an arm around her shoulders and led her back to the keep. He took the animal from her as they mounted the narrow stairs to their chamber, but Joselyn took the animal back from him once they reached the room.
“Now,” Stephen put his hands on his hips, watching her as she set the little creature down near the warm hearth. “I am returning to Kenneth and I want you to stay here and rest. You are not to play with the fawn or jump about. You are to get in bed and lie still. Is that clear?”
She turned to him, properly obedient. “Aye, my angel.”
He looked at her strangely. “Angel? Why do you call me that?”
She went to him, stood on her tip toes to kiss him. But she was not tall enough so he bent down to allow her to kiss him sweetly on the cheek.
“You are an angel to me,” she smiled when their eyes met. “My guardian angel.”
“I am the Guardian Protector, not a guardian angel.”
She shook her head. “You are an angel. You are my angel.”
He pursed his lips to let her know how ridiculous he thought she was, but in truth, he was rather touched.
“If you think sweet words will cause me to allow you to run amuck as you please, then think again. I shall not fall victim to your flattery.” He pointed insistently at the bed.
“You are going to lie down on that bed and rest even if I have to sit on you.”
She giggled at him and his response was to kiss her deeply, his big hands in her hair, on her face. He was having a difficult time taking a firm stance when she was so sweet and charming. It made him love her all the more.
“I was not showering you with empty flattery,” she insisted as he smothered her with kisses. “I was thanking you for taking such good care of me.”
He pulled back, his cornflower blue eyes warm. “You are welcome.”
She grinned, rubbing at his cheeks affectionately. “My sweet, handsome angel.”
He wrinkled his face and tried to pull away. He sensed coercion coming. “I am leaving now.”
She held on to him dramatically. “My sweet, sweet husband,” she made loud kissing noises at him. “You are the most powerful, handsome and adorable man in all the land. You are so kind and generous. You are so….”
He was trying to pull away but he was not doing a very good job.
He covered his face with his hands when she threw her arms around his neck and began peppering him with insincere kisses.
The ploy was now in full force but he couldn’t seem to get away from her.
In truth, he was not trying very hard. He was enjoying it.
“Cease!” he roared weakly. “You will not change my mind. You cannot leave this room until the evening meal and nothing you say will change the fact.”
She laughed loudly when he tripped and fell backwards over the bed. She pounced, straddling his belly and kissing the hands that covered his face as Stephen feebly tried to defend himself.
“Stop!” he commanded.
“Never!” she responded devilishly, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. “Look at me, Stephen.”
“No,” he mumbled fearfully behind the hands over his face.
“Do it,” she shook him. “Remove your hands and look at me.”
He shook his head. “I am afraid to.”
“I promise I will not hurt you.”
His snort reverberated off his hands. “I am not afraid of that. I am afraid you will bewitch me into doing your will.”
She smiled, kissing his hands gently. “I promise I will not bewitch you,” she said, laying her cheek against the back of his enormous hands. “Now look at me.”
He splayed his fingers, the blue eyes glimmering with humor. “I am looking at you. Now what?”
She sat up, still perched on his belly, and began to peel his fingers away, one at a time. She kissed each finger as it came away. Then she pulled both hands off, rough and calloused things. She put them against her cheeks.