Strangclyf Secret (24 page)

God’s teeth, he was
getting sick of seeing fear pop into her eyes, and why was she as
white as the bath sheet? “What’s wrong?” he asked. Ignoring her
order, he crossed to the bench and sat down beside her. She cringed
away, and he saw tears well up in her eyes. “Barwolf, you will stop
this foolishness and tell me what is wrong with you
now.”

She looked down and
sniffed then slowly unclenched the fist holding the linen over her
lap. He saw two tiny flecks of bright red blood on the sheet. “Poor
wife,” he said, caressing a knuckle from her jaw down to her chin
then brushing her trembling lips with a finger. “Cora didn’t tell
you that you would bleed the first time, did she?”

She shook her
head.

“’
Twill stop soon.” He
slipped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her against him.
“Where are the rest of your clothes?”

“
In Jupiter’s Hall in my
pouch,” she mumbled then sniffed and relaxed against him. “I have
not yet had a chance to unpack.”

He kissed her damp curls
then gently rubbed up and down her upper arm. “What is in the
pouch?”

“
My gold kirtle and black
shift and my other everyday gown. I need to sew the sleeve back on
it, but there is still another year of good wear in it. I lost my
blue and white gown after I made you The Strangclyf. I looked for
it the next day, but ‘twas nowhere to be found.”

“
And do you have no other
clothes?” he asked in a well-modulated tone.

“
I don’t need any more. My
father didn’t like me being around when he had guests, so I had no
need for fine garments,” she answered with a shrug, not sensing his
anger. “Like he said, I cannot wear but one gown at a time, so I
had no need for more than two—one for wearing and one for washing.
I’m due for new material at the end of the summer, but I stole the
blue and white linen from the stores to make the gown I lost, so if
you say I cannot have any, then I’ll make do.”

“
Where do you get the
material to make the clothes for the children?”

“
Cora and Ardith and Lori
give me clothes their children have outgrown. And when I stole the
material for my dress, I took some to make shifts for the girls
too.”

“
Is there more material in
the stores?”

She nodded. “I left my
shift on my pallet. Did you not find it?”

“
You will not wear it
again.” He spoke more harshly than he intended, but honest to God,
where did she come by such a giving nature when she had been
treated worse than the lowest serf for most of her life?

“
What have I done now that
angers you so? That is the only shift I have. Is this punishment
for something?”

“
My wife
will
not
be
clothed in tatters. We will see what is in the stores and I’ll
purchase anything you need for a new wardrobe that is not on hand.
You may wear the black and gold on the morrow. For now, you may
wear a bath sheet as a toga like you did earlier. You will not need
to wear anything in bed.”

“
But I might ruin my fine
dress if I wear it tomorrow. I wanted to save it for when we have
special guests.”

Bernon canted his head and
raised a brow. “You do not consider the king and queen special
guests?”

She blushed and ran her
fingers through her hair then sighed. “I guess I forgot them. This
has been an overwhelming last few weeks.”

“
Let’s go to bed.
Everything will sort out on the morrow.” He stood and drew her to
her feet.

She leaned against his
side and slipped an arm around his waist as his arm draped her
shoulders. “I hope so, Bernon. I cannot stand chaos.”

His wife thrived on
chaos.

Bernon secured his
scabbard at his side, walked over to the bedside, and stared down
at his slumbering wife. An arrogant grin raised one corner of his
mouth as he noticed her hugging his pillow. When they had gotten
into bed, Barwolf had worried she’d disturb his rest. She hovered
so near the edge he couldn’t sleep for fear she would teeter off.
He finally hauled her against his side just so he could get some
sleep. Then he awoke in the middle of the night to find his wife
sprawled across his chest—all cuddled up with a smile on her
face.

He had never slept the
night through with a woman and a strange desire grew within him to
spend time with his wife apart from the carnal aspects of marriage.
Something about her lightened his mood, and he found an unfamiliar
sense of completeness with her snuggled on top of him.

The realization that he
trusted her still stunned him and left him feeling vulnerable. He
didn’t like the feeling one bit. How had she maneuvered past
barriers he had spent a lifetime erecting? His vulnerability
strengthened his resolve. She belonged to him, and he would care
for her and protect her, but he would guard his heart.

A sigh whistled from her
mouth and she shifted, pulling the covers over her head and hugging
the pillow tighter. His lips quirked. She had probably never had
such a blissful slumber in her young life. He knew he hadn’t.
Awaking with her warm ripe body plastered to his had sent erotic
surges through him and set his desires toward a little morning
lovemaking. He would have taken her if she hadn’t cried out in her
sleep as he’d slipped his fingers between her legs. He would have
to discuss the definition of “a mite sore” with her later. Her
feminine flesh was so swollen and red that ‘twould probably be at
least a week before he could take her again. ‘Twould be a miracle
if she could even walk today.

She was right about one
thing. She was definitely slow to wake. ‘Twas probably because her
little body exhausted itself by working late into the night hours,
then she tried to get up without sufficient rest. From what he
surmised, her schedule was more rigorous than that of his warriors
in training. Not only were some of her duties totally
reprehensible, but she had assumed more by taking in bastard
orphans.

He would make her get the
rest she needed—starting now. For the next week, his wife would
enjoy a complete sabbatical from work. She would lose her calluses,
and she would have a new wardrobe as befit the lady of so great a
holding. Everyone would treat her with the dignity and respect she
deserved, and damn it all, she would learn her value.

A shout outside the window
distracted his thoughts. He needed to head out and assess the mood
of the Saxons. They had been cooperative yesterday, because he had
saved them from Hadwyn and his cohorts, but he best make his mark
as the new Lord Strangclyf, so they would know he wouldn’t tolerate
defiance. Their new lord was Norman whether they liked it or not,
and ‘twas time to end as many differences as possible between the
Saxons and Normans. Then everyone could live in some degree of
harmony.

Aye. ‘Twas time to see
these Saxons cropped and shaved.

Stepping out of the
chamber, he stopped as the two young girls rushed toward
him.

“
Where’s Mama?” Topaz
asked.

“
Can we see her now?”
Sapphire added, hugging his leg.

“
Shhh, speak softly,”
Bernon whispered, shaking his head. “She is still asleep. You can
see her later.”

“
Is Mama sick?” Topaz
asked, her pitch rising with anxiety.

“
She must be dying,”
Sapphire wailed. “She never sleeps this late.”

Bernon wasn’t sure how to
deal with children but decided honesty would serve best. He
squatted down to their level. “She is very tired after her long
journey and she needs rest, so she will not get sick.”

“
She isn’t dying then?”
Sapphire asked, wiping a tiny hand across her wet eyes.

“
Nay, and you can see her
later when she wakes, but I want her to sleep until the nooning,”
he ordered in a stern tone.

Sapphire threw her arms
around his neck and kissed his cheek. “Good morn, Papa. I love
you.”

“
I love you too,” Topaz
said, slipping her arms around his neck from the opposite side.
“Seeing as Mama is sleeping, do you want to break your fast with
us? We’ll be polite and gracious.”

“
I’ll not cause any mayhem
if you tell me what it is,” Sapphire promised.

Bernon smiled at the pair.
“Now how can I refuse an invitation from two such enchanting
demoiselles?”

Lifting the girls as he
stood, Bernon carried them down to the hall where he saw Ravyn at a
table with Genius, Manuel, and Karl.

“
Where is Mama?” Ravyn
asked as they approached the table.

“
She is sleeping,” Bernon
answered, lowering the girls onto the bench next to Genius opposite
Manuel, Ravyn, and Karl.

“
She isn’t dying, is she?”
Manuel asked as panic plagued his face.

“
She cannot die too!” Karl
wailed.

“
Calm down, Karl. Nobody is
dying,” Bernon said, moving to the head of the table. “She is
tired, so I’m making her sleep late for her own good.”

The children all seemed
relieved with his explanation. Ardith came from the common
corridor, carrying a tray. “Good morning, Lord Strangclyf. I’ll
just be setting this down for the children, then I’ll be off to get
your morning fare.”

When Ardith returned she
set a steaming bowl of porridge, flaky hot scones, a mug of ale,
and a pot of honey before him. “Your lady wasn’t sure what you
would like, except for the honey, so she told Mae to go with plain
fare until she learns your preferences.”

Bernon raised a surprised
brow. “How does she know I like honey?”

“
Because you’re a bear,”
Manuel shouted from the seat beside him.

“
Do not tell him or it may
not work,” Genius chided.

“
What won’t work?” Bernon
asked Manuel.

“
Keepin’ you nice and
docile by feeding you honey.” Manuel whispered and gave him a
wink.

“
I heard that and I’m
tellin’ Mama you told him,” Topaz said.

Bernon ignored the other
children and invited Manuel closer with a scheming grin. Obviously
loving the attention, the boy placed his head next to Bernon’s.
“Did your mama tell you this?”

“
Aye, she did,” Manuel
replied smugly.

Bernon raised a brow at
the boy’s brazen confidence. “How will honey keep me
docile?”

“
Nice
and docile. One of us was
afraid you would be mean, ‘cause of you’re a bear.” Manuel stopped
talking and gave him a see-what-I-mean
expression.

God’s bones, this was like
talking to Barwolf. “And?”

“
Bears love honey,” Manuel
said, wiggling his brows a few times.

“
Aye, Mama says they will
do anything to get it,” Sapphire added, not wanting to be left out
of the great conspiracy.

“
And once you get it, you
will be nice and docile.” Manuel grinned, proud that he had gotten
the last word.

“
Now, children, finish your
breakfast, and let Lord Strangclyf be eating his,” Ardith scolded
in a good-natured tone. “Can I get you anything else,
milord?”

“
This is fine.” Bernon
noticed dark smudges under Ardith’s eyes as she sat beside Karl and
helped the toddler focus on food. He began pouring honey over his
porridge. “Does anyone other than you work in the keep outside the
kitchen?”

“
Betia, my daughter, who is
sitting with your Jerold,” Ardith replied, wiping porridge from
Karl’s cheek. “She started working with us every day. Otherwise,
‘tis just me and your lady. The kitchens are a little better
staffed but not by much.”

“
Arrange a full staff from
maids to serving wenches to alemen,” Bernon said, setting down the
honey pot and lifting a spoon. “And tell Mae I want her to have a
full staff too. Get them in here as soon as possible and get them
organized. Also see about getting someone to whitewash the hall. My
lady thinks ‘twill lighten the atmosphere. Then I want you and
Betia to spend several hours every day resting for the next week. I
left Lady Strangclyf sleeping. I do not want her disturbed until
she wakes. And she is not to do any work without my permission for
at least the next week.”

“
Aye, milord.” Ardith
beamed at him and her voice filled with emotion. “And I just want
to tell you how glad I am that you have come to take care of her.”
Bernon raised a brow at the fact that the housekeeper had mentioned
his taking care of the lady but nothing about the holding. “After
you break your fast, there be a few folks outside wanting to talk
to you about your wife’s duties away from the keep.”

“
All right. Have you seen
Geno this morning?” Bernon asked then ate a bite of porridge,
finding the taste pleasantly sweet.

“
He is outside watching,”
Ardith said vaguely with a grin.

“
Want me to be your
messenger too, Papa, and go get him?” Manuel asked.

Bernon peered at the
audacious boy. “Have you finished eating?”

“
Aye, I have.” Manuel beat
a fist against his chest and forced a belch to prove his
fullness.