Page 83 of Come the Morning

She stared at him, absolutely hating him for finding the whole travesty so amusing. “Yes, I keep my word!” she told him furiously, then strode by him, slamming the door behind her.

In the bedroom she saw that steam was still rising from the tub. She downed the last of her wine, stared at the water, and cast her clothing off in a sudden frenzy. The fire burned warm around her. She filled the tub with the last of the heated water, wrapped her hair into a knot, and stepped into the tub. She sank into the water.Yes, she kept her word. This was marriage. It wasn’t so terrible. She wouldn’t die, women married every day, women fell in love, Anne was in love with Daro …

The warmth of the tub was good, lying there was good, being numb and trying not to think while minutes rushed by was good as well, and yet …

It wouldn’t be so terrible. She remembered his touch, his kiss, the feeling it had evoked in her, and she realized that she was feeling that strange heat again without his touching her, just thinking, remembering. And she recalled the taste of him, his scent …

“My love?” There came a tapping on the door. “Are you alive in there? It’s been some time, and I wouldn’t want to criticize, but surely, you must be pruning to a pit?”

She gritted her teeth. Just when she thought he might be bearable, he opened his mouth.

She stepped out of the tub, wrapping herself in the towel. She clung to it. Jillian had been here: She’d set the linen towel over a chair by the fire, and it was deliciously warm and comforting.

“Mellyora?”

“Wretch!” she murmured angrily. But she realized he might open the door any second, and so she dived for her gown, pulling it quickly over her head. She loosened her hair, and it fell around her. She heard the scrape of the door as it began to open, and she dived into the bed, covering herself with the furs. She couldn’t dim the firelight, but just as he walked in, she leaned over and blew out the candles that burned bedside.

She stared at him in the pale firelight of the room. “You may come in now,” she said imperilously.

“I am in.”

“So I see. And I am here. As I gave my word I would be.”

He perched on the end of the bed, staring at her. “Well, not exactly as you promised you would be.”

She frowned, holding a fur cover close. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that this will not do at all.”

“In what way?”

He lifted a hand vaguely. “Well, had we remained at the fortress in Stirling, a goodly group of drunkards would have led us about, stolen our clothing, gaped over our good points andbad, and I would have been forced to take the initiative in their voyeuristic debauchery or forever lose face before my friends and countrymen. And women, of course. The crowd would have shown me first the absolute perfection of the king’s great prize, his ward, great Adin’s daughter. But we are here, and I didn’t ask for you to be cowering in bed beneath the covers—”

“I’m not cowering, I’m simply here.”

“But it’s not what you promised.”

“What did I promise?”

He smiled, crossing his arms over his chest. “To start, my lady, get out of the bed.”

“Why? Isn’t it where you wish to end up?”

He arched a brow, still smiling slightly. “Up, my lady.”

Gritting her teeth, she rose. She stood nervously by the bed, glad she had doused the candles. She felt as if the gown she wore were completely diaphanous, and she was grateful for the shadows. She felt his eyes rake over her. He rose, and she braced herself, certain he was coming for her.

“What now?” she murmured.

“Umm, more wine, I think,” he said. He collected her chalice from the mantel and strode to the outer chamber. “My love, do come out here.”

Where there was more light.

“I think you should come back here.”

“I think you should keep your word.”

She walked slowly through the doorway to the outer room. He beckoned to her, and she walked to the table before the great hearth there and stood before him. He sipped from a chalice and she noted that he had meant more wine for himself—not her. He hadn’t poured a second chalice. He leaned against the table, drinking, and made a motion with his hand. “Spin.”