Page 56 of Anice’s Bargain

Regardless of his anger toward her, he offered her his arm. She was, after all, still his wife.

“Caldrick Castle is terribly confusing, don’t you agree?” she asked conversationally.

But he was not of a mind for small talk and simply grunted in reply.

“There are many rooms, though,” she offered. “When my sisters come to visit, they might each have their own room.”

He did not bother with so much as a grunt this time.

Her attempts at chatter fell silent as they walked through the door to her chamber.

Ava, a redhead who upon their arrival had been hastily pulled from the kitchens to act as Anice’s maid, bobbed a quick curtsey. “Good day, my lady. I—” the young woman cut off when James entered. “I can leave if ye like.”

“Aye.” James said this at the same time Anice answered, “Nay, that is not necessary.”

The woman looked between the two, and then bolted for a hasty departure. She closed the door behind her, leaving Anice and James alone.

He faced Anice, the hurt in his chest welling into anger—a far easier emotion to accept. It was then he noticed her eyes were red-rimmed and her small nose tinged with pink.

She put her hand to her face and turned her head from him. “Oh, don’t gaze at me so. I know I look a mess.”

“What would cause ye to look a mess, wife?” The edge in his tone skimmed his censure.

She went to the ewer and splashed water on her face. “I didn’t want you to find out.”

“What dinna ye want me to find out?” he said through his teeth.

She lifted a linen towel for drying. “That I, ugh.” She shook her head, clearly not wishing to divulge her admission. “That I was crying.” She turned to him with a chagrined expression. “I cannot remember the last time I cried and now my head is achy, and my eyes hurt. And I’m puffy.” She dabbed under her eyes with the bit of linen.

Suddenly the scene in the garden took on a different context. Not one of passion, but one of violence. “Are ye hurt? Did he hurt ye?”

“He?” Anice frowned and shook her head. “Nay, I’m unhurt. I feel so foolish confessing this to you. It’s only that I’ve never been away from my sisters for so long. My father, aye, when he was away on campaigns for the king, but not my sisters. And certainly not in a place so foreign to me. I couldn’t stop crying and poor Drake happened upon me. Doubtless, he wished he hadn’t. He’s so chivalrous and I all but fell into his arms in a weeping mess. I’m so embarrassed.”

The turn of events had occurred with such speed, James’s mind nearly snapped to keep pace. “Ye were upset because ye missed Werrick Castle?” he asked.

“Aye.” Anice sniffed and stroked Piquette’s head. The beast stared dotingly up at his mistress.

“And Drake comforted ye?”

Anice rolled her eyes. “Aye. I felt awful to have intruded upon his person. The poor man actually blushed.”

James grunted. He was sure the man did not blush and was even more certain the cur did not at all mind the “intrusion upon his person.”

“And ye dinna want me to find out?” James pressed. “Why?”

“I didn’t wish to burden you.” At this, Anice swept across the room toward him, her steps delicate and graceful, as every movement she made was. “You have much on your mind, I am sure. But I also did not wish to taint the start of our life together with my sorrow. It is but a longing for home and it will pass.” She put her hand in his. “This is the beginning of our marriage and I want it to be happy.”

The final word she spoke struck him. Happy.

Had he ever known happiness? Mayhap when he’d been a boy, when his mother was still alive. Or possibly in the quiet reconciliation of his time at Lord Bastionbury’s castle. But truly happy? Had he ever known such a thing?

“Oh, I forgot.” She turned away and went to a small trunk at the base of her bed. “This was already packed, and I could not give it to you with—well, I know you have been busy.” She gave him a shy, sensual look that heated his blood.

She knelt at the chest and sifted through a neat stack of contents. “I have a wedding present for you.”

“I dinna think the bride gives the groom a present.” Regardless, he stepped closer, drawn in by curiosity and her loveliness.

“Oh, but they do, and I had the perfect one purchased for you.” She drew out a book and lifted it to him.