Page 20 of Her Baseborn Bridegroom

Linnet stiffened at the idea of relinquishing her precious accounts to the steward. It was hard not to take it as a personal slight. She stared down at the tabletop a moment to compose herself. When she looked up she addressed her page.

“Cuthbert, would you be so kind as to fetch my accounts book forth?”

“From the tower, milady?” asked Cuthbert, reaching out his hand for the key to her chest.

“No, from the bedchamber in the master suite,” she correctly softly.

He gave a small bow and skittered off in his yellow and blue hose, his golden bobbed hair glowing. As he exited the room, Oswald entered carrying a stack of papers. No doubt his inventory from the strong room, she thought. Linnet steeled herself for an ordeal. Something told her that what was left of the afternoon was not going to be pleasant.

VIII

Mason was not fooled by Linnet’s compliance. He could tell she had not liked turning over her accounts one bit. But he did not have time to pussyfoot around her finer feelings. He needed to know how things truly stood at Castle Cadwallader. Women were strange creatures, but even he had to agree she seemed even tempered for a female. She had not pouted or shed tears after her deflowering, and indeed for almost a week now she had sat three parts of the day in a dank cellar, scribing. Now, as he watched Robards strike a line through the name of yet another fictitious servant in red ink, he could feel his brother’s disapproval. He raised an eyebrow at Oswald’s troubled countenance.

“Well, what is it?” he asked finally. “Out with it. You’ve been pacing and sighing this last hour.

“You should go to her,” said his brother, frowning. “She sits now in the solar. You should accompany her for a while.”

Mason’s eyebrows rose. “Why should I? I clearly have more pressing concerns.”

Oswald rolled his eyes. “This seems rather . . . unseemly, Brother.”

“What does?”

“This preoccupation with the dowry she brings you. It’s been almost a week now you’ve been totting up your wealth.”

Mason gave a short laugh. “Why else do you think I married her?” he asked coldly.

Oswald swiveled to look at Robards, who was apparently absorbed with checking off his list against Linnet’s household book.

“For the sake of the gods, Mason, what of servants’ tattle?” he cautioned in a low voice.

“Linnet’s well aware of the fact,” he answered scathingly. “I spoke no words of love or courtship.”

“Well, maybe you should have,” muttered Oswald.

“No, I thank you. I’d rather have honest, plain dealing than hollow words and promises. Do you really think Roland would have played the lover for her?” he sneered. “He wasn’t even going to bed her.”

Oswald’s lips thinned. “You think because she’s small and ugly she doesn’t deserve a few pretty words?” he asked. “When she brings you all this?” He swept a hand wide.

“Is that what this is about?” asked Mason in a low, lethal voice. He had gone very still for a moment. “The fact that your bastard brother is now head of an estate three times as big as his sire’s?”

A look of surprise flickered over Oswald’s face, and then his eyes dropped a moment as he seemed to turn over Mason’s words in his mind. Then he looked back up, his gaze open. “No, Mason, I can honestly say that is not it. I am worried about . . . about this marriage.”

Mason’s eyes narrowed to slits. “What affair is it of yours, Brother?”

“What will our father say?” Oswald continued in a rush. “You were always so focused on your career, and now―”

“The uprising in the North is quelled, Oswald,” he cut in drily. “That chapter is now definitely closed.”

“But your post in the King’s army―it took you so long to get promoted to general.”

“What of it?” he shrugged. “I will return to court as soon as I have trusted people in position here at the castle to keep all in order.”

“You will just abandon her then? So soon after wedding her?”

Mason laughed harshly. “Name one of our number who keeps his wife by his side,” he jeered. “Her place is here. I doubt very much she’d enjoy life at court.”

“It’s just she’s so . . . naive and trusting, Mason.”