Page 140 of An Inconvenient Vow

Sabina gave a chuckle. “That was when you told me my hair would make a good rope,” she reminded him fondly.

Jeffree looked faintly embarrassed. “So I did.” His hand shifted up and down her back. “And you gave my first kiss.” He lowered his face and returned the compliment very tenderly.

“And you made out that you were not affected by it,” Sabina reminded him as soon as he withdrew his lips. She placed her hand on his chest. “Even though I could tell how wildly your heart was beating.”

He laughed. “Do not remind me.” A puzzled look crossed his face. “I was such an idiot. Thank the gods you bore with me.”

“You still pay me some odd compliments at times,” she confessed, “but I do not really mind them.”

“You don’t?”

She shook her head. “Can I tell you a secret?”

“Of course. Anything.”

“It is because I love you so.”

He caught hold of her braids, dragging her face to his. “As I do you, wife.”

Six months later

The Great Hall, The Winter Palace, Aphrany

Sabina had not anticipated the Queen’s receiving chambers would be so busy, for all it was the beginning of the solstice celebrations. She clung to Jeffree’s arm and fingered the pearl and ruby necklace at her throat. How well it matched her new gown of red and gold brocade, she thought, catching sight of herself in a large, gilded mirror. She looked quite the fine lady these days and she felt sorry that her mother and sister would not see her in her finery, for she was spending the solstice at the palace with Jeffree’s family this year.

She gazed about looking for the Vyses who had said they would see them later in the day, but she could not see them anywhere. Jasper and Crispin were in high spirits, not so much for their court introduction, but because they would not be returning to Longacre afterwards but traveling back to Ganfordshire to begin their squire’s training in the new year.

Poor Hugo had been horrified to find two extra palette beds shoved into his bedchamber and two smelly dogs, but he was far too much in awe of Lady Maud to object. It was quite a squeeze in the De Crecy chambers, but they were making do, as it was only for five days.

“What part of the celebration happens in here?” Sabina asked, looking around with interest, for she was finding the royal festivities to be a lot grander than the humbler customs back home. Suddenly, she realized the crowd was falling back around them, revealing a clear path to where Queen Armenal sat on her raised platform, resplendent in a burgundy gown and pearls.

“What—?” she murmured as Jeffree pulled away from her, deliberately putting space between them before turning gravely to face her. “Husband?” She could not quite keep the note of panic from her voice. “What are you—?”

“Ah, Sir Jeffree de Crecy and your good lady wife,” the Queen’s raised voice greeted them, cutting off Sabina’s bewildered query. “But how wonderful it is to see you once again.” Seeing Jeffree direct a bow toward the dais, Sabina dropped likewise into a deep curtsey to the Queen. “When last you were in our royal presence there was a little disturbance, no? Some unpleasantness in our hallowed halls and Sir Jeffree it was agreed that you owed me some recompense. Am I not, right?”

Sabina felt a jolt of alarm for she had forgotten all about the forfeit Jeffree was supposed to pay for brawling in the royal banqueting hall.

Jeffree cleared his throat. “You are right, my Queen,” he answered loudly. “I am prepared to make full reparation now before the witnesses here present.”

The Queen nodded, looking pleased with his reply. “And how will you make this up to me, Sir Jeffree? I am all ears.” Her eyes gleamed in anticipation.

Jeffree took a deep breath and Sabina felt her spine tingle in warning. What was he doing? Whatever it was, he looked for a moment a little… apprehensive? Certainly not like her proud husband. She glanced from him to the Queen and back again, trying not to show her perturbation.

“I will make you my defense and ask if the violence of my feeling was not justified,” Jeffree replied, raising his voice to the rafters. Sabina blinked. What was happening right now? “I have been brought low by love for a fair, cruel maid who shows me no mercy.”

Sabina’s mouth dropped open as gasps rang out around the hall. “I dwell in darkest agony and torment, with no hope of my affection being returned. I have wronged her, but she revisits my wrongs back upon me one hundredfold and will give me no succor.”

Suddenly, Jeffree turned to face her again and she met his gaze, her own full of blind panic. Was this some sort of solstice mummery that she did not know the lines for? In front of her astonished eyes, Jeffree dropped to his knees like a supplicant before her.

She gaped at him. “Jeffree?” Gasps went up from the crowds around them and the Queen clapped her hands together with glee.

“I am dying for love of you, Sabina de Crecy, and no one else can alleviate my suffering,” he announced, and all around them, the buzz of conversation became so loud that Sabina’s head reeled. The crowd pressed in around them and the view of Queen Armenal was partly obscured.

Sabina could stand it no longer. She took three hurried steps forward and seized her husband’s shoulder, shaking it. “Stop this, Jeffree! What are you doing?” she cried.

“I am making a spectacle of myself,” he answered in his usual voice.

Just hearing his normal tones relieved her greatly. “But why?”