AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Marry you? Why would she marry you?”
“Because I am going to be not only the lord of the castle, but High Sheriff, too. She’ll want me. I’ll make sure she does.”
“If she only wanted a man who was lord of the castle and High Sheriff then she would marry Sir Gregory, wouldn’t she?”
God, Jacob hoped not. He needed to talk to Maira and explain to her everything that happened because he didn’t think she really believed him. The last thing he wanted was for her to think he killed a bishop, which is something he would never do.
“I’m going to tell her everything, Will.”
“Everything?” asked Will in surprise. “Are you sure that’s a wise idea? It might do the opposite and frighten her away.”
“I want her to know everything about me before she makes her choice of whom to marry. I don’t want to keep secrets from the woman I want to be my wife.”
* * *
Maira satat the dais next to Sir Gregory later that day for the meal, watching the High Sheriff make a fool of himself.
“More wine,” he said, raising his goblet. He shared a trencher and cup with Maira as was custom. But after seeing how he ate like a pig, she didn’t want to touch anything on her plate let alone the goblet. “Bring more venison and squirrel stew,” ordered the man, waving a hand in the air. He clamped his greasy fingers over the goblet taking a big swallow of wine. Then he handed the cup to her.
“Nay, but thank you,” she said, flashing a smile. “I’m not feeling well and don’t think I’ll eat or drink anything. If you don’t mind I’d like to go back to my chamber and lie down.”
“Go!” the man snorted. “But don’t even think of leaving the castle because I’ve put extra men on patrol to make certain you don’t try to sneak out again.”
“Of course not,” she said, pushing up from her chair. When she did, she heard little Ricker crying from across the great hall.
“Shut him up,” called out Sir Gregory. “I tire of hearing the boy cry all the time. Take him to the bedchamber and keep him there for the rest of the night.”
That angered Maira. She turned back to the man. “If you’d treat your son a little kinder then mayhap he wouldn’t be so frightened of you that he has to cry.”
“He’s not frightened of me. And I’m his father and will treat him however I want.”
“Well, I don’t like it.” She put her hands on her hips.
“Really.” He looked at her over the edge of the goblet and slowly put the cup down. “And how do you suggest I treat the boy?”
“A good father would protect his son. He would take him on outings and spend time getting to know him instead of constantly pushing him away. Instead of punishing the lad, you could try . . . playing with him. Aye,” she said with a nod of her head. “I’m sure little Ricker would like that.”
“I see.” He perused her, chewing his food and licking his lips. “Then that is what we’ll do.”
“Good,” she said, feeling as if she’d done something to help the boy.
“While I’m away, you will take the nursemaid’s place and tend to the boy yourself.”
“Me?” Maira asked in surprise. “But I thought –”
“Starting tomorrow morning, Ricker will be at your side every minute of the day.”
“Why me?” she asked.
“Because you will soon be his mother, just like you said. So you will play with him, go on outings, and do whatever it takes to make him happy and stop his bloody crying.”
“But that’s not what I meant.” Maira didn’t want to take care of a toddler. She needed to plan her escape and a way to get out of marrying the cur. She didn’t want to be saddled with taking care of his offspring as well.
“You’ll do it. Now, go to bed since you aren’t feeling well. In the morning, the nursemaid will bring the boy to you and you’ll take care of him until my return.”
“Aye, my lord,” she said softly, making her way down the dais. Once again, her mouth had gotten her into a situation where she didn’t want to be involved.
Maira made her way quickly out of the great hall, heading toward her solar. As she passed by the corridor with the tapestry hiding the secret entrance to the tunnel, she swore from the corner of her eye she saw the wall tapestry move.
“Tommy?” she whispered, looking over her shoulder and then down the dark corridor. She wanted to make certain the boy was all right after what he went through the other day. She also wanted to apologize since she promised him a pair of shoes and he still didn’t have any.
Going back to her chamber was probably the wise thing to do, but her curiosity and longing to see the little boy and his mother again made her head down the darkened corridor instead of up the stairs to her bedchamber.
Looking over her shoulder once more, she pushed aside the wall hanging and slipped through the small opening into the tunnel.
“I wish I would have brought a candle,” she mumbled to herself, heading down the dark passageway made of stone. The floor beneath her feet was nothing but earth. Using her hand on the wall as a guide, she slowly continued forward. Before long, she heard a noise behind her and stopped. “Tommy? Is that you?” When she had no answer, her heart picked up in pace. “Who’s there?” she called out a bit louder, wishing for her weapons at a time like this.
She turned around to head back out the entrance and when she did she crashed into someone. As she opened her mouth to scream, a large hand covered her mouth.
“Don’t make another peep,” mumbled a deep voice in her ear.
