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bent over him smiling. That smile had been so bright it had almost hurt his head. He had been hard
pressed to see why she would smile at him so. So far in their illustrious marriage he had given her little
reason to do so. Unfortunately, now that he wished to see her expression, her head was bowed, her
thoughts hidden from him.
 You should rest, my lord, she murmured now, still peering at the hands she was so busily wringing in
her lap.
 I have slept for three days, Amaury responded irritably, peeved that he could not see her expression.
 Aye, but Lady Emma is right, the bishop murmured now, a hand dropping to her shoulder.  You
needs must rest to continue healing, and so must you, my lady, the bishop added sternly, giving her
shoulder a gentle squeeze as he spoke.  You have not slept these two nights and three days.
 He is right, my lady. Alden peered at her across the bed.  Ye ve not left his Lordship s bedside since
he was injured. You will make yourself sick do you not rest soon.
Amaury perked up slightly at that news, then frowned over it.  Aye, wife. You will rest. I will not have
you sick.
Emma glanced up at that, but her expression was not what he had hoped for. Rather than being pleased
by his recovery or his concern, she looked vastly annoyed.  Why is it that everyone is always ordering
me to bed?
Rolfe grinned at her disgruntlement.  Because, sweet cousin, you appear ne er to have the sense to go
there on your own.
 Why is he called Little George? Emma asked the following morning as she joined her husband s friend
at the table in the Great Hall.
Blake glanced up from the bread and cheese he had been breaking fast with to follow Emma s gaze as
she took a seat beside him at the table. He smiled slightly when he saw the way the servants were giving
the huge man a wide berth and nervous looks where he sat at the table with the other men.  Because he
is so large.
Emma frowned at that.  That makes very little sense, my lord.
 Life makes very little sense, my lady.
Emma raised her eyebrows at that.
Blake shrugged.  Explain to me why your first husband did not see to his duty by you. He had meant
the question as proof of little sense, for truly, anyone would wonder at a husband who did not find this
woman attractive enough to bed. He realized the moment that her face flushed in shame, then paled, that
he had made a mistake.
 Perhaps he found me ugly, she whispered unhappily, and Blake fairly goggled at her. Not for the
words so much, for many was the time that women had said similar things to him in an effort to elicit
compliments. His shock was due to the fact that this lady truly seemed to believe the words.
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 My lady, has no one ever told you you are pretty? he asked now.
Emma sighed again.  My father& and my cousin, of course, she murmured quietly.  But then they
loved me and would say it because they thought it would please me. She obviously did not believe it
was true.
 No one else?
Emma shook her head, her eyes trained on the trencher before her as she played with a piece of cheese
in it.
 Well. Blake straightened in his seat and gave her his most brilliant smile, despite the fact that she
wasn t even looking.  Allow me to tell you, Lady Emma. You are quite a lovely creature. Your hair is the
color of spun gold. Your lips as sweet as the petals of a newly bloomed rose. Your eyes as large and
dewy as a deer s. Truly you are&  He paused uncertainly when she suddenly turned to him and patted
his arm soothingly.
  Tis very kind of you, my lord, but you need not lower yourself to lie.
  Tis no lie, he returned quickly.
 Then why did Fulk not bed me? she asked simply. Before he could answer that, she got to her feet
and quit the table.
Emma was halfway across the room when her cousin met her. Smiling, he bent slightly to kiss her
forehead in greeting.
 Good morrow, sweet cousin. I trust you slept well?
 Aye, Emma sighed.  And you?
 Like a babe.
  Tis good, Emma murmured, moving past him and toward the door to the kitchens.
 Where go you?
 To get Lord Amaury some tea. His head is most like still paining him. The tea will ease the ache and
help him sleep.
 He is already sleeping, Rolfe told her at once, falling into step beside her.  I have just left from seeing
him. I stopped to tell him that the Lord Bishop and I intend to leave today.
 Today?! Emma paused abruptly and turned back at this news, her expression dismayed.  But you
have only just arrived.
 I have been here four days, he reminded her gently.
 Aye, but we have not yet had a chance to visit.
 Aye. Rolfe smiled wryly.  I had hoped we might have a chance to do so on the way back to court. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]