Now, go. And take this lady of great distraction and her impossible hair with you.”
With that, they were dismissed.
CHAPTER 19
“You could have been hung,” Marian said, splaying her fingers through the dark hair on Will’s chest. “You should have been hung.”
“So you have reminded me. For nigh on three moons now, Marian,” he replied with an aggrieved tone. His broad hand smoothed up and down the lowest part of her back and she arched automatically against him. “But methinks I am already fairly. . hung.”
She laughed as he gently prodded her belly with his very interested cock. A surprising sense of humor had lurked beneath his dark personality, only recently beginning to shine through. Marian found it utterly delightful, even if most of his jokes were of the bawdy type.
“ ’ Twas fortunate that the queen was so angry with John that she chose to overlook your. . uh. . misstep. Will, you were so foolish!”
“Marian, ’tis finished. We’re far from John’s reach here in Normandy, and here is where we shall stay.”
“But when he is king?” Her humor faded into the black worry that seemed to always hover about, even on the sunniest of days, such as the one on which they’d been wed.
It was her greatest fear. Richard appeared to be uninterested in siring an heir, and it seemed clear that someday John would take the throne. Mayhap sooner than later, if one took into account Richard’s penchant for war.
Will pulled her close, kissing the top of her head with a soft buss. His arms were so warm and strong. . She felt safe and loved there. But John would never forgive Will for what he’d done, and when he came to power, he would have his revenge.
“Marian, you know that when I attended Eleanor as she requested, she spoke plainly. Aye, John will never forgive me. And that is why we had to leave England.”
“That I know,” she interrupted. “But when he is king, and Lord of Normandy-”
“There are times,” he said, sighing heavily, “that I wish you were the quiet, submissive woman you pretended to be at Ludlow.”
“I did not pretend to be quiet and submissive,” she retorted. “Did I not poison the prince? And attempt to negotiate with him over chess? And did I not accost the gruff Sheriff of Nottinghamshire and argue about his legal decisions?”
“Aye. . that is so. I must have a faulty memory. Or mayhap it was only that I wished for it.”
She yanked playfully at a lock of long, dark hair and then brought his face down for a luscious, thorough kiss to let him know she did not mean it. “And did I not,” she murmured against his mouth, “win the archery match against Robin Hood?”
He nodded against her. “ ’ Twas a very proud moment for me, my dearling. To see his very large head deflated so. My only other wish was that I had been the one to do it.”
“Now that we have veered far away from the matter at hand,” she said, “may we return to your private conversation with the queen?” It had never occurred to her in the three moons since they’d left England that he had not told her the entirety of the conversation with Eleanor. “There is something you did not tell me?”
All she’d learned was that they were to leave and return to Morlaix, her lands. This sanctioned escape was recompense for her work for Eleanor, and in thanks for Will’s loyalty to Richard.
“Ah. . aye. The queen and I agreed that John has a long memory for even the smallest slight, and so we are safe here until he takes the crown. Of course, you know all of that. But because of my service to Richard, she and he have also gifted me with the fief of Leurville, in southern Aquitaine, and that is where you and I will go when John becomes king. ’Tis small, and a vassalage to the queen, but we will never be required to go to court, to pledge allegiance to John. He will not know we are even there. If he even manages to retain his hold on the French lands when he is king.”
He looked down at her, his eyes sober. “I did not tell you for fear you would not agree to leave Morlaix and go into hiding, for that is what it will be as long as John is in power. I will go to Leurville when it becomes necessary, but you do not have to go with me.”
“Morlaix or you? Will, I truly begin to believe you are the veriest of fools. I would never leave your side. For any reason.”
She pulled herself up on her palms to look into his handsome, serious face. “I love you. I do not care if we live as chat elaine and steward in a small manor house for some great lord, or if we have our own lands. As long as we are together, I care not.”
His eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled. “I confess, I prayed you would say thus, but then I was not certain how much like Eleanor you are. She would forsake her own sons or husband for land rather than give it up.”
“She is the queen. I am merely Lady of Morlaix. And now. . Baroness Leurville.” She smiled up at him. “I am quite fulfilled.”
His eyes grew smoky and heavy-lidded. “Did you say that you were ful. . filled?” he asked. . and slid himself inside her. Filling her. Fully.
