boyish look. If she'd had the strength, she would have eased his hair back where it belonged. The man didn't need much sleep, she supposed. His eyes were filled with laughter, and he seemed ready to take on the world.
He thought she looked like hell. Her eyes were so bloodshot it hurt to look at them. Her complexion was greenish. The aftereffects of too much ale, he decided. His wife was going to suffer this morning.
She fell asleep again while he stared at her. He leaned down and kissed her brow, then rolled onto his side to get out of bed. The movement woke her up. She grabbed hold of the covers to keep herself from shaking.
He noticed that action. 'Aren't you feeling well Nicholaa?' he asked.
If he didn't quit shouting, she was going to die. 'I'm fine,' she whispered.
He laughed. His wife sounded as if she were being strangled.
The man was a morning talker. She vowed to work on that flaw. Royce kept up a steady one-sided conversation while he dressed. God, he was cheerful. She wished she could put a gag in his mouth. It was a mean thought, she knew, but she didn't much care.
Royce shouted his farewell, then deliberately slammed the door. He wasn't finished with his cruelty, though. He caught Clarise at the bottom of the steps and told her to bring a trencher of food to his wife's chamber.
Ten minutes later, when Clarise presented the meal to her mistress, Nicholaa literally bolted from the bed. She made it to the chamber pot without a second to spare.
It took her all morning to regain her strength. By nooning she was feeling better. She finally got dressed in a green bliaut, but she changed when Clarise mentioned the color matched her complexion. The royal blue gown was much better, or so the servant decreed.
Her hair hurt too much to let Clarise braid it. Nicholaa gritted her teeth while the servant brushed the tangles away, then used a blue ribbon to secure it behind her neck.
'Are you going to tell me what happened last night?' Clarise asked.
'I don't know what happened last night,' Nicholaa whispered.
'You were stark naked when you got out of his bed this morn, milady. Something happened.'
'Oh, God, I was naked, wasn't I? Clarise, I don't remember last night. What am I going to do?'
The servant shrugged. 'You'll have to ask him what happened, but first you need to take a nice stroll outside. The fresh air will clear your head.'
'Yes, I'll go outside. Then maybe my head will clear and I'll remember.'
Clarise nodded. 'Milady, you aren't feeling a little tenderness?'
'My head's feeling tender.'
'That wasn't my meaning,' Clarise said. She handed Nicholaa her cloak.
'What was your meaning?' Nicholaa asked.
'Never you mind,' the servant countered. 'Get your fresh air. It will all come back to you eventually.'
Nicholaa hoped the servant was right. She wanted to remember what she'd told Royce. More, she wanted to remember what had taken place in the bedchamber.
The cold air did clear her thoughts. She felt much better, but she still didn't remember anything.
She intercepted her husband as he was returning to the courtyard from the lower bailey. She hurried over to him. 'Royce? I would like to ask you about last night.'
'Yes?'
She moved closer to him so she wouldn't be overheard, then lowered her gaze. 'Did you have a little too much ale?'
'No.'
'I did.'
He put his thumb under her chin and tilted her face up. 'Yes, you did.'
He looked serious, but not angry. 'I don't remember what happened,' she whispered. 'What did I do?'
'You talked.'
'And what did you do?'
'I listened.'
She let him see her displeasure. 'Please don't make this difficult for me. Tell me what I said. I would like to remember.'
He decided to make her wait. 'We will discuss this tonight,' he announced. He tried to walk away from her.
She grabbed hold of his arm. 'Please,' she whispered. 'Answer just one question now.'
He turned back to her. 'All right,' he agreed. 'What is it you wish to know?'
She couldn't look at him when she asked her question. 'Did I please you last night?'
The shyness in her voice, added to the blush on her cheeks, told him exactly what she was asking him. She wanted to know if she'd pleased him in bed. He clasped his hands behind his back and waited for her to look up at him. When she finally did, he shook his head. 'Not particularly,' he announced.
She looked devastated. 'I'm sorry if I disappointed you,' she whispered. 'It's usually a little… awkward the first time, isn't it?'
'No.' His voice turned hard. 'It should have been easy for you.'
She let out a gasp. The man was heartless. Her eyes filled with tears. 'I wasn't experienced, Royce,' she muttered.
'No, it was obvious to me you had no experience.' he countered.
'And that displeased you?'
'Of course,' he drawled out. 'Nicholaa, telling me the truth should never be awkward, with or without experience.'
Her eyes widened. Dear God, they weren't even talking about the same issue. She was acutely relieved. The feeling didn't last long. Royce smiled. She decided then that he'd deliberately misled her.
'I wasn't talking about telling the truth,' she muttered.
'I know.'
He was a cruel-hearted man. She decided she was finished with the conversation and turned to leave. He grabbed her shoulders and forced her to turn around. 'As I said before, wife, we will discuss this tonight.' She was still frowning at him when suddenly he pulled her into his arms and kissed her soundly. Several soldiers were strolling past, but she forgot all about her audience when Royce deepened the kiss. She was enjoying herself too much to care about anything but kissing him back.
He finally pulled away. 'I like the way you respond to me,' he murmured.
She melted against him. 'Thank you. I'm happy I please you.'
He smiled against the top of her head. 'Tomorrow I'll go and get Justin and Ulric. Does that please you?'
He had his answer when she hugged him tight.
Lawrence called out to Royce then, drawing his attention. Nicholaa immediately disengaged herself from her husband and rushed back inside. She was so excited about Justin and Ulric coming home that she could barely contain herself. There was much to do in preparation. Justin would take over her chamber, she decided, and Ulric would sleep with her and Royce.
When Royce joined her at the supper table, she explained the sleeping arrangements to him. He dampened her good mood when he shook his head 'Ulric will have your old chamber. Justin will sleep with the other soldiers.'
'But he's my brother,' she argued. 'Shouldn' he…'
She gave up her argument when his hand covered hers and he started squeezing. Hugh was watching them, and Nicholaa decided her husband didn't want her to argue in front of him.
'We will discuss this later,' she announced with a smile in Hugh's direction.
'No, we won't,' Royce replied. 'The matter is settled.'
He squeezed her left hand again. She smiled sweetly up at him as she placed her right hand on top of his and gave him a good squeeze. Surprised by her boldness, he almost smiled.
'I'm leaving for London tomorrow,' Hugh announced. 'I'm hoping for one last game of chess this evening, Nicholaa.'
'Will you be upset when I beat you again?' she asked.
Hugh grinned. At first she thought it was because she'd teased him about being upset. Then she realized he
