‘Hugh, is that you?’
He turned and saw the shadowy silhouette of his wife sitting on the bed. The thick, heavy bed curtain pulled and tied back.
Now, that was a surprise. That curtain had been shut firmly, pushing him out, since their wedding night.
‘Aye. Go back to sleep, Eleanor.’
‘I couldn’t sleep. I was worried.’
‘I’m sorry.’ Even to his own ears his voice sounded flat.
‘You have nothing to apologise for,’ she said softly.
Hugh sighed. ‘I don’t know how, but I constantly misstep around you. It must be that I never expected to be married—especially to a someone like you, my lady.’
‘Behind the heiress it’s just me.’ She shrugged. ‘I’m only a woman, Hugh—remember?’
He smiled, recollecting their ride out together, many weeks ago now. But, no, Eleanor Tallany was not ‘only a woman’. His heart quickened at the thought. She was far, far more. She cared about her people...their people. She was not just the chatelaine of Tallany but its heart and soul.
‘I had hoped for a rematch, Hugh, and had even set up the board with all the pieces.’
His lips twitched. ‘I’m sorry to disappoint you but I’m in no state for a game of chess. My skills would be woefully lacking.’
‘Ah, but that would be my perfect opportunity to finally gain the upper hand and beat you.’
Was Eleanor teasing him? Again?
‘The shame that you’d take advantage of a man in his cups...’ He grinned as she chuckled softly. ‘Although you will get your opportunity to beat me, Eleanor, never fear. I cannot think of any other, apart from Will, who has challenged me as much as you. Our matches have been closely fought. You may not believe that you have any talents—which is nonsense, anyway—but in this you most certainly do.’
The laughter died on her lips and Hugh sensed that she was blushing—not that he could see.
He gave himself a mental shake. ‘Anyway, what were you worried about? Surely not about me.’
‘Of course I was. Where did you go?’ She leaned forward, rubbing her eyes.
‘Mmm? I had business to attend to.’ He looked around the room. ‘Eleanor, where is my pallet?’
‘I... I had your squire remove it,’ she said, biting her lip.
What? His brows met in the middle as he frowned quizzically. ‘Why?’ He swallowed taking a hesitant step towards her. ‘Eleanor?’
Her eyes widened as she covered her mouth with her hand. ‘Oh, no—I didn’t mean... Saints above! You thought that I wanted to...?’
‘Calm yourself, my lady. I have given you my word regarding that,’ he said. ‘But mayhap you will enlighten me as to exactly where I should sleep?’ He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against the coffer.
‘Well, here in the bed, of course.’ She patted the coverlet. ‘It’s big enough for both of us.’
He stared at her blankly.
Lord above, was she trying to kill him slowly?
Apparently Eleanor was still talking. ‘And, to be honest, I hadn’t realised that your pallet was so lumpy.’
She was watching him, trying to gauge his response, but he wasn’t giving one.
She sighed and he saw her shoulders slump. ‘I’m sorry. Should we fetch the pallet back? I thought you may sleep better on the bed.’
Ha! As if he would be able to sleep now! If he had believed that sleep had evaded him merely because he was in the same room as Eleanor Tallany, God alone knew what his nights were going to be like lying next to her. It was going to be akin to slow, excruciating torture.
Heaven help him, though. He had given his word and even if it would kill him, he would wait until his wife came to him.
‘No, it’s fine.’ He dragged a shaky hand through his hair. ‘If you feel comfortable for us to share a bed for...er...sleeping purposes, then I’m happy to oblige.’ He swallowed down what else he’d be happy to do.
She smiled and lay back on the bed as he sat down to take off his shoes and stretched his arms to remove his linen tunic. As he was pulling off his braies she shot back up, her arms either side of her, apparently ready to fly out of the room if she had to.
‘What are you doing?’ she asked.
A bemused grin lit his face. ‘My lady, I never sleep with a stitch of clothing.’
‘Do you mean to tell me that all this time you have been sleeping...?’ she said, waving her hand in the direction of the corner of the chamber where once the lumpy pallet had been.
‘Naked as the day as I was born!’ He chuckled. ‘Don’t tell me you haven’t sneaked a look?’
‘No! No, I haven’t.’
‘I can believe it. Well, to spare your blushes I will keep my hose on. Would that suffice?’ He sighed as she moved to the other side of the bed.
‘Yes, but I... I didn’t realise that you...without any...’
‘So, it would seem. Would you prefer it if I slept elsewhere, Eleanor?’
‘No! That’s not necessary. Surely we can muddle along as bedfellows. We are married, after all.’ She shifted uncomfortably.
He gave her an eloquent look and shook his head as he sat on the bed. ‘Very well, wife, I will bid you goodnight. And, Eleanor?’ He noticed she gulped as her gaze lingered on his bare chest and shoulders, just as before when she had tended to his wound. ‘Thank you for thinking of my comfort.’
She gave a curt nod before pulling the coverlet higher and turning to sleep with her back to him.
Well, then, this was interesting... From the vivid curiosity he’d glanced in Eleanor’s eyes mayhap she wasn’t as immune to him as he’d initially thought.
After what seemed many hours, tossing and turning, Hugh was about to drift off to sleep when he felt Eleanor tentatively lay her hand on his shoulder. Just as quickly she removed it.
‘Is everything all right?’ he asked,
