Chapter Forty-six

R eina woke to the gentle caress of a hand as it slid the sheet off her body. She sighed dreamily, but then her eyes opened and she gasped until she realized it was her husband and not some other slipped into her bed.

“ Jesú , you gave me a start, Ranulf.”

“That is not what I intend to give you, lady,” he said in reply, grinning.

Her cheeks pinkened just the slightest bit. She was still not quite accustomed to his lusty talk, though she surely did not object to it.

“Did you only just return?” ’Twas morn, if the light beyond the bed-curtains was any indication.

“Nay, Walter and I rode in late yestereve. You slept so peacefully, I decided not to wake you.”

As he said this, his hand moved across her navel, reminding her of what rested beneath.

“Do you—notice aught different about me, Ranulf?”

“Not a thing.” His fingers tweaked a breast to watch the nipple come to life.

“Nothing?”

“Nay, why?”

“Never mind,” she said, disgruntled.

“Do you notice aught different about me?” he teased.

“Only that you are missing a few more wits,” she snorted.

Ranulf laughed heartily and pulled her close to hug her. “Why do you not just say it, lady?”

“What?”

His hand covered her belly again, and then he leaned down to kiss it. “What Walter told me about nigh two months ago.”

“You know?” she gasped. “And you did not mention it?”

“’Tis a wife’s privilege to tell her husband. I waited for you to do so.”

“I am sorry. I know I should have, but…”

“But?”

“The reason is silly,” she hedged. “I would rather not repeat it.”

He accepted that. “Never argue with a pregnant woman,” his father had warned him, “for you will not believe some of the nonsensical things they will say at such a time.” And besides, he had other things on his mind just now, like thoroughly acquainting himself with the new fullness of his lady’s luscious body.

He did just that, amazing Reina that he would still want to make love to her even knowing of the child. She was not fool enough to question him about it, but the confusion, which went away for the next blissfilled hour, returned when Ranulf finally lifted his head from her breast to get up for the day. Did this mean he had gotten used to her during these months of marriage, and whether she was pregnant or not, had decided to still avail himself of her? If that were so…

Reina’s smile was brilliant, full of joy and content ment, until: “Oh! I almost forgot. We have guests, Ranulf, that you should know—”

“We had guests, lady,” he said as he crossed to the door and banged on it to rouse Lanzo. “They left last eventide.”

“They did?” she said in surprise. “Why would they do that?”

“I believe the lady realized ’twas not safe for her to stay here,” was all he said.

Reina stayed silent. As long as that pair was gone and not likely to return, she was satisfied.

’Twas two months later that the messenger arrived with a call to arms from Shefford, and Reina’s bubble of contentment burst. She was in the hall playing a game of chess with Walter when Ranulf came in to tell them. It appeared that Lord Rothwell had found himself another heiress, Lord Guy’s niece, no less, who was also his ward. Her keep in Yorkshire had been under siege for several weeks now, but Sir Henry had only just learned of it and had decided that Ranulf was needed.

Reina objected immediately, and quite strenuously. “’Tis no more than a test, and I do not like it. Sir Henry could have summoned half a dozen men closer to York to see to this, and I will tell him so. You do not have to go, Ranulf.”

“Bite your tongue, lady,” he replied incredulously. “My arm will grow rusty for all the use I get of it here.”

“You would fight for the wrong reason?” she shouted at him.

“I will fight because I like to fight!” he shouted back. “’Tis what I am trained for, and what I enjoy best—aside from taking you to bed!”

Brilliant color shot into her cheeks, and her temper exploded even more. “You do not care how I feel, do you? Who am I but your wife!”

“You are being unreasonable, lady,” Ranulf rumbled. “Rothwell is an utter ass. He will turn tail and run as soon as he sees reinforcements arrive.”

“And if he does not?” she stormed. “I love you, you lackwitted clod! Think you I want to see you bloodied in some meaningless battle?”

“I love you, too, lady, but I will not give up my pleasure in a good fight to appease you!”

“Then go! See if I care!”

She stalked off, but no more than a few steps ere she turned back to run into his arms. “You love me?”

“Aye.”

“Really?”

“Aye.” He grinned.

“I love you, too.”

“I know.”

She hauled off and hit him. “Well, I did not know you did! You could have told me!”

“Now who is the lackwit, lady? I tell you every night I take you in my arms. I tell you the only way I know how.”

“Nay, my lord, you just said it more plainly,” she said with tears of happiness in her eyes. “Even if you did shout it at me, ’tis still what I longed to hear.”

“Those words?”

“Aye.”

“But that says so little,” he complained.

“My lord, do I want to hear what a troubadour has to say, I will hire him. From you I only need ‘I love you,’ every so often.”

Ranulf chuckled. “As you wish, little general.”

She drew his head down for a lingering kiss. He had stopped lifting her up to his level when he had nearly dropped her earlier this month in surprise at being nudged by one of his son’s more exuberant kicks.

“Now,” she said with a purr of contentment. “Will you forget about this silly war?”

“Nay.”

“Ranulf!”

“But I still love you,” he offered.

She glared at him furiously ere she stalked off again, this time without coming back.

“She will not stay angry,” Walter said, unable to hide the amusement in his voice. “She never does.”

“But I will be gone ere she decides to calm down.” And then Ranulf grinned. “I hate to miss that. She is always so—expressive in her forgiveness.”

Walter hooted. “Someone ought to tell her you said that.”

“Bite your tongue. Do you have her guessing why I so often tease her temper, and I will take my loss out of your hide.”