Page 41 of Knight of Chaos
“Nay, we are not,” he answered and then settled her back into place, tucking the covers around her.
“But why?” she gasped out. He moved quickly, placing her beneath him. Bending forward, he kissed her gently as though giving her a promise of what would be. When he at last broke off their kiss, he caressed her cheek.
She gulped. “But why?” she repeated.
He returned to his place in the bed bringing her close against his side again. “Because although you may not voice them, you still have your doubts about my motives to marry you. If I must needs prove my feelings in order for you to trust me completely, then so be it. I will not make love to you until I am satisfied that there is no doubt in your heart that we have wed for all the right reasons.”
“But—”
He kissed the top of her head. “Go to sleep, wife, and I will see you with the rising of the new sun.”
A small smile lit her face at his words. She would have raised her head to look into his eyes, but he kept his hand upon the top of her head until his fingertips ran down the length of her hair. He wanted her trust. Now, this might be the start of a good beginning between them after all…
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Ingrid marched herway across the outer bailey, searching for her husband who was training with the other men upon the field. For her part, she was dressed in tunic, hose, and boots. She had refused to be gowned in a dress this morn and had shooed away the servant assigned to her. The poor girl had appeared as though she were amid a full-blown crying fit, but Ingrid had stayed resolute. For the morning, her decision to dress how she normally did was her choice. In the afternoon, she would be attending the Empress and would force herself to wear the gown and jewels, as was expected. But the afternoon was soon enough for that.
Once she had left her bedchamber, the Empress’s attendants had been her second obstacle to obtaining her freedom. Eden, Rovena, and Petula had gasped in dismay to see Ingrid clothed thusly again. They did their best to deter her and make her change her mind to dress in a more ladylike manner, given her new position as the Lady of Calbridge, but Ingrid stayed true to her course. She meant to spend the morn training with the men. How else was she to keep fit to raise her sword for her Empress?
She made her way to the edge of the training field whilst Eden caught up with her. The two women remained silent as they observed the scene before them. The knights were all well-trained, but Ingrid only had eyes for one knight in particular. He swung his sword in a well-practiced move and she shielded her eyes when the steel caught the sunlight making it appear as though ’twas blazing. Sweat gleamed from Theobald’s skin from his training causing Ingrid’s heart to race with thoughts that he belonged only to her.
“Your husband is a fine-looking man. You are lucky to have him,” Eden said softly whilst her gaze swept over the men.
“Lucky to have a husband who married me at the Empress’s command? Theobald only wishes for the title of my heritage,” Ingrid said, surprising even herself with the words that had come out automatically. She thought she had reconciled herself that such was not the case, but mayhap Theobald had been correct when he had told her last eve that she still had hidden doubts about the truth of his feelings.
The sweet sound of Eden’s laughter rang out causing several knights nearby to stop their training. “Surely you know you speak a falsehood,” she said whilst waving to several of the men who now showed her some interest until she continued. “He is devoted to you and you alone.”
“We truly do not know each other well enough for me to determine if his eyes will wander to another someday,” Ingrid replied as her gaze once more traveled to her husband.
An unladylike sound left the woman’s lips. “I suppose you know him better than any other. If you do not have feelings for him, then there are plenty of men here who would be willing to take his place in your bed.”
Ingrid scowled. “Did I say I had no feelings for Theobald?”
“’Twas the suggestion I heard in your words. If you do not care for the man or trust him, find another to replace him. He will surely do the same.”
“We are wed,” Ingrid said fiercely whilst watching Eden’s eyes freely roam over Theobald’s body. There could be no mistaking the hungry look this woman had on her face.
Eden laughed. “As if that ever stopped an illicit affair before…” She turned her back to the training field to stare directly at Ingrid. “Really, my darling girl, have you never been to court before now? ’Tis most common for courtiers to share partners when their husband or wives become… preoccupied.”
Ingrid’s fingers twitched on the hilt of her sword at her side. “You know very well that I have never been to court, nor do I have any desire to stay here any longer than necessary. I only await the Empress to release my sword from her service.”
“But she has already done so, my friend, when she took you in upon your arrival in Winchester and then had you marry the man of her choosing. She will be most displeased to see you thusly attired,” Eden said raising a hand to her nose as though an offensive smell was in the air.
“She never told me I could no longer train in order to keep myself fit,” Ingrid proclaimed. She watched Eden carefully when the woman once more stared at one man in particular upon the field. If Ingrid was not careful, she just might lose her husband to the beautiful lady at her side. Jealousy reared its ugly head telling Ingrid that no matter what came from her lips, she did care for Theobald and greatly disliked the idea that he might take a lover.
“She should not have to. You have the clothes given to you by me and the other ladies. Wear them. They were a gift for you to enjoy,” Eden stated before she continued. “You should decide your feelings for your husband, or you might lose him.”
“To you,” Ingrid hissed as though the woman had read her thoughts.
“Perchance… or to another. If you do not want him, there are plenty of women here who would be more than willing to take him to their bed.”
“’Tis clear you would readily take my place.”
“Do not let jealousy cloud your thoughts, my friend. I am not saying I would make an attempt to gain your husband’s attention, only that he is a handsome and gallant knight. There are not many who continue to hold onto their beliefs of righting all the wrongs of the world. That man is full of valor, which makes him a prize for the keeping.”
“And you think I do not know this?” Ingrid asked whilst she continued to assess Eden and her words.
Eden placed her hand upon Ingrid’s arm. “I am only telling you all this so you can open your eyes and see what is before you. Theobald is yours. All you need to do is claim him. The rest will fall into place as is meant to.”
