Church bells rang out, and I broke the kiss, listening for the hour. “I have to go,” I whispered against his mouth.
His nose rubbed mine slowly, then his mouth pressed against mine once more. “Do you know how often I’ve imagined kissing you?”
My breath stopped, and I opened my eyes to search his. “And?”
“You cannot tell me to stop now and watch you walk away,” he said, his breath running into my breath. Another kiss. “Especially to him.”
My ring felt heavier then, and I pulled back from Rob. I stroked his cheek slow with my good hand. “I’ll make it right, Rob. I’ll get the annulment and then I can kiss you in public. All day long. Till the village wives wring their hands at us.”
He smiled, leaning into my hand. “We’ve always been good at causing a bit of chaos.”
I stepped away from him with a sad smile, but he tugged my good wrist and brought me back for one more kiss. Then he let me go and I walked back to the castle, every step dragging and slow like I were fighting against a tide.
Chapter Nine
The servants were laying out a fancy dress and brushing it flat and free of dust and dirt when I came back to the room. The long bit were gold, shimmering and bright, and the shorter bit that fit over it were tufted red velvet, the same color as my old ribbons. It were an awful expensive thing, and it felt like soft moss beneath my hand.
“You would like to dress now, my lady?”
“No,” I said quick, pulling my hand back from it. “Where can I bathe?”
“We’ll fetch the bath for you, my lady.”
I forgot about this—the silly labor of baths. Fair shamed by it, I stashed my knives by the shutter as they left, then watched as the servants first brought the basin to the chambers, then pail after pail of water warmed in the kitchens and sloshed cold by the time it made it to me. I didn’t mind that much—I were used to bathing in colder waters—but I were meant to sit in the half-empty basin while they poured it over me, slow and waiting for more water.
Then the lady servant set upon me with soap and cloths, and that part were a far cry better than bathing in the lake.
Course, Gisbourne walked in half through this ordeal, and I weren’t none too pleased by him seeing all my bits again. And he just folded his arms and watched me. I covered myself in the water as best I could with my knees and such, but it didn’t make me feel much better.
“Quite a gentleman, aren’t you,” I spat at him.
“What?” he asked. “A man can’t look upon his wife? From what I’m told it’s the same as looking upon my arm, or my foot. You belong to my body, Marian, and I shall look at you how I choose.”
Blood were creeping up my neck and cheeks, and I stared at the water as the maid finished, fetching a sheet for me.
“You were missed at supper last night,” he said.
“I’m sure.”
“I realize I wasn’t specific about this before, but court suppers are part of our bargain. Every function you are expected to attend as my wife you shall attend, or our deal is off. Do you understand?”
The servant shook the sheet open, standing off to the side. I motioned her over, to stand between me and Gisbourne, but she just looked confused.
Gisbourne laughed, damn him.
Full of hate and shame, I stood, wrapping the sheet round me as quick as I could. Gisbourne came forward as I stood there, putting his hand on my stomach where the big bruise lay, pulsing and sore under the thin cover of the sheet. My whole skin shivered with the touch of a hand through so little fabric.
He looked at me, his eyes dark. “Seems you know a lot of gentlemen.”
It should have shamed me, but that weren’t the way of it. It made me think of Robin, of his mouth and his hands and his body all along mine.
“Hold on,” he ordered abruptly, and without more word he grasped my middle and pulled me from the bath. Swallowing a gasp, my hand shot out to his shoulder as he lifted me up over the edge and set my feet down.
He let me go immediately, and I pulled away from him, holding the sheet tight to me.
He pulled the tunic off over his head. “Send up more water,” he said to Eadric. “No reason to let this waste.”
I dragged the long, loose dress over my head as more of his clothes came off. He bared his chest, staring at me. I looked away, but I felt his eyes on me as he stripped down completely.
“And here I thought what’s good for the goose is good for the gander,” he goaded with a laugh. “Don’t want to peek, love?”
Rob’s kiss burned over me again. “Don’t call me that. You don’t love me. It’s a mock.”
“Yes,” he said. “It is. Love.”