The Woman Inside (23 page)

She nodded once and sat on her side of the bed.

He noticed the dress she was wearing, a persimmon and gold silk he’d thought
would look well on her. She’d smiled and said it was ‘too bright for her dark
looks’. Disappointed, he’d vowed never to choose a dress for her again, lest he
chose badly.

He gestured with his fork. “I thought you didn’t like that dress.”

A rosy blush colored her cheeks and she lowered her head. “I was too shy to
wear it. I thought the bright colors would draw too much attention to me, but
you were right; it does look good on me. I’m sorry I doubted your judgment. You
have good taste,” she said softly.

Unaccustomed to her unqualified praise, he blinked. “Thank you.” Something
was different about her this morning. It wasn’t the cosmetics, which made her
skin glow or accentuated her lips, nor was it her unbound hair. Maybe it was the
way she kept her eyes lowered or traced the pattern on the quilt. Directness was
more her usual mode.

His eyes narrowed. Maybe she wanted something.

She took a deep breath.

Here it comes, he thought.

“Would you....” Another deep breath. “What would you like for dinner
tonight?”

That was what she wanted? He eyed her. “Would I get a lecture if I said
roast, gravy and creamed turnips?”
“No.”

“Okay. Then let’s have it.” He waited. She didn’t argue, and for the first
time in days, he smiled.

* * * *

“What did you do with your woman?”

Uric glanced at Roland, who was frowning. “What do you mean?”

He waved a hand. “The last time I was here you two were dancing around each
other like wary badgers. Now she’s doe eyed and submissive.” He rubbed his chin.
“Is she breeding?”

“No.”

Head tilted, Roland peered at Uric’s face and neck. “Odd, I don’t see any hen
pecks.”

Uric’s look was droll. “Very funny.”

“Hardly.” Roland squinted across the room as he considered Ceylon, who was
talking to a servant. Suddenly he frowned. “You haven’t taken a stick to her,
have you?”

“Roland!”

Unrepentant, Roland shrugged. “Sorry. It’s just that you two seemed to be
slipping deep into the ‘old married couple’ roles when last I was here. I’d half
feared I’d find you with a new mistress and her locked in a tower.”

Blue eyes narrowed in dark anger. “Now you go too far!”

“Forgive me, then.” A wry smile crooked Roland’s mouth. “I’m not feeling too
charitable toward the married state of late.”

Uric grunted, indicating both understanding and forgiveness. This time.

In truth he was also amazed by Ceylon’s change. Though she’d seemed to be
biting her tongue, she hadn’t said a word about his requests for plain fare at
the last few meals. Even though she’d had small bowls of odd vegetables prepared
for her own dinner, not once had she suggested he try some, or worse, dished him
any. She’d simply served herself and minded her own business as he took an extra
steak just to torture her.

She’d ceased to cover his favorite chair with a decorative throw--which he
always tossed off anyway. He had to admit that the thing looked battered without
it, but he would be hanged before he let her choose another feminine chair to
replace it. Not once had he complained when she’d redecorated their room in
womanly style, complete with dried flowers. If he had to have another chair it
was going to be something he wouldn’t be ashamed to sit in. Something black or
brown, in leather.

There hadn’t been one suggestion about picking up his socks, even though he’d
purposely left them in a pile for a week now.

Now he had one more test.

As soon as she broke off her conversation and came his way, he stood. “I have
something for you,” he said. He withdrew a small box from his pocket and gave it
to her.

Surprised, she glanced at it, then him.

“Open it.”

She did, and gasped. Inside was a blue diamond the size of a quail egg, one
of his prizes from a battle.

“I hadn’t any use for it,” he said casually.

“I....” She gulped, glanced at Anne. “Thank you.” The words were a little
faint.

He raised a brow. What? No protests? She didn’t think it was too
extravagant?

Maybe she thought he was prompting her, for she said, “Thank you very much.
It’s lovely,” and kissed him on the cheek.

Pleased, he smiled at her. “You’re welcome.”

* * * *

It was all she could do not to protest. Was he insane, giving her such a
valuable gift? It ought to be locked in a vault somewhere, not casually resting
in her hand. What if she lost it? How would she ever live with herself?

“You did very well, dear,” Anne whispered her praise as she pretended to coo
over the gem. Louder, she said, “Blue diamond! How romantic. It looks just like
Lord Uric’s eyes, don’t you think?”

Ceylon looked up at her husband and thoughtlessly said what she knew to be
true. “Not even close. His are far prettier.”

He laughed at her, but it was a pleased laugh. “Men are not pretty.”

She looked at him through her lashes. “You are.”

At that he grinned and slipped an arm around her waist, something he hadn’t
done in a while.

Things just got better. The more she kept her “helpful” suggestions to
herself, the more he opened up. It was heady, but painful, too, as she began to
see herself for what she was--a fearful, controlling fishwife. Trusting him was
so hard. A part of her wanted to remain independent, ‘just in case’. In case he
stopped loving her and kicked her out. In case she woke up and found this was
all a dream.

The fear was so strong, her sense of unworthiness so great, she panicked when
Uric started to give her rich gifts again.

“What will I do with it?” she asked Anne in private as she stared with a mix
of awe and horror at a hideously expensive, gorgeous chess set of inlaid onyx
and ivory. Each piece had gemstones for eyes, and the most detailed carving
she’d ever seen.

“Play with it.” Anne looked amused.

The idea made Ceylon dizzy. “He’ll bankrupt us at this rate. I know it. I
have to speak to him.”

“Do and you’ll be back where you started,” Anne said sternly. “Look about
you. That man knows how to manage his property. You’ll not suffer as long as he
breathes. Trust him.”

“Trust him,” Ceylon muttered.

* * * *

“Can I look yet?” The suspense was driving her crazy. Uric had blindfolded
her and was leading her to a surprise he’d arranged for her. She couldn’t
imagine what it was, but knowing him, it had cost a fortune.

“Why is it so hard to trust me?” he murmured near her ear. “Have I ever hurt
you?”

A lump lodged in her throat. “No.”

“And I won’t start.” He stroked her arm. “I only want to make you happy.”

“I’m happy,” she whispered. “I just ... you do so much, and I give you so
little. I can’t pay you back.”

“How can my wife owe me anything? And I get pleasure out of giving to you.
It’s my joy.”

She bit her lip.

His arms slid around her, and he cuddled her back to his front for a moment.
He kissed her hair, and she heard him sigh. “If you truly wish to repay me, give
me a child.” The blindfold fell away as he untied it.

She turned in his arms and tilted her head up to search his deep blue eyes.
“You’re ready?” The idea was scary and sweet at the same time.

Uric winked. “I’m always ready.” He bumped her hips with his
suggestively.

Laughing, she turned slightly, then froze. They were in a glass house like
the one she’d seen at the palace. It was full of flowering and fruiting plants
and smelled like springtime. A table, chairs and a daybed furnished the room. A
sunken tub, the kind with a firebox on the underside, steamed invitingly in the
corner. There was even a cage full of quail softly cooing in the corner.

“Ohh....”

“You like it then?” He smiled at her, and for a moment she was taken back to
the first time she’d seen him, his blond curls shining in the sun. Could any man
be more beautiful?

“I love it,” she said, but her misty gaze was focused on him. He pulled her
close and she twined her arms around his neck. Moments later he lifted her in
his arms and took her to the bed.

She shot a panicked glance toward the windows, and he laughed. “There are
curtains, my love. I thought they might come in handy.”

Ceylon grinned. “You naughty, naughty man.”

It only took him a few seconds to curtain the windows with airy, but opaque,
fabric. A roguish twinkle sparkled in his eye as he pounced on her. “I like to
plan ahead.”

Only one dark spot remained in their days: Maude. Eville hadn’t bothered them
in so long that Ceylon had ceased to worry about him, but Maude was a weekly
nuisance. A part of her longed to tell Uric to stop visiting her, but she knew
better. The best she could do was to stay away herself. This wasn’t a problem
until the day Uric returned bearing a message from her.

“She wants to see you,” he said without expression.

“Why?”

He ran a hand over his opposite biceps in a self-soothing gesture. “She says
she wants to apologize.”

A huff of doubtful laughter escaped her before she could restrain herself.
“Sorry. I’m having trouble picturing it.”

“She’s changed.”

“Uh-huh.”

“You did.”

The reminder made her look away. There was nothing in common between her and
Maude. It wasn’t just a grudge. Every instinct she possessed told her to be wary
of the woman. Experience had taught her to listen to her feelings in these
matters, for she was never wrong.

She took a deep breath and searched for a way to explain. “I adore you, Uric.
Completely, utterly. If you ask me to go see her, I will.” Her smile was
crooked. “There’s little I wouldn’t do for you. But this....” She gazed without
seeing at a point to his left. “I would be ignoring my instincts to go,
something I’ve learned never to do. Do you understand?” Is it okay?

One step took him to her side. His arms slid around her as she looked up.
“I’m not angry. In truth, I’d feel the same in your place. I’ll not make you
go.” He drew her to him and smiled against her hair as he rocked her gently.

And Ceylon knew it was truly all right.

* * * *

“Again you fail, Ogress.” Eville’s crooked teeth showed in his snarl. “She
was supposed to come.”

Maude’s eyes narrowed to icy slits. “She will. My son has yet to defy me for
long.”

“Maybe your acting skills aren’t as smooth as you bragged. I think he’s
suspicious.” One hip braced on a squat chest of drawers, he started to lean his
weight back on both hands, then grimaced as his bandaged stump came in contact
with surface.

Maliciously, she said, “What’s the matter, Stumpy? Can’t get comfortable?”
His hand went to his sword, but she ignored him. He needed her, and she could
use him. He was just twitchy since word came that his father was traveling this
way. Perhaps Lord Tennyson had finally become wise to his son’s
misadventures.

“Why would he suspect? Haven’t I fooled him into thinking I’m paralyzed?
Wasting away while he wallows in guilt?” A humorless smile made her look like
her namesake. “He’ll bring her, and you can kill them both. I’ve no need for him
anymore. With Uric out of the way I can enjoy his riches for the rest of my
life.”

Eville crossed his arms and smiled with anticipation. “Oh, I’ll kill him, all
right. Slowly. But the woman is mine until I tire of her.”

Maude waved a hand. “As long as you take her far away as planned. She’s the
one person who could destroy me.” And no matter what the fool thought, Uric’s
duchess was not going to live. If he got in her way, neither would Eville.

* * * *

“You’ve been summoned by the queen,” Uric repeated, dead pan. Ceylon had
interrupted him in the middle of balancing the accounts and he had yet to switch
gears.

“I’m not joking.” She laid the parchment on his desk.

It crinkled as he took it up. He glanced at her inquiringly. “She’s summoned
you to consult on a medical case?”

“That’s what it says. But I don’t understand; Annadelle and Iona have married
and Penny is contracted to marry. Surely she doesn’t need me for their
sakes.”

Pensive now, he tapped his fingers on his desk. “I don’t know. The last I
heard, Callion herself was in perfect health.” The one other person he knew of
that might be able to use Ceylon’s help was far too proud to ask for it. Even
near begging on Callion’s behalf hadn’t moved him to send for Ceylon, and Uric
doubted the man had given in now. “I suppose you should take all your books and
herbs with you.”

“Of course. I just wish she’d described what was wrong so that I might plan
for it. It’s hard to work in the dark.”

“I wouldn’t worry. I’m sure she’ll let you know as soon you arrive.”

* * * *

Two figures watched their Graces and their escort wind out of Shardsvale.

Maude stilled her horse impatiently as it stamped. She was risking a great
deal to leave the island at this time. The girl who took care of her had been
bribed to say that Maude wished no visitors; not that any ever came. With luck
her disappearance wouldn’t be noticed for a long while, long enough to finish
Uric and his mewling wife.

Chapter 9

Raven was growing, but his head was as hard as ever. “I don’t see why it must
be done this way,” he complained. “It doesn’t look right.”

“But that’s the way it’s spelled,” Ceylon assured him. A deep breath helped
to quell her impatience. Raven still hated this part of his schooling. As s boy,
he’d much rather be out doing manly things like bashing swords with Uric or
hunting some unfortunate animal. “Some of our words have foreign origins, so you
can’t simply write them as they sound or no one will ever know what you wrote.”