In the six years of their marriage, Baudoin had gone from being a hellion who jumped from one bed to another to being a successful merchant who most of all enjoyed his wife and children.
This morning, when he’d seen Lord Rogan in the crowd, he’d recognized his half-brother immediately. For the first time in years his old rage had come to the surface. Hours later he’d found Gaby and, after much word-pulling from her, had told her what had happened in the forest. He was ashamed of having attacked a man from behind and he told Gaby about the offer he’d accepted, but said that they must leave the area and start over again elsewhere, that he could not bear to face Lord Rogan again.
Gaby gave a quick prayer of thanks to God for at last giving them this opportunity, and then she proceeded to work on Baudoin. She used every technique she could think of to break Baudoin’s reserve. Once this was accomplished she knew she had to work on the lord and his kind, forgiving wife. And she knew that today, while the lord and his lady were dressed in peasants’ garb, was her opportunity. Tomorrow, when they were in silk and she was in wool, the gulf between them would be too great.
So she’d taken the money from its hiding place, purchased beef, pork, chicken, bread, oranges, cheese, dates, figs, and beer, and put them into a basket and gone in search of Baudoin’s illustrious relatives. She didn’t let herself think of Rogan’s reputation, which had been so well portrayed in the play (and she refused to think about Lord Rogan’s having seen Baudoin playing him), but concentrated on being amusing and equal.
Liana didn’t have to say much when she was near Gaby, but then no one did, for Gaby talked enough for an army. At first Liana was reserved with the woman. She didn’t like her presumption, didn’t like the way the woman had forced herself into what was to have been her time alone with Rogan.
But after a while, Liana began to thaw. It was so good to hear talk. With Rogan she had to force every word from him and there were no guests at Moray Castle, no one to talk with except her maids and the Lady—who too often stayed behind a locked door.
And, too, Liana liked the way Gaby adored Baudoin. Her eyes roamed over him in a possessive way that was part wife, part mother, part she-monster who meant to suck the life from him. I wonder if I look at Rogan like that, she thought.
The men looked at one another warily, not knowing what to say or how to react to each other, until Gaby suggested Rogan teach Baudoin how to fight with long poles.
The women sat on the ground eating cheese and bread and watched the men train. Rogan was a good teacher, if a harsh one. He knocked Baudoin into the cold stream three times. But Baudoin wasn’t his father’s son for nothing. The fourth time Rogan meant to send his half-brother into the water, Baudoin pivoted and Rogan went splashing face down into the icy water.
Liana was on her feet instantly and running to her husband. He looked so startled as he
sat there in the water that Liana began to laugh, as did Gaby. Even Baudoin smiled. It took Rogan a moment, but he smiled also.
Liana put her hand out to help him up but, still smiling, he pulled her down into the water with him. “Not fair,” she cried. “I was nearly dry.”
He stood, then lifted her out of the water and carried her to the grassy place in the sun and sat down beside her. He removed his shirt, and when Liana shivered, he pulled her into his arms so that she leaned back against him. Liana knew she’d never been so happy in her life.
“What’s to eat?” Rogan asked. “I’m starved.”
Gaby pulled luscious food from the basket, and the four adults and two children began to eat. For the most part it was Gaby who talked, telling amusing little stories of village life. She was remarkably tactful when it came to avoiding all reference to the Peregrine family’s terrorizing of the village.
Liana could feel Rogan beginning to relax. He asked Baudoin some questions about being a wool merchant, even asked him if he had any ideas how to improve the Peregrine wool production.
The little girl, Sarah, only a toddler, just able to walk, picked up a date and on her chubby legs made her way, with her father’s help, to Rogan. She stood and stared at him for a while until Rogan turned to look at her. He’d never paid much attention to children, but he noted that she was a pretty child with intense dark eyes that studied him.
The child handed him the date, and when Rogan took it, she seemed to think this was an invitation. She turned and plopped into his lap, snuggling her back against his chest.
Rogan looked down at the soft curly hair in horror.
“Never met a stranger,” Gaby said. “That’s my Sarah.”
“Take her,” Rogan said under his breath to Liana. “Get her off me.”
Liana suddenly became deaf. “Here, Sarah, give these figs to your Uncle Rogan.”
Solemnly, the child took a fig and held it to Rogan’s mouth. When he tried to take it from her, she gave a squeal of protest. Looking as if it were the most unpleasant thing he’d ever done, he opened his mouth and allowed her to put the fig inside.
Liana kept up a running stream of conversation with Gaby and pretended she was taking no notice of Rogan and the child, but she kept the little girl supplied with dates and figs. When the child tired of feeding her uncle, she settled back against Rogan and went to sleep.
All too soon, the sun dropped low in the sky and Liana knew it was time to go home. She didn’t want this pleasant time to end, didn’t want to return to gloomy Moray Castle and, perhaps, a husband who ignored her. She slipped her hand in Rogan’s and put her head on his shoulder. For a long while they sat there, entwined, the sleeping baby on his lap.
“This has been the best day of my life,” Liana whispered. “I wish it would never end.”
Rogan tightened his arm around her. It had been such a wasteful day and he planned never again to be so frivolous, but he agreed that it had been…well, pleasant.
It was Sarah’s waking and crying that made them realize they had to return to their respective homes.
“You’ll come tomorrow?” Liana asked Gaby, and saw tears of gratitude in the woman’s eyes. Already, Liana had plans of making Gaby her mistress of the household. Gaby would make sure the maids kept the place clean, and Liana would have more time to spend with her husband.
A few minutes later, in the growing darkness, Rogan and Liana began to slowly walk back to Moray Castle. Hands clasped, they were quiet for a while.