‘And that’s what you call a reward—marriage? Obeying a man for the rest of my life? A prison would be more honest.’
‘I believe that many women find happiness in marriage.’
‘Like the Empress?’
He frowned at the sarcasm. Clearly rumours about Matilda’s tempestuous relationship with Geoffrey of Anjou were more widespread than he’d realised.
‘She did with Emperor Heinrich, her first husband.’
‘What about you?’ She looked at him askance. ‘Are you married?’
?
??No.’
‘Have you ever been?’
‘No.’
‘Then what do you know about it? You say that you serve a woman, but would you allow your wife to have a mind of her own?’
‘I’ve no intention of finding out. I’ve no desire to get married.’
‘But you think it’s a good idea for me?’
He took a swig of ale in frustration. Damn it all, it wasn’t as if he wanted her to get married! The very idea evoked all kinds of images he didn’t want to dwell on, but he was trying to help! She was only too stubborn to see it.
‘It would be a means of protection.’
‘I don’t need protecting!’ She raised her voice, almost shouting at him. ‘You’re just like every other man. You think it’s all right for you to be free, but not for a woman!’
‘I didn’t say it was right. It’s just the way of the world.’
‘A man’s world!’
‘A woman can still have power in marriage.’
‘Says the man who doesn’t want to be shackled!’
He swallowed the last of his ale before answering. ‘I have my own reasons for not wanting to marry.’
‘Such as?’
‘They’re private.’
‘They’re excuses!’
‘Perhaps it’s because I don’t want to spend my evenings arguing with a harpy!’
She shot out of her chair at once. ‘Then allow me to relieve you of my company. As for the rest, there’s no need to concern yourself about my future. I’ll leave when I’m ready.’
He fixed her with a hard stare. ‘I thought that my remaining an extra night would give you time to prepare your departure. I can’t delay any longer.’
‘So that was why you...?’ A look of surprise flitted across her features before she cut herself off mid-sentence. ‘None the less, I intend to stay a while longer.’
‘With Sir Guian?’
‘Yes.’