“We should still rise. There is a lot to accomplish before evening.”
“Ida is here,” Branford said. “I doubt there will be anything left to prepare. I am quite sure she has everything organized for the feast already, and there are probably a dozen handmaids assisting Had—the bride.”
My husband’s obvious distaste for uttering the name or even being in the presence of his former concubine was troublesome. Though he uttered no disapproval of the joining of Hadley to Sir Brigham, he completely avoided all talk of the wedding plans. Even though he was always by my side, just as he swore he would be after Janet’s treachery was discovered, he avoided any contact with Hadley. When I spoke with Hadley about her upcoming ceremony, Branford would stand to one side, barely offering her a nod in acknowledgement.
I understood why but had no idea what to do about it. The few times I had attempted to even bring Hadley’s name up to Branford, he had been quick to distract me, either with talk of urgent matters or more likely with his deft hands and mouth against my skin.
As he had done the first year of our marriage, Branford spent much of his time devising ways of getting me to some quiet corner alone. There he would attempt—and most likely succeed—to seduce me. I often found myself having to change out of muddied clothing in the middle of the day. Even more often, Sunniva would give me a sly smile as she pulled a wayward piece of straw from my hair.
I bit down on my lip as I forced any optimistic thoughts from my head. I refused to wonder, speculate, or remotely consider the thought that I might be…
I couldn’t even bring myself to summon the word to my head even though I knew I felt off-kilter.
“I should still see if my assistance is needed,” I said, and Branford sighed before releasing his grip on me. I dressed myself and warmed a cup of cider near the fire as Branford rinsed his hands and face in the basin. Branford paused, sniffed at it, and gave me a lopsided grin before drinking it down.
Though he tried to make light of his revived paranoia, it was not always so amusing. Branford had not gone as far as to ban tea outright; he never drank it again, nor did I. It was not out of fear of the drink itself but more out of Branford’s reaction to it.
Branford slipped his fingers through mine and brought the back of my hand to his lips.
“I love you, my wife,” he said softly.
I felt heat warm my cheeks as I responded in kind. With my arm linked through his, we left the royal chambers and made our way to the grand hall where Ida and Sunniva were instructing servants in the decorations for the feast after the ceremony.
“Just for a moment, Branford,” I said as I attempted to leave my husband’s side long enough to make sure Hadley needed no assistance from me.
“Not alone,” he said, and his hand gripped mine tighter.
“Branford…it’s only the next room.”
“Never again.” Branford’s eyes darkened, and I recognized the set of his jaw that meant he would be difficult to dissuade. Eventually he agreed to wait outside the door for me, but convincing him was not easy. As I closed the door behind me, I realized it was the first time I had been out of Branford’s field of vision since the poisoned tea was discovered.
I checked on Hadley and hugged her briefly before I returned to Branford’s side, not wanting him to be too distressed. He immediately took me into his arms and held me against his body for a moment before we took our places at the front of the chapel.
The ceremony was beautiful, and I could not help but compare it to my own as I listened to Father Tucker’s words and watched Sir Brigham lift the veil from Hadley’s face to kiss her lips softly. I looked to Branford then, wondering if he was also thinking of our first kiss, but he was staring at the floor in front of his booted feet and not watching at all.
After the wedding, everyone moved to the great hall for the marriage feast. Though Branford placed his hand on Brigham’s arm in brief congratulations, he said nothing at all to Hadley. I gripped his arm, and he glanced at me out of the corner of his eye before he walked a few feet away to speak to Sunniva.
I took a deep breath and looked at Hadley, whose eyes were cast to the ground. Sir Brigham was speaking with Dunstan and did not seem to notice.
“Pay him no mind,” I said softly to her. “He just does not know what to say.”
“He hates me,” Hadley said quietly. “He does not even look at me.”
“I do not think that is true,” I responded in the same soft tones. “He blessed your marriage, did he not?”
Hadley nodded.
“Forgive me,” she said. “I did not mean to sound ungrateful, I just…”
I reached out and touched her arm to silence her.
“Of course you did not,” I said. “And you must not take to heart what Branford does. If given the opportunity, he would probably question his own loyalties as well.”
Hadley covered her hand to muffle her chuckle.
“Alexandra,” Hadley said, and though her smile stayed on her face, her eyes dimmed, “I will miss you so.”
“Miss me?” I questioned.