Sherwood Rogue

Chapter Twenty-Five

When I walked in around four in the morning, I found Will asleep in the dining hall and woke him with a kiss.

"It's not fair," he said when he opened his eyes and saw me.

"What's not fair?" I stood beside him and stretched, my bones cracking.

"You get to romp about the forest in the middle of the night, while I have to stay here." He stood up to kiss me and we headed upstairs.

"You have to keep care of the lodge," I said. "That's a heavy responsibility. Plus, you have to maintain a good reputation, while mine doesn't matter as much." We walked into our room. "Did you know, my husband, I am something of a mystery to people? I get the impression they think I'm some kind of wood elf. They tell stories of my disappearing for days in the forest, or going out and visiting men who can disappear in the blink of an eye. It's true, but they make it sound magical." I stretched out under the covers, weary to the bone, and yawned. "I think it's rather funny."

Will sat on the bedside and gave me a stern look. "You shouldn't, you know. What others think of you is important when you're the squire's wife."

"It never mattered in the forest," I said rebelliously.

"It matters here."

"It shouldn't. Besides, it's not much longer that we'll be here."

"I wish you wouldn't keep reminding me," said Will, blowing out the candle.

"But you can't forget, Will. Remember, our survival depends on it."

"None of the brotherhood forget anything, my dear." He kissed me. I returned the kiss as he eased into bed beside me.

"Where's Paul?" I asked, glancing at the open door leading to the boy's room.

"With Sybil." Will kicked at the covers. Andrea always made the bed into a stretcher and Will couldn't stand it. "I had her take him when I left."

"Good," I murmured. I was tired. If I'd been standing, I could have fallen asleep on my feet. I felt Will's lips brush mine, an invitation. I managed to whisper an apology before falling fast asleep.

***

IT WAS mid-morning before I got out of bed. Around nine o'clock, Will had come in to wake me, and I apologized the best way I knew how for falling asleep on him, taking advantage of Paul's absence to make sweet love to my husband.

Afterward, I took a bath, then slipped into a clean dress. It was lunch by the time I made my appearance downstairs.

When I got to the dining hall, Paul broke away from Sybil and came running. I caught him and swung him around, planting a kiss on his forehead.

"Paul," I said, hugging him tightly. He took the restriction for only a moment, then squirmed to look at my face.

"Mama! Guess what!"

"What's that, my boy?"

"Ganny had a baby!"

"Really?" I was mildly surprised. Ganny was a mare in our stables. She had been carrying for a while, but we hadn't expected the foal so soon.

I carried Paul back to the table while he told me what had happened while I was gone the day before. He told me all about a small person's world—friends and animals, grown-ups hurrying by looking very important, telling the children to stay out of the way.

From a child's perspective, it was a very hectic, busy day.

Paul spoke very well for a child of just three years and four months. He was a strapping boy, too. He had his own real dagger that he wore proudly at his side. It looked more like a sword on his small body, but he never drew it except in "practice." He and his father had mock battles with wooden swords in which Paul was always the victor.