Lady Thief - By Rizzo Rosko Page 0,34
his gaze meeting hers and pleased with the shock he found there. “I must warn you that I adore challenges.”
The heat in her cheeks was well worth the effort, but she snatched her hand back and walked away.
They moved towards the stables, and Marianne pointed to the servants who scurried to do their chores when she came near. “I’ll wager you saw no behavior like this in them before.”
He shook his head, watching them with apt fascination as women rounded corners with their laundry, the men and boys cleaned and repaired blades, and herded chickens with a dedication that bordered on fear. Having had plenty of opportunities to listen to his wife screeching at the lazier of the servants, William knew what it was that they haunted them.
He had to admit that he did like the improvement.
Marianne spoke before they entered the stable. “When was the last time you were here?”
His eyebrow raised at her.
She corrected herself with a flush on her cheeks. “I meant, before Blaise and I…before you and he…”
He couldn’t help the smirk tugging at his lips. “Perhaps you are correct when you say that my words will not affect you. It seems I do not have to say anything at all for you to be at a loss for words of your own.”
***
Marianne envisioned throwing him into a large pile of horse manure, but due to Archer’s hard work, none could be found.
Her foot itched to stamp the ground, but she held it in check. “Forget about that! Tell me of the last time you were here!”
William shrugged. “Sometime before you arrived, I would say. I still ride Benedict and check to ensure that he is not sleeping in filth.”
She smiled. Perfect, ‘twas perfect. “Wonderful, because when Blaise was here you had no chance to appreciate how clean the stalls have become.”
“And you knew of its condition before hand?”
“Adam told me, now come see.” She grabbed his arm and pulled him in. He would see Archer’s hard work and praise the poor man if it was the last thing he did.
The smell of horses, fresh earth, and hay was stronger inside but not putrid. A natural earthy scent wafted from the clean stalls. It took a moment for Marianne’s eyes to adjust to the lighting, but when they did she could clearly see that Archer was not to be found here today, as well as the approval on William’s expression. His eyes were wide and searching as though he had never seen the inside of his own stables.
Her heart pounded, eager pleasure filling and bubbling within. “You are pleased?”
“Can you see me clutching my nose to hold off the smell? Of course I’m pleased.” He took a step forward and laughed. “I can move without stepping into horse manure!”
Her eager hope for praise for Archer was replaced with a troubling curiosity. Could such a simple thing be the cause for William’s pleasure? It should have been granted to him without the need to ask. ‘Twas the reason he, and every other lord, employed servants. Yet there he was, reveling in the cleanliness of the stables in a manner he had not shown when she pointed out the gardens to him.
Again she wondered why he had neglected his duties, and to ignore them to the point where his own animals were kept in filth until he himself inspected their condition.
He went to a stall farther down the aisle, passing the grooms who went about their own business, and found it empty.
“Where is Benedict?”
“Who? Ah, yes, your horse.”
William waved his hands in the space before him. “Aye. This is his stall and he is not here. Blaise knows I do not wish him to ride my horse without my permission, where is he?”
Marianne honestly did not know where his horse had been placed, and Robert and Archer were nowhere to be found to ask.
“You prize the animal?”
William nodded. “Aye.”
“I imagine Archer is allowing some of the horses to have their neglected exercise.”
He glared at her, and though she regretted his anger she did not mourn her words.
“My dear, while the laziness of my sewing maids and grooms is highly questionable, I have always seen to the care of my beasts.”
Before Marianne could apologize Archer ran inside, panting heavily.
He went to Marianne, but when his eyes found his lord standing farther down the stables he straightened his spine and controlled his breathing, though he could do little more but wipe the dripping moisture from his forehead and nothing about