that she should have been wed years earlier, but three and twenty hardly left her old and shriveled.
And now it seemed that he might not even be the prize he valued himself to be. Marianne wanted to know why.
Adam could see the fire building in her eyes. “Please, milady, do not press the matter.”
Marianne watched him struggle with the idea of betraying the trust of his lord, or giving in to the demands of his lady.
Reluctantly, she took pity on him, offering him a smile just to ease his nerves. “Very well, I will not ask anymore questions of you.”
Adam deflated as he sighed. “Thank you, milady.”
“I am sorry to have caused you any worry, your loyalty to William deserves more respect than that.” She shooed him away. “Off you go, finish whatever it was you were doing and have no worry for me.”
He left quickly, and Marianne turned her attention to Olma, who still tried valiantly to not meet her eyes since being by Marianne’s side for so long she recognized when Marianne was playing tricks.
Marianne stood and observed her for a moment, stroking her chin. “I supposed you would not know anything more than gossip.”
Olma did not look at her, but the relieved smile on her face was evident when she shook her head. “Nay milady, and even then, I know not much gossip at all.
Marianne sighed. “I suppose I am to believe you, shy little thing that you are. If I am to receive any answers I will have to ask Robert for them.”
***
William walked leisurely beside Bryce, waiting patiently as the man contemplated William’s current dilemma along with the true nature of his marriage.
William could not contain it any longer, he needed advice and in order to get it he would have to trust that his friend would not betray him and pass around the information that his wife had kidnapped him so that they could wed.
After much chin scratching, thoughtful grunting and nodding, Bryce deemed himself ready to speak. “Fiery spirit, but I never would o’ guessed she would be capable of such a stunt. I’ve heard of such things happening before Henry’s time, but the kidnappings were always performed by the men seeking rich brides. When Nicholas arrives yer going to have to ask him how to deal with her.”
Despite the lack of a true answer, William smirked. “She was brave enough to attempt the kidnapping, but hardly capable of efficiency, the way she blundered it as she did. I can handle her well enough on my own without his advice, when he finally brings his lazy hide out of bed and gets here.”
They continued walking past the courtyard and paying no mind to the men and servants they passed. After some moments of silent contemplation, Bryce asked William delicately, “Do ye suspect she aided her father in the theft?”
William shook his head. “Nay, I cannot believe she is capable of deceit.”
“That is what ye said about Alice.”
William retorted quickly. “Alice’s burdens were brought on by my own foolishness.”
“Aye, but ye saw Bertha long after Alice found her comfort in Robert.”
William grit his teeth at the memory of his wife’s betrayal. “‘Tis true, but I will say it again, ‘twas not entirely her fault. Marianne is not as easily swayed as Alice.”
“Though she does have the temperament to stage a kidnapping, and according to you, nearly ran her horse into the forest after she heard some cruel words from Holton.”
“‘Tis not the same.” William shook his head, refusing to believe Bryce’s logic. He asked the man for his aid, but this was not what he had in mind. “Alice and Marianne are both of the emotional sort, but Marianne handles it better than Alice ever did.”
Bryce chuckled. “Violent little thing, is she?”
William pictured Marianne pounding against his back as he lifted her towards the bed, and listened in his mind to the sounds of her shrieks at the servants, several of whom he walked passed with Bryce. He smiled. Now, on sight of him, they moved quicker with their duties. Not one servant stood idly without a job.
Alice brought a sadder memory. An emotional woman taught never to show sadness, anger, or fear. She bottled her feelings away until they drove her into the bed of another, lesser man.
William cleared his head, bringing his thoughts back to Marianne, who did no such thing with her emotions and brought a happy jump to his chest. “Aye, she is a lively sort, but ‘tis not all