odd behavior she insisted on carrying out. He sighed and rubbed his temple, working to contain his building apprehension. “Cousin you may speak with me without putting your poor husband through all of this.”
John listened to Anne’s whispers some more, and then sighed in a manner equal to William’s. “‘Twould seem she cannot. She gave Marianne her word not to speak of this to you.”
“She is speaking it to me now.”
“Nay, cousin. My husband is speaking of it to you. Marianne had me promise not to speak to you about her troubles, but she mentioned nothing of telling John.” Anne grinned proudly, and William knew she was congratulating herself for the wit of her scheme.
Nicholas chuckled and drained his drink. “Women enjoy devious play but I never would have suspected your innocent cousin.”
“Keep silent, Nicholas.” William could hardly believe it himself, and he rubbed his temples to will away the headache. “Pray, tell me why my wife believes I hold no love for her.”
Anne whispered into her husband’s ear again, and when John’s face colored William prayed she was not divulging anything inappropriate.
When she finished her whispering, John stared down at his wife curiously before facing William, a helpless air about him. “‘Twould seem the lady believes this is so because you have yet to tell her.”
Nicholas’s face dropped, he clutched his chest dramatically. “You have not told your wife of your love?”
“Yet to tell her? I have told her! I have told her with my actions when I rode after her when she was taken, and have said so with my words when—” He had to stop himself before he was the one to mention something inappropriate. “I have told her.” He grumbled, folding his arms.
Remembering Nicholas, he growled at him. “And just because you spout out love to every maiden who will have ye does not mean every man can say it so lightly!”
Anne brows came together thoughtfully. “‘Tis not what she has told me. She believes you have never mentioned this love for her. Are you quite sure you have told her?”
John took his wife’s hand and squeezed imploringly. “Do not pester him. Even if he does hold no love for her ‘twould be no business of yours.”
It bothered William because he did, and she should know that he did. She smiled at him when he told her before drifting off to sleep.
He stopped at the thought. That was right. He did tell her, and she did not say anything to him in return. Was feminine protocol not clear in allowing him the right to anger and not her? Surely even Nicholas would agree with him.
Lady Anne would not be silenced by her husband. “How many times have you told her?”
William blinked out of his thoughts. “I beg your pardon?”
Despite John’s shushing, Anne continued to speak. “How many times have you mentioned your love for her?”
Nicholas grinned, lazily trailing the rim of his glass. “Aye, friend, how many times?”
“Once is not enough?”
“Nay, of course not!” Anne glowered disapprovingly at him. William could see how mad she believed him to be with the way her face twisted in near disgust at his claim.
William looked at John, who had given up on trying to silence his wife and shook his head apologetically. “Women enjoy hearing these things over and over.”
William sputtered. “And do they always forget them if the words are not spoken enough?”
John shrugged dejectedly, gesturing to his wife. “‘Twould seem so, Aye.”
Nicholas nodded his head as well. “At least every day.”
William threw his hands up and swore a blue streak, circling his entire solar twice before remembering that his little cousin was still in the room. He looked at her and found her eyes open comically wide. John shook his head, muttering: “Should not have allowed myself to become involved.”
William decided that if he wanted to rage around like he was he had best do it to his wife and not in front of his friends and relatives. He left to find his red haired imp and do just that.
Anne and John followed quickly behind, fearful he would be rash with her, Nicholas did not.
Anne’s voice shrieked with panic behind him. “Please do not tell her I told! I gave my word and she would not forgive me!”
John’s pace equaled that of his wife but he remained behind William, his voice much calmer than Anne’s had been. “Do not be rough with her. You know how severely women can take matters of the heart.”
William stopped his hunt