fine; a bit sore, but fine. The girl hadn't stomped as hard as she might have, and Murie hated being fussed over.
At the speed Balan was moving, they reached the trestle table in moments, and he set her down in the head chair, then knelt to lift her skirt and remove her shoe.
"Husband, please. I am fine," she insisted, then sat back abruptly as she realized they were not alone. Osgoode, Cecily, Habbie, the servants and soldiers and even the wagon driver from Reynard were now crowded around them, most hunched forward, eyeing her toe with concern. The only one missing from within the walls was the young girl who had caused all this fuss. She was off alone somewhere in the bailey, no doubt weeping from fear of her brother's retribution.
Putting aside the child for the moment, Murie felt a blush rise up her cheeks at so many eyes on her ankle and foot, and leaned down to hiss in a whisper, 'You are showing my naked ankle and foot to everyone."
"What?" Balan asked absently.
"She says yer showing her naked ankle and foot to all," Habbie announced helpfully.
Balan glanced about with surprise, then promptly dropped her skirt and stood, forcing everyone to straighten away from them. He scowled at the gathering, then reached out to pat Murie's shoulder. "I do not think 'tis broken."
"I did tell you that, my lord husband," Murie replied with a scowl.
"Aye, she did," Thibault agreed, eager to be of assistance.
"Outside, in front of the steps."
"Aye, well..." Balan frowned slightly and glanced around. "I shall leave you in Gatty's capable hands. She shall give you a tour of Gaynor and explain how things work. I must get a reporting of what has occurred in my absence and see that all is well."
"Of course, husband," Murie said, managing a smile.
"If Juliana returns while I am gone, you just send her out to me, and I shall tend to her," he said as he started to turn away. Murie's mouth tightened. "Husband?"
"Aye?" he turned back.
Terribly aware of the people surrounding them and of her desire to make a good impression, Murie forced a smile and said,
"Do you not think I should be the one to deal with Juliana?"
"Nay."
Her smile twisted into a scowl, but she forced it back into a smile. "I am sure you would agree that it would be better if I deal with her."
"Nay," he repeated.
"Husband," she tried again. "I am the injured party here, and I am now her sister and guardian. I should be the one to deal with the child."
"Nay."
"It is like talking to a boulder," she muttered to herself.
"Honestly, Emilie could have warned me he was as stubborn as a stone wall."
"Wife, I can hear you," he said dryly.
"So can we," Gatty spoke up, amusement sparking to life in her eyes.
Murie scowled at them all and suddenly announced, "I am quite overwrought. I think I shall cry.
Osgoode's eyes widened in horror, remembering. He beseeched his cousin, "Balan, please, let Murie handle the girl."
"Aye," Thibault agreed. "We do not want the lass unhappy here."
"I am sure she will not hurt Juliana," Habbie added. Balan ignored them all, his gaze locked on Murie as he returned to stand before her. He froze, staring silently at her for the longest time, then asked, "How will you handle it?"
"I will not hurt her," Murie assured him with annoyance. "I shall simply talk to the child. Obviously she is very unhappy. She has been orphaned, like I myself was, and was terrified I would not like her or some similar thing. She responded out of fear. I will just reassure her and ... talk to her," she ended helplessly. Balan was silent for another moment, then bent to kiss her lightly on the lips. At least, it started lightly, but when Murie instinctively let her mouth open he couldn't seem to resist deepening it, if only briefly. As he ended the kiss, he whispered,
"You are too soft."
Murie scowled at the claim as he straightened.
"I shall allow you to handle her this time," he announced, ignoring her expression. "But you may tell her from me that if she does something like that again, I shall deal with her immediately - and much more firmly than you."
Murie smiled widely. "Thank you, husband."
Nodding, he started to turn away, then turned back to add,
"And Murie?"
"Aye?"
"You are very bad at pretending to sob. Even the king said so." Apparently satisfied by the stunned look on her face, he turned