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l not come back for a while. As for them pretty gems, if you say they’re yours, then they are. I’ll not touch them. But you must keep them safe. They cannot be spent on frivolous things. They’ll serve you well when they’re needed.”
He spoke wisely for a farmer.
“What should I do? I wanted to go to a city and live there, and dance, and meet nice folk, and then go back—”
“Lass, you cannot do that. There’ll be gossip. You wear his ring, your name will be known, and they’ll want to know why you’re not in your place. A widow can be seen out, a spinster, too. But not a young wife out on her own. You’ll be shunned.”
She’d not thought about how others might think. “Oh, dear.” She frowned. “I can’t go back. It’s so lonely. My parents won’t have me back home, they think I am happily married... and I do so want to be happy. And married, properly.”
“Understandable,” he said agreeably.
“So,” she drawled slowly. “Can I stay here?”
“Here?” he said and waved his hand around the primitive room. “You’ll not find my simple living easy; there’s no room for either privacy or leisure. I have labourers in the fields to help me, but no womenfolk. No servants, but those that toil for me. I cannot offer you much, lass.”
“You can offer me much, I think, sir,” she said carefully.
“Oh?”
“I can offer you myself, in return for my keep, and you can teach me.”
He leaned forward and tipped up her chin. He had a twinkle in his dark eyes. “Teach you?”
“Things. Like farming... and lovemaking,” she whispered.
He threw back his head and laughed loudly. “Lovemaking. You’ll get none of that with me, lass. I fuck. Do you understand? I’m coarse and unyielding, I’ll take you when I like and how I like. I won’t take disobedience and you’ll respect my ways as your own. So lovemaking, pah, that’s for the fancy folk in big houses. And if you want a child off me—”
“No, oh, no.” Her heart raced, her mind fizzed with a concoction of conflicting emotions. She wanted to lose herself in him, let him loose on her and give up all common sense and silly acts of decorum that befitted her rank. However, she had to be careful. Could she trust him to keep her safe and healthy? What meagre food would he serve her each day? Where would she bathe?
“No child, but that will mean being careful, doing things differently to what you might do with a husband.” He rubbed his chin. “So, you want to stay with me, lassie, and earn your keep. You’ll have to work on the farm, too. Can’t have you sitting around on that fine arse waiting to serve my cock.”
“I’ll do what I can.” Which wouldn’t be much. She’d never worked with her hands.
“Those lessons will be tough. I fuck rough, too. None of this pandering to gentleness. I’ve always liked it hard and fast, at least, when I had the time for it.” He glanced away and fell silent.
He’d not mentioned a wife. Dara suspected that he’d had one. Perhaps she had run away too because she couldn’t cope with his hard ways? It made sense. Well, Dara had a strong heart. Matthew did not scare her.
He rose and fetched her black cloak. He wrapped it around her shoulders, and she pinched it under her chin.
“I thought... you know, your belt.”
“Aye. I was minding to give you my belt, but you’ve been honest with me, Dara, and I will respect that. So you’re married in name and nothing else. In that case I shall borrow you for a time, then return you. I don’t steal. You can rest easy for now. I’ll not use the belt unless I think you really deserve it and as for the other thing, we’ll work toward it when you’re ready. I was hasty because I thought you were leaving me. No need for that now, is there?” He grinned. “You can get dressed now, and I’ll take you to milk the cow.”
* * *
“Ye gods, you can’t milk, you dropped two eggs, ran away from the rooster, and now you tell me you can’t sew the buttons back on my shirt, nor repair the tear in your shift.” He stomped past her. “Do you have any talents?”
“I can embroider,” she said weakly.
“I’ll remember that the next time I want a fancy pattern on my shirt tail.” He raked his hand through his tangled hair. “I’ve not time to pander to your ignorance, I’m short-handed as it is. You needed to be quicker to keep up with me. You’ll have to go to Maggie’s.”
He was sending her away already? Was she that incapable or had he changed his mind? “Maggie?”
“She lives on the next farm. She’ll teach you to milk, and sew, and cook. A couple of days in her house and you’ll know enough to get started on your own.”
“Two days!”
“I know, you probably need longer, but I don’t want to drive the poor woman mad. She’ll don’t take to fools. I’ve more patience than her. She’ll not beat you. She ain’t that cruel, but watch your mouth, and don’t shirk from working hard.”
