But there was nothing she could do that would make his mother accept him or feel better. Shaking her head at the tragedy of it all, she handed the poison back to her. “I am very sorry for your loss, milady.”
She turned and quietly left the countess to her conscience.
Sin spent the entire day riding. He’d left London behind and headed south. Part of him wanted to just keep going. He had lands all over England, Normandy and Outremer. Castles so strong not even Henry’s entire army could breech them. No one had ever defeated him in battle. He could destroy nations if the mood took him.
There was no reason why he had to go back to London or to his wife.
None whatsoever.
No reason other than the fact that he liked the feel of her hand on his arm. The look of laughter that hung in her bright green eyes. The look of that peekaboo dimple that flashed when she spoke.
He closed his eyes as indecision ripped him apart.
Tonight she would be his. He could take her over and over until he was sweaty and spent, until they both were unable to move from exhaustion. She wouldn’t deny him the right of her body. Wouldn’t turn away from him in disgust or fear.
For once, he could have comfort and a welcoming touch. There was no doubt in his mind.
Sin closed his eyes and tried to imagine a world where someone truly wanted him. A world filled with someone who would smile at his approach. Of someone’s face lighting up in happiness at his presence.
Would it be so awful?
Callie wanted to be wife to him. Could he not be husband?
He could try.
Aye. He could at that. His heart suddenly lighter, he wheeled his horse about and headed back to London.
Sitting at the window with her dinner laid out on the small table, Callie watched the sun set with no sign of her husband anywhere. He’d left hours ago and no one knew where he was headed or when he would be back.
If he would be back.
She heard her door open. Hoping for Sin, she turned to see Aelfa entering the room with sad eyes. “He has yet to return, milady.”
So this was it then. Alone even on her wedding night. It didn’t bode well for her future if he showed her so little regard today of all days.
Callie glanced to the ring on her finger. When she’d first seen it, she’d hoped that maybe there could be peace between them. That maybe he might be willing to accept her into his life.
She was such a fool.
“He could still return,” Aelfa offered charitably.
Callie picked at the dinner she had hoped to share with her husband. As she sat there staring at his empty trencher across from her, she became angry. This was her wedding night! How dare he treat her this way.
How could he have so little regard for her? The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She had been nothing but kind and cordial to him. Had shown him only respect and then he couldn’t even be bothered to show himself for supper?
Well, she wasn’t some nothing. It was one thing to need time alone, quite another to wallow in self-pity and leave her guessing about where he was and when, if ever, he might decide to return to her.
By all the saints above, she wasn’t going to sit her another minute and feel this lowly and unwanted. If he didn’t want her, fine. She wasn’t going to spend the rest of her life trying to please him when it was obvious he didn’t want to be pleased at all.
“Where is Simon?” she asked Aelfa.
“With Jamie, in his room.”
“Could you please watch Jamie for a short time and ask Simon to come to me?”
Aelfa looked a bit confused, but didn’t hesitate with her answer. “Aye, milady. Gladly.”
Callie got up as the maid left and quickly washed her face and straightened her appearance.
