Page 63 of Anice’s Bargain

The attention in the room swept to Gilbert and the angry red scar running up from his jaw, cutting through his close-cropped beard.

Gilbert shrugged indifferently. “She’d been flirting with me enough—”

“That’s not true,” Ingrith protested.

James held up his hand to still her argument and she immediately clamped her mouth closed. He stalked to Gilbert. “Did ye rape this lass?”

Gilbert scoffed. “She enjoyed it. It’s obvious she did, or she wouldn’t have ended up with child. Everyone knows that. So, nay, it was not rape.”

To Anice’s horror, a murmur of agreement rippled through the surrounding witnesses.

Anger surged through her, but before she could acknowledge her fury, James’s fist shot out and slammed into the young man’s face. Gilbert staggered back, holding his cheek. At first, he bristled, as though he intended to return the blow, but then eased back as he thought better of it.

“He needs to wed my Ingrith for what he did.” Tall Tam folded his arms over his chest.

James looked at Tall Tam’s daughter, who had fallen once more into a pitiful weeping that made Piquette whine with empathy on each exhale.

“Do ye want to marry this man?” James indicated Gilbert.

The young woman furiously shook her head.

“How do you expect to care for the babe without a man to see you both fed and clothed?” Tall Tam demanded. “I’ll not be doing it. I already saw you grown and won’t do the same for your bastards.”

“She can work here.” Anice swept in from her hiding place. “I needed a lady’s maid anyway, and she’ll do nicely. Once the babe is born, it will be safe in the castle and she’ll be nearby.”

James smiled at her and everything inside her went warm and fluttery.

Was there ever a man such as that of her husband? One who fought for what was right, who defended the weak with his undeniable strength and newfound power. He was good and just, everything she’d never expected from a Graham.

And he was hers.

James faced the culprit once more. “Gilbert, son of the miller, ye are henceforth excommunicated from Carlisle.”

Those in the great hall drew a collective gasp. In a world where one’s survival was based off their trade, off the protection of one’s family and the fabric of the community to whom they belonged, excommunication could well mean a bitter and lonely death.

The color drained from Gilbert’s face. “What will I do? Without a home, without a trade?”

“Ye can do what it is ye expected her to do with a babe and no man to see her cared for.” James turned his back to the man, indicating he had no intention of discussing the matter further.

“This isn’t right,” Gilbert bellowed.

James flicked his hand toward the reivers standing menacingly on either side of him. “See him out and get him off our land. Let it be known rape will not be tolerated in Carlisle.”

“This is your fault.” Gilbert lunged at Ingrith and launched one meaty fist toward her stomach.

Without thought, Anice delivered two blows of her own. The first to block Gilbert’s path from striking Ingrith’s tender stomach, the second smashing with a satisfying crunch into the cur’s face. Ingrith gaped at her in shock.

In fact, every person had gone silent as the dead in their surprise as many regarded her with wide eyes.

Anice resisted the urge to shake free the pain in her fingers from the assault. “Come.” She casually took Ingrith’s arm and led her from the great hall. “Let’s leave the men to their handlings. I’ll show you to my room.” She gave an apologetic smile. “If I can find it.”

Ingrith was a small-faced woman with fair blonde hair and bright, clear blue eyes, albeit rimmed with the misery of her tears. “I can help you with that, Mistress Graham, but it is all I can offer in regard to my assistance.” She bowed her head and stared hard at her scuffed shoes as they walked. “I know naught of hair or clothing.”

Anice waved her off. “I can show it all to you. I had no lady’s maid at Werrick Castle. I have four sisters and the lot of us would help one another every morning and night.” She smiled at the memory of so many giggles and stories shared between them.

A fresh chasm of pain opened in her chest. How had it been only a sennight since she’d last seen them? It felt as though a lifetime had passed.

“I’ll try my best, Mistress.” Ingrith stopped and regarded Anice with a wide, honest gaze. “Thank you for what you did, for saving me.” She pressed her lips together, but it did not quell her growing smile. “When you landed a blow on his nose. That was marvelous.”

Anice flushed. “I’ll show you how to do it so you’re never in such a position again.”

“I would like that very much.” Ingrith’s face set with determination. “And I appreciate Mr. Graham for what he did in sending Gilbert away. Your husband is a good man.”

“Aye, he is.” There went the warmth inside her again, growing and swelling, as though she was glowing from within.

It was then Anice understood something she could never have anticipated with this marriage, something already beginning to blossom in the time she’d spent with James at Werrick, and what they’d experienced in Caldrick Castle: Love.

Perhaps Leila had been wrong after all when she’d predicted the marriage would be a failure.

With everything going so right, what could possibly go wrong?