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Severin said to Eloise, “Do you wish to hear the same words from my mother? From Alice?”
“I hate you! I hate Hastings! I want to go home with Marjorie.” The child turned and ran to Marjorie, throwing herself against her, burying her head in her skirts.
“I am sorry, Hastings. This has not been pleasant for you.” He stilled, turning to look at Marjorie, who was gently rocking Eloise against her. By Saint Albert’s knees, she was so beautiful it made his groin tighten to look upon her. What groin would not tighten? At that moment, Marjorie raised her head and looked squarely at him.
“You may take the child to your bedchamber,” he called. “You will speak to her about the evils of lying. I am very displeased with your tutelage, Marjorie. The child has changed since she was here in Hastings’s charge. She is sly, her nature is unpleasant, and she has proven to be a liar. I do not like it.”
Hastings could but stare at her husband. He was actually criticizing his goddess? But everything he said was true. Eloise was very different now. She was mean-spirited. Had Marjorie alone brought about the changes in the child? She did not believe that Eloise could possibly have known to say that her saffron gown had made her look sallow. What child knew that word? No, that had come from Marjorie, and Eloise was just repeating it. It was hurtful and Eloise knew well it was hurtful.
Severin waved Marjorie and Eloise away. “You will take the evening meal in your bedchamber,” he called after them. Marjorie didn’t say anything, nor did she turn to acknowledge his order. Her head was high. Her glorious hair floated down her back to her hips.
Hastings could throw the bloody potion down the jakes. She wanted to throw herself in her husband’s arms. She wanted to dance, mayhap even juggle some leather balls as the jongleur had done. Severin had made his choice. He would return them very soon now to Sedgewick.
Then Severin turned to her and said, “I trust Dame Agnes isn’t the liar here. As for my mother, she would say anything to protect you. Alice as well.”
From one instant to the next, she thought, as her hand closed about the silver laver that stood next to her chair. It was filled with clean water. She picked it up, rose, and hurled it at him.
“You whoreson,” she shrieked at him, but it was difficult because she was panting as if she had run ten miles. Water dripped off his face and his tunic. Trist poked his head out, his face wet. He was staring at Hastings, then twisting about to look up at Severin.
Severin had managed to block the laver with his arm and it was on the floor, more dents in the beautiful polished silver. Edgar the wolfhound was lapping water from an indentation in one of the floor stones.
Severin rose very slowly. Hastings didn’t like the look in his eye. She tried to duck past him, but only got about three feet. He grabbed her about her waist, quickly moved his arm upward away from the wound, and pulled her back. He turned her around to face him. She was still panting hard. He might want to beat her, but he wouldn’t. She was carrying his child. The stitches were still in her side.
He was not more than three inches from her. He was silent, just staring down at her.
He closed his hands around her neck, lifting her chin with his thumbs. “You fear me and then you do not,” he said in the calmest voice she’d ever heard out of him. “But no matter, you continue to make a fool of me whenever it suits you.”
“You called me a liar. You called your own mother a liar. What would you expect me to do, sit here with my head downcast and let you fling out your insults?”
“I would expect you to speak to me about my opinions, not attack me. I have allowed you too much freedom, Hastings. It is time to rein you in.”
“What do you mean?” Her mouth felt dry, drier still as she watched the drops of water roll down his face.
“You are without control. You do not govern yourself. You do whatever comes to your woman’s brain without thinking about your actions. I cannot allow this to continue. I will not allow it to continue. For the next two evenings, you
will eat your meal seated beside Edgar the wolfhound. To assure myself that you will not leap up and strike me with a chair or a knife or the laver again, I will tie you to Edgar.” He released her and stepped back.
“Mayhap you should not wear your best clothes. Edgar slobbers a lot. And Hastings, do not try to flee me again, else you will not like the consequences.”
He turned on his heel and strode out of the great hall, not looking back.
“No!” she screamed after him.
Dame Agnes was just shaking her head. “Must I teach you everything again and again, Hastings? No, do not rant at me about the unfairness of what your husband has ordered. You amaze me. You actually threw the laver at him! He did not retaliate because, unlike you, Hastings, Lord Severin understands the results of his actions. He does not want to hurt you physically or hurt the babe. Evidently you don’t care if you break his head. Ah, that I would have to see this. You will learn control or I imagine you will spend the next three months next to that wolfhound.”
Dame Agnes, still shaking her head, left the great hall. Servants were staring at her. Men-at-arms were staring at her. Edgar the wolfhound barked and nuzzled against her hand.
Lady Moraine brought an old gown to her bedchamber before the evening meal. “It is but for two nights. It is not a bad punishment. Do not—”
“He humiliates me beyond what I can stand. He called me a liar. He called you a liar. Does that not bother you?”
“You will run away again?”
“I cannot. None of his men would let me even go into the outer bailey. On his command. I hate your son, my lady.”
“You threw the laver at him, Hastings. Not so long ago you sent your knee into his manhood. How many other times have you attacked him?”
“He deserved it. Did you not hear him? He accused me of lying. He accused you and Agnes and Alice as well. Did that not make you want to hit him? Why do you just ignore it?”
