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Varrick let them bond together in their cheers before he finally said, “More ale for all!”
Another round of cheers rang out as he turned away to face Marsh.
“She will hear of your words,” Marsh warned.
“She will not believe them,” Varrick said, and for a sheer moment he worried she might.
* * *
Varrick would not havehis wife hear from someone else what he had said to his warriors, and she would hear. Not directly, but through whispers and mumbles and people avoiding her and what she would suffer because of it, pained his heart greatly. But it was the best way to keep her safe for now. Later, when the time was right, he would make the truth be known that… he did truly love his wife and that she would remain his wife.
He waited until they were in their bedchamber, his wife discarding her garments until nothing but her shift remained, to go to her and slip his arms around her. He drew a deep breath, loving her womanly scent that constantly tempted him and was glad it remained hidden until he took her in his arms and hugged her closely. Her intoxicating scent was meant for him alone.
“Something troubles you,” she said, turning in his arms to face him.
“Will there ever be anything I can keep from you?”
“Why would you want to? I will keep nothing from you,” she said, seeing whatever it was weighing heavily in his eyes.
“I am happy to know you will never keep anything from me,” he said and kissed her.
“Do not think to distract me with kisses. I will know what troubles you.”
He stepped away from her since kissing her was all he wanted to do and began to disrobe.
“And do not think to distract me with your nakedness,” she warned, though hoped she had the strength not to let it distract her.
“Are you sure about that, wife?” he said with a brief laugh.
“I am not ashamed that your naked body has my hands itching to touch you.”
“And I take great pleasure in your intimate touches, especially when you stroke my—”
“Varrick!” she snapped. “Stop enticing me and tell me what you delay in telling me.”
He waited until he was completely naked to speak, hoping it would distract her and not upset her as he feared it would. “I made a choice in how I would keep you safe.”
A chill suddenly ran through her.
Varrick saw her shiver and went to her, but she held up her hand, stopping him.
“Tell me what you did,” she said, already sensing what he would tell her.
“My warriors believe I set a trap for the witch and that I will burn her at the stake if necessary.” He wanted to cringe at his own words, they sounded so harsh, and he was glad for the pain that felt like a knife to his heart, for he deserved it for betraying her.
Her legs turned weak, and she hurried to sit on the edge of the bed. “This will change everything. No longer will anyone trust me or seek my help.”
“It is a way to keep you from harm, leaving them to believe—”
“No remorse,” she said.
Varrick recalled the one warrior saying that about him—no remorse.
“They believe you—heartless.”
Varrick went and sat down beside her, though he did not touch her. “I was heartless until I met you. You brought my heart to life with your love and taught my heart how to love. But there is a part of me that will embrace that heartless side of me out of necessity. It is what keeps my clan safe and my warriors strong, and it is what keeps you safe from harm. The clan must believe I will do whatever is necessary to keep them safe from the witch.” He reached out and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I do not believe you are a witch. I believe you are a woman of honor and that you embrace life with a giving heart, and that you love deeply, and I will be forever grateful that you chose to love me.”
She stood and drew her shift over her head and tossed it aside and stepped toward her husband and he spread his legs to welcome her close.
