“Yes,” she said as she sat down. “Stephen does train hard.” Her expression became serious.
“He’s a good man,” Hugh said as he took a piece of cheese from a tray a servant held for him.
“Perhaps,” she said, drinking deeply of warm, spiced wine.
“I envy him.”
“Do you?” she asked, her eyes searching his. “May-haps you could replace him…in some ways.” She watched with interest as Hugh began to take her meaning. The vain peacock! she thought. It never occurred to him—to any man—that he wasn’t God’s gift to women.
“Lady Bronwyn,” he said formally. “I must talk seriously with you. About Stephen—”
“What was he like as a child?” she asked, cutting him off.
Hugh was obviously startled. “Serious, like Gavin. All the brothers grew up in a world of men. Perhaps if Stephen is awkward, it’s because he knows very little about women.”
“So unlike you,” she purred.
Hugh smiled in a confident way. “I have had some experience, and I’m sure that’s why you’re…attracted to me. You’ve been married to Stephen so short a time. I’m sure that in years to come you’ll grow…fond of one another.”
“Is that what you want from life? Fondness?”
“I am a different man than Stephen,” he said smugly.
Bronwyn smiled at him as a plan began to form in her mind. “Not long ago, while we were in Scotland, Stephen and I stayed with some farmers. One of the women made a delicious drink from some lichens. When we rode into your estate, I saw some growing near the rocks. I thought perhaps we could take a walk and collect them. I’d like to make the drink for you.”
Hugh looked worried for a moment, then nodded in agreement. He didn’t like the way the events were happening. It almost looked as if Stephen’s wife wanted to betray her husband. Hugh wanted to report that Bronwyn could not be won by another man, but she seemed to be showing a preference for Hugh.
As they walked Hugh began to talk of Stephen, what an honorable man he was, how worthy he was of a woman of Bronwyn’s standing. He spoke of how generous Stephen was in wearing that ridiculous Scots dress.
Bronwyn said very little as she gathered lichens and the dried heads of flowers in the little basket Hugh had given her. She listened carefully and said nothing.
It began to rain again when they returned to the house. Sir Hugh was very formal as he led her upstairs to a private solar. A servant brought hot wine and mugs so Bronwyn could prepare the drinks. As she carefully mixed and stirred the ingredients she watched Hugh, his thick chest puffed out, his mouth smug in his belief that he was being noble in refusing Bronwyn’s advances.
“My lord,” she said quietly, handing him the warm mug. Her hand touched his caressingly for a moment. She smiled as he declared the drink delicious and drained his cup then asked for more.
“I need to talk to you,” he said seriously, sipping from the second mug of the hot liquid. “I mustn’t let you leave here believing as you do.”
“And what do I believe?” she asked sweetly.
“Stephen is my friend, has always been my friend. I just hope he will be my friend after this.”
“And why should he not?”
“I guess that depends upon you. You must never mention your…your attraction to me.”
“My attraction to you?” she asked innocently. She took a chair across from him. “Whatever do you mean?”
“Oh, come now, my lady. You and I both know what’s been happening between us today. All women know about affairs of the heart.”
She raised her eyebrows. “All women? Pray tell me what else all women know?”
“Don’t turn coy on me!” he snapped. “I’m not so innocent about women as Stephen Montgomery is. Perhaps you’ll be able to persuade him that you don’t look at other men, and since he is my friend I will back your story, but don’t try to play innocent with me.”
“I am caught!” she said, smiling. “You know so much about women and about your friend that I have no means of escape.”
Hugh started to speak, but a sudden pain shot through his gut and he closed his mouth.
“Here, let me refill your cup. You look pale.”