"Is this what you wish for?" he repeated, knowinghewished for this, but not only for this. He wished for much more than this.
Her cheeks were deeply flushed and her lips now wet and parted, and he longed to kiss them hard, just as he longed to thrust his cock inside the liquid warmth which he found as he parted her legs.
"I... The children. They might come back. And I..." she reminded him, casting an anguished glance at the kitchen door.
Certainly, she was right, and he'd forgotten himself. Just as he'd forgotten who she was and what she'd done. Abruptly, he let go of her skirts and drew away from her.
"You're right. My tale was fanciful indeed. They didn't live happily ever after. There's no such thing. No such thing in this world. Only deceit and treachery," he tossed out at her, meaning to wound.
He strode away from her and from the house, because at this time he could not bear to look at her.
CHAPTER 14
In the days that followed, Emma reasoned that she may not need a husband, yet she could never part Robin from his father. So she would have this man, because he was the child's father. And, truth be told, she found him a worthy man even in spite of the strange, maddening heat that lay between them. So Master Archer would have to let go of his resentment towards her, so they could all rebuild a life together. Hild’s words came into her head, and she understood she would soon have to reveal the truth to the man she was deceiving. Yet she did not feel ready to do so as yet. And she was mightily afraid he would get angry with her and drive her away.
Resolved not to ever leave Robin, Emma told herself she would have to become reconciled with the fact that she could not have the child without also having the man. And in order for the man to wish to have her, she would have to strive to behave graciously to him. Frowning to herself, she started to wonder what she could do to make his anger burn less fierce towards her. It was not an easy task to accomplish, in view of what Rowena had done.
She cast a glance about the hall, and sniffed the air around her, smiling in satisfaction. This morning, she’d picked flowerson her way back home from the archery butts. Since there was no money in the house, she’d borrowed coin from Maggie to buy lavender to freshen the air somewhat. Aunt Royse, who had come to visit and help with chores, as was her habit, was now sniffing the air, glancing curiously around her, “Who’s ever heard of placing flowers in bowls all around a chamber?” she asked with puzzled frown. “This is not church. Flowers belong in church.”
Emma waved her hand with a smile. Aunt Royse may seem sour at times, but she was in truth a sweet woman who always meant well.
“You’re only saying so. But see how beautiful they look! And the scent. Wondrous!”
Aunt Royse further sniffed around her, and then harrumphed, “I am certain flowers belong in church, or even better in the field or in the garden, not in the house. As for the scent… Is that pressed lavender I smell?”
“Aye, it takes some of the tallow candle odour out of the house,” Emma said with a small wince.
She knew she was being choosy, but as a noble lady she was used to the far sweeter scent of beeswax candles. But Master Archer was a yeoman, and in this house they used tallow candles mostly. Emma supposed she should be grateful for them, even if their smell was not pleasant, it was better than that of the coarser rush lights which most common people used. Beeswax candles were expensive. Still, she could not help but dislike the scent of tallow candles, and now the lavender she’d bought did a good job of disguising it.
“You went to the market?” Aunt Royse asked, and it seemed to Emma her voice was somewhat wary.
“Aye, to buy the lavender and bread. I borrowed some coin from Maggie, but not much. I could not find any coin in the house,” Emma said with a shrug.
Aunt Royse glanced at her sharply.
“You borrowed coin?”
“Aye, but it is so very little. Maggie did not mind. And I mean to pay it back tomorrow,” Emma nodded, glancing upon the hall approvingly.
She’d set it in a way which was pleasing to her, and now the chests and chairs which had made it look cluttered and unwelcoming had been arranged in a manner she found more soothing. Soon she meant to bring similar changes to the chamber and to the kitchen, and, when coin could be spared for thread, she would set to work upon rugs and cushions to adorn the house.
“Hm,” Aunt Royse muttered. “He will not be pleased to know you’ve borrowed coin.”
Emma creased her brows, understanding only too well who Aunt Royse meant by theheshe’d uttered.
“Why? It is so very little!”
“Aye, but–”
Aunt Royse paused and cast her a searching glance, and then gazed once more about the hall with a sigh.
“You are changed indeed, so I will hold my peace. It’s best to sort this out with your man.”
Arthen’s aunt then steered the talk upon other matters, and Emma did not press for more, understanding the elderly woman was right and that she and the man she would have to spend her life with would need to find a way to make a living together which was pleasing to both of them. Emma felt grateful for Aunt Royse’s presence and for her advice in how to handle the heavier household chores which Emma was unused to doing. There were times when Aunt Royse looked strangely upon her, as if surprised by Emma’s ignorance. Yet, for all her professed sourness, she’d never begrudged Emma help or advice.
“Look, I meant to show you this, Auntie!” Emma said with good cheer, after she’d made sure Robin was safe in his play in his favourite corner of the kitchen.
Emma was rather pleased with herself, for she had already found some fine thread in the house which Rowena must have used in her own embroidery. And even if she’d been busy with learning new chores in the last days, she had found some spare time to indulge in one of the things she loved best to do. And she wanted Aunt Royse to see how she had managed to capture a pattern of leaves and flowers that resembled those she had picked today. Aunt Royse bent to look closely upon the embroidery.