Page 23 of Saxon Blade Norman Blood
The coastline was in view, a succession of brown fields and green wooded areas. It did not look much different from the landscape they had left behind. As a matter of fact, it was almost indistinguishable from the countryside of Rowena’s childhood.
“You look surprised,” William murmured in her ear. “Tell me what you are thinking.”
“It’s not what I expected to see at all.”
He gave a smile. “And what did you imagine? A wild and rugged land, home to dangerous, bloodthirsty men? Frightful Normans?”
“Men like you, you mean?”
This time he gave a throaty laugh. “Yes, exactly like me. I am nothing if not dangerous and bloodthirsty.”
She laughed in turn. “I confess I did not think that your country would be so similar to mine.”
“Maybe despite what everyone thinks, we are not so dissimilar after all.”
“No, maybe not.” She placed a hand on the gunwale and caressed the wood pensively. “I have never been on a boat before.”
“There is a first time for everything.”
The words sent a shiver through her whole body, as they put her in mind of their lovemaking that day in the bathtub, when he had taken her maidenhead. “Yes, and as long as they are with you, I am looking forward to experiencing many first times.”
“That is all very well, dear wife.” He engulfed her in his arms to bring his mouth closer to her ear. “But I cannot think of many things left to experiment together.”
She turned her gaze to his, refusing to be intimidated. “I can think of a few. I want to bear your children for one.” The idea of holding a child that looked like the man she loved made her heart melt.
“I can think of nothing I would like more, mon amour .” He kissed her forehead tenderly. Then he drew back, his face a picture of shocked delight. “Wait, are you telling me—”
“No!” She laughed, walking toward the ship’s bow. “Even if I was with child, how would I know it already? It has been less than a month since you first made love to me and I was a virgin, remember?”
“Mm, don’t think I have forgotten anything about that day.” His eyes caught fire. “I remember how your teasing sent me half mad with longing, you little she-devil.”
Rowena smiled and looked into the distance. A new life was beginning, one where she was free to be herself. There was no mission to accomplish, she was now married to a man she loved and who loved her back.
“Why did you want to come to Normandy so soon after our wedding, Rowena, if at all?” William asked as they watched the coast get nearer.
Her decision had taken him by surprise, and in truth, she wasn’t sure of the reason for the impulse herself.
“I want to know everything there is to know about you. You say we are not dissimilar but at times if feels like we are, and I don’t want any misunderstanding to come between us anymore.” A pause. “You are not angry at me for saying so?”
“No, my love, why would I be?” He gave her hand a comforting squeeze. “Are you worried about anything?”
“No but…”
“But you are. Tell me what is on your mind. Please.”
There was another pause, then Rowena spoke. “Well… You are coming back home with a Saxon wife.”
“Yes, I am.” His embrace tightened around her in what she imagined was pride.
It gave her the encouragement she needed to voice out her concern. “What is everyone going to think? Your family, your noble friends… They do not have wives like me.”
William gave an amused snort. “No, they certainly do not. More’s the pity for them. I have seen more forbidding ladies and silly pea hens amongst my peers’ wives than I care to remember. Evidently, they were not as conscientious in their choice of spouse as I was.”
“William, please.” Rowena sighed. “You know what I mean.”
“I do. And I am choosing to ignore it.”
“Yes, I can see that.” She sighed again.
It would not be easy to get an answer out of him. In the short time they had been married, she’d had time to understand her husband was an uncommonly placid man, far from the hot-headed warrior she had taken him for at first.
“What are they going to say?” she insisted.
“I imagine the ones married to ugly matrons will curse my luck, and the ones shackled to dullards will look at me with envy.”
“William!”
He turned her around to face him once more. From the fierce expression on his face, she knew he would give her an answer this time.
“They can think what they want. I care not. But I see you will not be satisfied until I have given you a more acceptable, if less honest answer. Here it is: they will think I am a forward thinker, a visionary. They will assume I have chosen to consolidate King William’s invasion of England by creating a race of people sharing both Saxon and Norman blood. These men and women will cement the everlasting union of our two countries, transforming what was, at first, reluctantly accepted as inevitable into a more lasting and fruitful state of affairs.”
Rowena did not know if she should laugh or scold him for his teasing. In the end she chose to kiss him. “If that is the case, I have nothing more to say.”
“This, my sweet, I doubt very much.” He laughed and engulfed her back into his arms. “We will shortly disembark. From then on, it is at least a day’s ride to my domain.”
“As long as I don’t have to walk there in wet clothes, I’m sure I will manage.”
“I’m sure you will.” William laughed.
She had become a much more confident rider since their wedding, one of the many things that had improved under his guidance.
“What did you mean when you said I could tie you up any time I wanted?” she asked suddenly, remembering what he’d told her the day she had cut the ropes from his wrists. It had completely slipped her mind.
She heard a low chuckle behind her, a sound she loved.
“Exactly that. You can tie me up whenever you want, wife.”
“Why would I ever want to do that? It sounds like a very odd thing to do.”
“Perhaps it is, but may I respectfully remind you I have on occasion suggested things to you that sounded very odd, but which turned out to be rather enjoyable? For both of us?” he purred in her ear.
Rowena’s body instantly caught fire. He never sounded more seductive than when he alluded to the forbidden delights they shared in bed together. “You may. Not that I have forgotten any of it, of course.”
“Then I will show you what I mean the next time we are in bed. I think I will enjoy being at your mercy, now that you are my wife and have no intention of killing me.” His eyes glimmered. “Or am I flattering myself?”
“No. I do not want to kill you anymore.” She smiled. “You are much more useful to me alive than dead and I am expecting you to prove it tonight.”
His voice was dark honey when he answered. “Your wish is my command.”