|
|
|
|
|
|
while, he thought, without taking in what he saw. Now he realized that she was smiling, a slow, thoughtful smile of satisfaction rather than amusement, and suddenly she leaned forward and touched the back of his hand with one finger, drawing it from wrist to nail slowly and suggestively. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It never occurred to Walter for one moment that saying only preliminary talks had taken place could be misunderstood to mean his intention to marry Sybelle was not irrevocably fixed. Thus, he felt Marie's gesture to be an open declaration that she wished to play at love, not marry. Still, he did not believe her to be very clever, so instead of implyinguntruthfully but romanticallyat her company could make years of waiting seem short, he said, "The delay may not be very long. It will depend on what action Prince Llewelyn and Richard plan, and, of course, on the king's response." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Oh, does Lord Geoffrey intend to remain in Wales long after the wedding?" Marie asked. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"No, he cannot do that," Walter replied, somewhat puzzled, and then he realized that if Geoffrey and Joanna went back to England, Sybelle would go also. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conflicting emotions swept through him: first, a sense of loss because he did not want Sybelle to go where he could not see her and talk to her, and simultaneously a recognition that Marie was indicating to him the period in which it would be safe to play their games. Walter relaxed and allowed his eyes to caress her smooth skin and cherry lips, to wander down her lush body. What a delicious partner she would be, and he would not even have to feel guilty about offending a cuckolded husband. He uttered an artificial sigh and remarked that it would be very lonely for him after his family-by-marriage had departed. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"But you will have Richard and your war." Marie pouted delightfully. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"No war for me, at least not for a few weeks while this bone heals," Walter pointed out. "Until then, I am useless. Will you not have pity on me and give me your company? No one else will have time for me. I will be like an old dog left in the kennel because he is too lame to hunt." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"It must make everything difficult for you, losing the use of one arm," Marie cooed sympathetically. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Not everything," Walter smiled suggestively. "For some |
|
|
|
|
|