< previous page page_376 next page >

Page 376
feeling every minute an hour while she waited to know whether he, too, would cast her off. Instead he found her sufficiently self-possessed to have given several hours to her dressing, if he was any judge of appearances.
As soon as the thought passed through Walter's mind, he castigated himself for lack of charity. Women, too, had pride. It was sufficiently humiliating that Marie should have to approach him, after such a scene as had been played before Richard. Naturally she would wish to show herself as unaffected as possible. But the thought of the scene with Richard reminded Walter of Richard's first accusation, that Marie had been with child before their coupling. That was clearly not possible, for if it had been true, she would be showing considerable sign of increasing by now. At least, Walter thought, I will not be nurturing the brat of some baseborn lover.
Marie was standing to greet him at that moment, and Walter could not help noting how unaltered and graceful was her figure. The dress she had chosen was designed to show her body to best advantage, and it succeeded admirably in that purpose, for the cloth was very soft and its gentle folds clung to her. Unfortunately, Walter's mind was fixed on one aspect of the body only, and it struck him that from 3 December to now, nearly the end of February, there should be some sign of the child she carried. That brought Richard's second accusation to mindthat she was not with child at all. Ridiculous, Walter thought. Why should she say such a thing if it were not true?
To make trouble both Richard and Sybelle had claimed that was her purpose. Walter shook off the thought and said, ''I am sorry you are in this trouble, but I will not fail you."
"I knew you would not," Marie replied, and smiled.
The smile disturbed Walter anew. He told himself it was a brave gesture, but he was uneasy. "I will do what I can," he assured her. "I have thought of several different ways to provide for you until the child is born, and you"
"Come into the inner chamber," Marie said hastily, taking his hand and trying to draw him with her.
"Why?" Walter asked.
"The bailiff will return, or his wife, or one of the servants. Do you think I wish to speak of these matters where all can hear?"

 
< previous page page_376 next page >