by Marie Hall
Her hand slipped back to rub at a tender spot on her arse. Maybe he did do a little worse than that, but it was hardly less than she deserved for the things she said. After telling him she trusted him, believed in him and knew he was dedicated to her, to accuse him of wanting her gone. She was mad. Xavier drove her into complete madness. She smiled and gave her backside one more rub before pushing inside. Yes, he'd driven her mad, but she rather liked it.
Xavier turned at the sound of her entry and the smile fell from her lips. His forehead above his left eye was hideously discolored. Swollen so much the eye wasn't able to open fully. The gash itself still looked to be oozing blood, and Xavier only stood there looking at her with the most foolish expression on his face.
If he'd not thought to soundly beat her before, she couldn't think it wouldn't happen now. She watched him straighten, tilt his head to the side then lift his hand and crook his finger at her. The first step was hard, but once she took it, she found herself standing directly before Xavier who still had a soft, foolish look on his face. His left hand settled on her upper arm and she was forced closer. Flinching when she saw his right hand come up and open flat, she called on everything to not fight. He continued to lift his hand and hold her facing him. It wasn't a practical way for him to punish her unless he thought to strike her head or face. He never had and she couldn't believe he would. He could be harsh, but she'd not once felt threatened by him as she'd been by so many others. His soft chuckle almost undid her as his hand settled on her forehead. He scowled a moment as he moved to the side of her face and then down her neck. He chuckled again, and she saw a flash of teeth his smile was that large.
"Now why do you not stand still every time?" he said and pulled her against his body. His arms wrapped around her in a crushing embrace. "The fever is gone. Are you well enough rested?"
Io nodded, lost for what to say. Didn't Xavier even want to yell at her for the injury? She pulled back and tipped her head so she could look at his face. Up close the gash was worse. "I am sorry," she whispered, pushing her face against his chest and rubbing to wipe the tears on his shirt.
"Sorry?" He chuckled again and pushed her back. "For what? Did you not have enough rest?"
"No," Io wailed. Why was he so concerned with her when his head was cracked open from her own actions?
"Io? No what?" The concern in his voice only made her feel worse. But when he finally caught onto what she was sorry for, he might have fallen to the floor laughing if he'd not been holding on to her. "Io," he started then laughed more.
"Do not laugh. It is not amusing. Look at your head. I am an awful wife." Still he went on laughing, so much he set her away and grabbed his side. "Xavier," maybe she'd knocked him dumb with the bucket. "Xavier?"
"Io," he gasped, trying to catch his breath and sober. "Io, it is a little cut, and—"
"It is huge, and it still bleeds," she said, sniffing and wiping at tears.
"Does it?" He reached up and touched the spot then checked his fingers. "No, no blood."
"Yes, blood," she insisted but he shook his head at her.
"Io, it is nothing to be upset over."
"I cracked your head with a bucket. I am sorry. I—"
"Apology accepted. Now settle." He reached out and set a hand at her hip then urged her to step closer. "I am not hurt. I have taken more grievous injury at practice."
Io knew that. She'd often been the one to bandage cuts or fetch a cloth soaked in cold water for a bruise. But none of those were caused by her hand. And a man should expect in his home he is safe from violence. "I was awful."
"You were not well, tired and feverish again. But…" Xavier said, taking hold of her chin and forcing her eyes to meet his, "you will no longer be excused when you remain silent about your fitness. I have spoken with you on this matter before. You will tell me when you do not feel well, and you will not wait to say such until you are forced to because it will be discovered." The look in his eyes became serious. "If I again must challenge you on your health, Io, I will make sure you are put to bed with a very pained seat." All she could do was nod and let him wrap her in his arms. "You did not do permanent harm, Io," he said, lowering his chin to the top of her head. "All you did was remind me you do not always have the worst aim," he said then laughed when she gasped and slapped his arm. "And also to be quicker to duck when buckets are flying at me."
"Xavier, you are terrible now," Io said but managed a soft chuckle. "I happen to have rather good aim."
He laughed again. "If I stand still, you will miss me. I only move so you do not feel you wasted the effort."
She gasped again, stepped back and gave him the best insulted looked she could manage considering the foolishness of the conversation. "I could find reasons to practice my aim too, my lord."
"Of this, Io, I have no doubt. But I think I would not want you to forego time practicing at other things." He gave her a wicked look, then winked.
"You are sure I did not…" She eyed the cut. It looked rather grievous to her.
"I am fit, so end this worry."
"Very well," she said and sighed so he wouldn't know she was only letting him have his way because he was injured. He shook his head and laughed a little more before pulling her to his side as he turned part way around to again look at what was on the table. "Do I interrupt?"
"No, I was only looking at some messages that came in while we were away."
"I kept you from important… ow," Io shouted as his hand connected with her arse with some force.
He grabbed her chin and held her head up so she could not look away. "You are important, Io. You are important, and you will not think you are not important enough you cannot interrupt, distract or require my time whenever you want or need. I would much rather take time for you as you need it then wait until I must take weeks to seek you out then give you the time."
"Xavier, I am not stupid. I understand you have obligations and they require your time as well. I do not want to be the reason you get nothing done because I bother you overly."
"Io, I could very much enjoy having you be the reason all other duties are forsaken, but I do not think you understand me," he said a lopsided smile on his lips. "I neither think you stupid or so incapable you will be coming to me about all matters all the time. And I know you would never waste my time with petty things. I can recall only a handful of times you came to me about any matter, and each time those caused me to give them thought. All else you handled exceedingly well, and if I'd but shown you more support—" His hand rubbed at her back.
"You will not be having someone else write menus?" She grinned up at him.
He scowled back. "No. What I mean is I do not want you to hesitate to seek me out, for any reason, want or need, because you think I am busy with important matters. Even if what I am doing is important, it is not more important than you, and I will make a moment to tend you first."
"Humm, Lord Vaster had a wife who came at him during every meal to question, rant and rage about things she could not manage. He finally locked her in the cellar and took his mistress to his bed. I do not know if he ever let her back out. She was there when I left," Io said recalling the nine weeks in that house when she was eleven. "I do not suppose you would take a mistress to your bed though, so you would not lock me long in a cellar. But I should take care to not upset your digestion every day."
She looked up and try as she did to hold them, the giggles started as soon as she saw the horror on her husband's face. He took such offense to the way she was treated at the many houses she'd been placed in while she was growing up. For some reason, he refused to understand to all those people she was a burden, an extra mouth, an obligation they never asked for but couldn't refuse.
She heard Xavier growl low in his throat. "It is not my digestion I worry on with you. It is my sanity," he said giving her a sour look.
"Oh, I thought you enjoyed this madness we create in each other."
"I do." He dropped a quick kiss on her lips the
n let go of her chin. "I shall enjoy it right up until I die of it."
"Xavier," Io gasped and slapped his arm. "I will not let it kill you. That would end all the fun."
"I am pleased I wed a practical woman," he griped then pushed off the table and set her back a step.
"As you should be," Io said, enjoying this teasing. It seemed like years passed since she felt comfortable in his presence. Since she could speak without fear she'd be criticized or rebuked for her words, or worse, ignored. Still she knew when to bring it to an end, and given Xavier's glare, now would be a good time. She had the last word this time; it was a victory.
Looking around the room, Io noted there was still work to be done. Even the books she'd dropped when Xavier ordered her to bed lay scattered on the floor.
"I told you I would wait," Xavier said from his new spot by the fire.
"Then perhaps we should begin again," she said, bending to collect the books. Io stacked them in her arms then stood only to have Xavier remove them from her hold and set them back on the floor, albeit in a neat pile this time.
"I think," he said, reaching out for her. "We have done enough work this day. I think we should do something more enjoyable."
Io instantly felt the heat rush through her body. She could accept a disordered house if all her time was being spent in Xavier's arms. "And what might you have in mind, my lord?" she practically purred and was rewarded when desire filled his eyes.
"I was thinking." He stepped up and placed his lips at her neck. Kissing and nipping his way to her ear. She felt his wet tongue swirl over her lobe and heard his breath. "We should find ourselves…" His teeth scraped along her jaw. "A nice, fresh, warm…" Xavier's lips brushed the corner of her mouth. "Meal," he announced, dropping a hard kiss on her lips before turning and falling back into his chair.
It took several seconds for Io's mind and body to catch up to Xavier's words. She swayed a bit waiting for the next touch when his soft laughter reached her ears. "A meal? A meal?" she nearly shrieked. "You think of your belly, now?"
"You do not?" he said so innocently Io might have believed him but for that look on his face.
Her belly was the last thing on she was thinking about at the moment, but she'd be damned if he stole the last win from her so easy. "I could eat," she said. "A nice cut of hot meat might be nice as a change."
Xavier's laughter rang out through the room and he had to wipe tears from his eyes. "Have mercy, woman, if you are not the most vulgar, brash, unseemly female ever created."
"I am, am I not," Io said with pride. Words once a bitter insult were now his highest compliment and Io could take them as such. Claim them as truth and use them to her advantage.
"I would have you no other way," he said, reaching for her hand and squeezing it gently.
"Well, let me send for a meal that we might pull your thoughts from your empty belly and put them other places." Io stepped past him towards the door.
"It should be a meal most substantial that it be all I would need to think of other things, wife," Xavier told her and slapped her arse as she made her way by.
"Well then, something more than bread and water for us." She laughed and opened the door.
"Io, you should bring the book. You can read to me while I feast." He leaned back and folded his hands behind his head. "Like a proper wife."
"Ooo," Io groaned but she remained looking at him until he turned his head to look back. "You would not know what to do with a proper wife."
"I would not," he said, winking at her again.
She went out and pulled the door closed behind her. The men in the hall gave her one look and smiles broke out on everyone's face. She felt a rush of heat in her face, and ducking her head, she hurried down the hall where she knew she'd find some of her lady's maids. This house was again starting to feel as it did when she first arrived. Now if she could hold on to this.
Chapter 9
Xavier lifted the letter again and read it carefully. He'd waited until Io left before going back to his desk and taking up the paper. There were matters needing to be seen to even while everyone worked to find the traitor in the house. He might want to put all other things aside, but he couldn't. He'd have to dedicate time to different matters and allow those around him to focus only on finding the threat against his wife.
Xavier turned at the knock at his door. Io either ran to the kitchens, or she found some trouble to be back so soon. But then Io didn't knock anymore. Raised voices from the hall confirmed it wasn't his temptress of a wife trying to enter. He crossed to the door as the voices grew louder.
"If he is in there you, will not stop me from entering. I have ultimate authority in this house. Now, let me pass." Neville's voiced boomed as the door cracked open then was pulled shut.
Xavier paused at the words. No one, save himself, had ultimate authority in this house, and following him, Io had control. The door opened again with enough force it swung back and hit the wall.
"My lord," Gunther said glaring at the man who held status as chamberlain in Xavier's home. He'd not noticed before any strain between the two men, but he could recall a moment when Io seemed less inclined to have much to do with Neville herself. If something was amiss between them, he'd need to be told.
"Lord Brice," Neville said, bowing formally.
Xavier waved the man through. "Neville," Xavier greeted. He'd a decent relationship with this man. Still, in light of all the events, Xavier could no longer dismiss anyone as nonthreatening. Especially someone who thought he held some level of power over others.
"It is good to see you home, Lord Brice. You were gone far longer than we thought you would be." Neville spoke confidently. Nothing sounded as if they came from a man with something to hide. Or one who didn't know his place.
"I have not seen you," Xavier said, taking a seat and watching his man. "The house is barely livable." As much as his squires were, this man too, was responsible for the wreck Xavier and Io were now surrounded by.
"Your house is ready, my lord, I—" Neville sputtered.
"Have you seen my apartments? I have not been able to use them." Xavier kept his posture relaxed and watched the man.
"Lady Sabrina is a well-appointed woman. Her dowry is quite large, and she could not be convinced so many things would not fit in the apartments, my lord," he said, chuckled and shook his head. "Women can be stubbornly optimistic."
Xavier dropped his eyes to his desk as he schooled his features. Neville sounded too much like he was indulging a woman he should not have even thought to encourage in her acts. "Such might excuse the excess of trunks and furniture. It does not explain the rubbish."
"My lord, there have been no servants in the house to do such work. If not for Sir Seth and that woman," he said the last word with such disdain Xavier was taken aback, "I would have the servants restore the rooms. But those two took it upon themselves to order all the people from the house. And the people went. Though, now with your return, it will not be hard to make them regret doing so. I think to not pay them." Xavier watched the man puff out his chest. "They should know that woman," again his disdain rang clear, "is no one to give orders in this house."
"Are servants of some lower status the only one's capable of picking up broken crates or sweeping? And by 'that woman,' I assume you mean Mistress Sarah?" Xavier asked and his man nodded. Most, including himself, picked up after themselves and kept things neat.
"She placed herself in some high state when you left," Neville complained. "But the mighty shall fall."
"I placed Sarah in control of the servants and staff when I left. Sir Seth oversaw the ranks. I set them in place as a pair, and from what I have seen, they were true to this house's manner of rule." Xavier knew he'd not taken any time to inform anyone clearly on what he expected as he was rushing to catch up to his wife before harm could come to her. Neville's discontent could be from a conflict in authority, and who had it. But his disdain for Sarah was disturbing. As was his stance he or anyone was abov
e the basic courtesy of keeping the house not only tidy but safe.
"Of course, and certainly before lady Charlotte returned with your betrothed, but once they returned, she should have yielded. That girl spoke against every command. Nothing but disrespect for her betters," the man snarled. "I cannot hope for her departure to happen soon enough."
Xavier might have taken this man's word on the subject only a few months ago. But now he knew Sarah acted only in the best interest of his people. Her care of Thomas and her motherly protection of him was testament to that. He knew too, Io wouldn't surround herself with people who were even slightly less conscientious as herself. Sarah would be the perfect mistress to send with Seth to Southtown. For now, though, he said, "Sarah is not leaving. She will no longer act in place of the lady of this house, but she will serve my wife."
"My lord, Lady Sabrina does not tolerate her at all," he said like Xavier should know this. In fact, Xavier did know it. Sarah was loyal only to Io. She'd never have changed those loyalties even if it meant she couldn't keep her status as lady's maid to a countess.
"Lady Sabrina is not my wife and—" Xavier's next words were cut off when the door pushed open, and Io walked though carrying the book.
"The guards are changing and it took me forever to find… it…" Io's voice shifted from amused and happy to fretful in just two words as she noticed the other man in the room. Xavier watched her eyes go from him to Neville and back before she dropped her chin and slowly edged her way closer to Xavier. "I ordered a meal and…" Her voice again indicated something Xavier likened to fear, and though there was some distance between them, Io turned her body as she took the three or four steps needed to pass Neville. It was as if she needed to squeeze by and was afraid they might touch.