Esther nodded, smiling. “I am very handy with a needle. I am not sure I can sew something as fancy as what she is wearing, but I can learn.”
“Matilda’s maid is very good with fancy clothes. Perhaps you could make her nightgowns. Then Mary can show you what needs to be sewn in the gowns.”
“That sounds wonderful. I would love to help my daughter and earn my keep at the same time.” Esther grinned at her husband, who nodded to her. “And my husband? What can he do?”
“Flowers,” Matilda blurted out. “I find the castle grounds sadly lacking in flowers. I believe father can grow anything under any circumstances. He could plant and grow flowers.”
Lady Lina smiled. “He can help the groundskeeper. It sounds like it would be the perfect occupation for him.”
Matilda looked over at her mother. “See, Mama? I knew we would find something to keep you quite busy.”
“As long as your offer still stands to help you take care of grandbabies when they come, I will be happy forever,” Esther said.
“Oh, I would not be able to do it without you!” Matilda knew there were many women she could hire to help her with her future sons, but none she would trust as she trusted her mother. She could not recall even once her mother had raised her voice to her. Why, she was practically a saint with children!
After supper, Robert pulled Matilda out to dance with her one more time. After their dance, he whispered in her ear, “I do believe it is time for people to be able to go home, and that means we must bid them goodnight.” He tried to keep the eagerness from his voice, but he was unsure if he was successful.
“What about my parents? Who will help them find the cottage?”
“My mother will help them. You cannot put this off any longer, Matilda. It is time.”
Matilda nodded, realizing he was right. He and his family had already done a great deal for her to make her happy. She could not begrudge him his wedding night, no matter how nervous the prospect made her. “Aye, milord.”
“You may use my name,” he said in an almost growl in her ear.
She giggled. “I will try to remember . . . milord.” She did not know why she persisted in teasing him, but it amused her a great deal.
He shook his head at her, a grin on his face. As soon as the song was over, he put his hands at Matilda’s waist and lifted her onto the platform with the lute player before climbing up behind her. He put his arm around her waist and raised his hand for attention. When all was quiet, he said loudly, “My wife and I would like to thank you for attending our wedding and making our joy your joy. I hope you will all celebrate with us as we have many children through the years. God bless you all!”
Matilda turned to him and smiled, stepping closer to Robert and pulling his head down for a kiss. She knew the crowd would love to see her as the aggressor in a kiss, and she was right. The cheers that came from the peasants watching had her laughing softly as she pulled away. “I thought that would please them.”
Robert shook his head at her, loving the look of mischief in her eyes. “You will always keep me on my toes, will not you, Matilda?”
“I will not let you grow bored in our marriage,” she said by way of answering him. Her impish grin had him wondering if he knew his new bride as well as he thought he did.
Getting down, Robert lifted her down after him, and they walked toward the entrance to the castle. His mother stood there, waiting for them. “All of your things have been moved into the chamber you will now share with Robert,” she told Matilda. “I will send Robert up in a few minutes after you have had some time to get undressed and ready yourself for bed.”
Robert frowned at his mother. “I can help her undress!”
“Her maid will do it.”
Matilda smiled at Lina and rushed toward the stairs, wondering how on earth she was going to find Mary with the big crowd of people outside the castle. When she got to her room, her maid was waiting for her. “Lady Lina sent me up here right after supper. She said Robert was going to do well to wait for just one dance to be over before he dragged you up here.”
Matilda blushed, but she presented her back to Mary to help her undress. “I appreciate you waiting here for me. We must hurry because it was all Lady Lina could do to keep Robert from following me up immediately.”
Mary nodded and helped her push the gown off her shoulders. “You have won the hearts of every nobleman, servant, and peasant at this wedding. Your attention to Robert and your lack of need to have all of his attention on you has not gone unnoticed. All are excited that you will be the new mistress here.”
Matilda frowned. “Really? I just did what I thought was right.”
“You will not have a problem with the servants or peasants here, Matilda. As soon as you realize that your husband loves you beyond belief, you are going to be very happy.”
Matilda smiled, slipping between the sheets with nothing on, as custom demanded. She hoped there would not be a bedding ceremony as she had seen many times, but she had no idea what was planned.
Mary slipped from the room, and the door opened not a minute later. Robert walked to the side of the bed and methodically stripped off his clothing. He had only one thing on his mind, and that was his bride, lying naked under the covers of their bed. The bed where their children would be conceived, and where they would later be born. The bed where he would spend the rest of his nights sleeping with the wife that he already treasured more than he had ever believed was possible. His bride.
He walked over and got into the bed, getting under the covers on the other side of the bed. His hand stroked down her arm, and he smiled at her. “Are you ready to be my wife in more than just name?”
Matilda turned onto her side facing him. “I just realized that my name is Matilda Lain now. It sounds odd, does not it?”
“It sounds wonderful and right.” He leaned over and pressed a kiss against her lips. “I cannot believe we finally made it through this day. I thought it would never end.”
She laughed. “I enjoyed myself. Thank you for teaching me to dance. And thank you for making my parents feel like they are an important part of both of our lives.”
“It is my job to make you happy, and if it makes you happy to have your parents here, then I am pleased to do it.” His hand slid under the cover, and he stroked her from arm to the tips of her fingers, bringing her hand to his lips. “I have always known I would find a woman who would then become the center of my world and who would bear me seven sons. I never dreamed she would be as beautiful as you are.”
“Or that she would be a maid you found dusting the parlor?” Matilda could not resist teasing him about how he had first seen her.
“Is that what you were doing when I found you? I thought you were gossiping about how strange I was.”
“Well, there was that as well, milord.” She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his, loving his kisses. She felt like she was complete and whole when his lips were on hers, and when he was not there she was bereft.
He rolled her to her back, his hand stroking over her belly and cupping her breast. “I plan to spend forever with you, Matilda.”
“Show me how forever feels, milord.”
He growled deep in his throat. “You only call me that to see if you can make me crazed!”
Matilda laughed, and her laughter felt good to her. She had not laughed as much in her entire life as she had since she met him. How had God decided to favor her with a man to spend the rest of her life with? Loving him as she was beginning to love this man. “Can I make you crazed, milord?”
He closed his eyes, and the covers floated off their bodies and onto the floor. “Now you have done it!”
She laughed. “I am worried I will grow cold! You should bring the covers back!”
“Not until I have warmed you through and through.”
It was a long while later that they both lay on their backs, breathing heavily. “I think I liked doing that with you, milord,” Matilda said with her voice
full of wonder.
“You think? I will have to try harder next time!” He gathered her to him and cradled her against his body, bringing the blankets back up from the floor to land over them both.
“Good night. Dream of me.” Matilda was surprised at how bold she was being after what they had just done together. It was very unlike her, but this man brought out new things in her all the time.
“I have dreamed of nothing else since the moment we met.” He closed his eyes and inhaled of her fragrance, thrilled that she felt so good against him. He was where he needed to be.
Chapter Eight
Matilda was nervous about taking control of the castle and commanding the servants. It seemed so odd to her that it was now her duty, but it was. Robert had returned to training his men, so she needed to face the servants. After spending a full day lazing about in the castle, it was time that they both returned to work.
It was two days after their marriage, and her mother and Mary were waiting in the chamber she had used before her wedding. They were patiently sewing, trying to get Matilda’s clothing to reflect her station in life and not make everyone automatically know she would been a peasant.
She joined the two of them and discussed the type of gown she wanted first. They had both been working on undergarments and nightgowns until she came to them and described what she wanted.
Her mother looked her up and down, obviously trying to see if she was happy. “He treats you well?”
Matilda nodded, feeling the heat rise to her face. “He has shown me nothing but kindness, Mama. There is no need to worry about me.” She sat down on the bed, curling one leg under her. “How is the cottage? Is it to your liking?”
“It is the most wonderful home. There is a bedroom separate from the rest of the house, and there is even a stove to cook on, instead of just the fireplace. I have never dreamed of living in such luxury.”
Matilda smiled at her mother’s words, knowing that she would felt the same way just days before. “I am so glad. Lady Lina told me it would be a good place for you and Father, but I have yet to see it.”
Mary went to the trunk that held all of the fabrics that were there to choose from for Matilda’s wardrobe. The three women chose a fabric and a dress style together. Then Mary went to Matilda’s new room with her. She could not run around the castle all day in just her nightgown.
Matilda once again wore the dress that had once belonged to Robert’s sister, and then she turned to Mary. “I am not sure what the servants expect from me. What am I supposed to do?” Facing them as their mistress instead of as an equal or even an inferior was intimidating for her.
Mary smiled. “The servants here are all well-trained. They know their duties. You simply need to go to the kitchen and discuss what you would like to have for meals with Alice, and she will handle the rest. There is really not a lot you will need to do before your sons start to come, and then you will always be busy with babies.”
Matilda sighed. “I suppose I can take advantage of the time I have and read. There are a few books here, and I would love to read them.”
“Sounds good, milady.”
Matilda wrinkled her nose. “I am still Matilda to you, Mary. My wedding hasn’t changed our relationship at all.”
Mary grinned at her. “I will call you Matilda when we are alone, but I cannot do that with others around.”
“I suppose that will have to be good enough, will not it?” Matilda left the room and descended the stairs. She had skipped eating that morning because Robert had kept her up most of the night, and she had felt the need to sleep late instead of beginning her new life. No one seemed to think less of her for it.
She walked to the kitchen, and everyone stopped working, turning to her. “I just wanted to discuss meals for the week with Alice,” she said softly. She was unsure why her presence was making everyone uncomfortable when just days before she had been one of them.
The servants all returned to their activities, and Alice took her arm and led her to the dining room. “This is a better place to discuss such things than the kitchen, milady.”
Matilda frowned. “I have been in the kitchen with you several times, Alice. I am sure it is all right.” Why did someone act as if she was a different person now just because she had married Robert?
Alice shook her head. “I am sure it is not. You are the lady of the house now.”
Matilda sighed. “I am afraid I will never learn all the rules and behave the way I am expected to behave. I am not quite sure how I can adjust with no one here to teach me.”
Alice smiled and sat down at the table, indicating that Matilda should sit down as well. “Before Lady Lina left, she suggested that I should be the one to teach you how to run a household. I have worked at this castle since your husband was a few months old, and I know what I am doing better than anyone. We will work together.”
“That sounds wonderful! Are you sure you have the time to spare?”
“I am positive. Together, we are going to make sure everything runs smoothly around here.” Alice smiled. “You are going to be the very best mistress this castle could ever have.”
Matilda smiled and nodded. She was relieved that Lady Lina had given someone instructions to help her because she was truly afraid of messing up.
At the noon meal, Matilda realized that she would really missed her new husband. He would become such a huge part of her life that when he was not there for a few hours, it felt as if there was a huge gaping hole in the middle of her being. When he came to join her in the great hall, she went into his arms sweetly and kissed him. “How was your morning?” She clung to him a little longer than normal and wished she could express her need for him to be around.
“It was spent training with my men. I will need to judge disputes this afternoon, and that is one of the things I hate to do. It takes up a great deal of time, but it is something that is required of me. I used to help my father because he believed I should be trained to take over for him in every way.”
“Where do you do the judging?” she asked, having never seen it. Her father had never had a dispute with another that would need to go before the lord.
“Here in the great hall. I only have to do it once a week, for which I am grateful.” He rubbed the back of his neck, already dreading the task. He had never done it on his own, and he wished he could ask his father to come and help him. But he was married, which made him the lord of the castle. There would be no more leaning on his father or anyone else.
“May I watch?” There was little for her to do with all the servants about, and she was already wishing for more tasks.
He nodded. “If you would like, I would be honored to have you at my side.” Mayhap it would help him to make the right decisions if she was sitting there watching. He wanted to be a better man for Matilda, which was one of the things that told him she was meant to be his bride.
The judging was not like what Matilda had expected. She had expected there to be great thoughtful judgements, but most of the disputes were ridiculous.
“Milord, my neighbor’s pig has gotten into my field three times this week, and he has eaten some of my crops.” The peasant who complained had his arms folded over his chest. He glared at the man who stood beside him.
“My pig is getting out because my neighbor was not careful and broke the fence around the pig’s pen. I have not the tools to fix it, and I have not the time in the middle of the growing season.” The neighbor of the first man shook his head. “He should have fixed my fence as he promised the day he broke it.”
Robert sat for a moment. “The two of you will work together to fix the fence instead of taking a day of rest tomorrow. Then the animal will no longer be a problem for either of you.”
Both men looked unhappy with the solution, but they bowed their heads in agreement and walked toward the entrance to the castle.
Matilda liked the answer, but she wondered why the men could not have come to the same conclusion themselves. Why would
they drag their lord into the middle of a silly argument like that? Did not they understand he had a new wife to make love with?
When the judging was finally over and the room was cleared, Matilda looked at Robert for a moment. “You did very well. I think I would have become angry that they could not solve their problems like adults and came to me with such petty disputes.”
Robert smiled. “I felt like it at times, but it is the order of things. If I have a dispute with another lord, we will go together before the king.”
“Have you met the king?” she asked.
He nodded. “My father took me to court when I was young. He took us all on different trips, wanting us to see how frivolous things were there so we would not want to become a part of it.” His memories of court were not pleasant ones. There had been too many women married to one and flirting with another. Too many men who wanted to stab one another in the back by the looks on their faces. No, he had not been fond of court at all.
“Did it work?”
“I am here and not there. Aye, it worked out well. I think that trip to court told me that I did not want to marry a lady. I wanted someone who had real thoughts and real concerns, not someone who complained if her dress was an inch too long or her slippers were not white enough.” He shook his head.
“I will remember to never complain about those things, milord.”
He laughed. “I think you could complain about anything, and I would not grow angry about it.” He grinned at her, stroking her cheek with the back of his fingers. “If you complain, I know it will be about something monumental, like your children not having enough food.”
“You should not tell me that . . . what if I become one of those women who does nothing but complain about everything? Would that not make you a little crazy?” Her grin made it clear she was joking with him.
“I am not sure . . . I know my mother had very difficult pregnancies. They were so bad my grandmother would come here and stay with her the entire pregnancy. She did that all seven times. She would have to heal Mother a little every day simply so she could keep food in her stomach. If my father could live through the complaining she must have done to deal with that, then I can make it through any complaining you feel the need to do.”
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