“Is something wrong, Albin?”
“No.” Kissing her lightly on the lips, he gazed into her eyes. “I just want everything to be perfect this time.”
“Then kiss me.”
Capturing her lips, Albin deepened the kiss until they were both breathless. “I do not want to hurt you.”
Lecie reached up to trace a fingertip along his kiss-swollen lips. “Make me your wife, Albin.”
“You are that and more.” Albin smoothed the hair from her forehead to place a kiss upon it. “From this day on, you are my lady.”
Trusting him completely, Lecie moaned in pleasure when Albin shifted to slide his velvet shaft into her sheath. As she moaned in ecstasy, he once again struggled to remain unmoving. “Am I hurting you?”
Unable to speak with the intense pleasure coursing through her, she shook her head, gripping his hips to pull him tighter against her.
Slowly flexing his hips, he felt the friction of her tight sheath nearly drive him over the edge.
“Why was not it like this the first time?” Lecie breathed arching her back into his chest.
“It is always painful for the maiden the first time. Had I known that was what you were, things would have gone much differently.”
Albin’s actions of that night suddenly made sense to Lecie. “It is why you stopped so suddenly, is it not?”
“Uh, Lecie?” Albin slowly began to slide his shaft in and out of her silken sheath. “Would you like to have a conversa…?” He did not finish his sentence as Lecie pulled his face down for a kiss.
Opening up to him completely, she cupped his muscular buttocks as he cradled her face with his hands. Gazing into her eyes, he slowly drove into her over and again.
Close to something she could not name, Lecie lost herself in his gaze. On the edge of a precipice, her eyes flared in wonder as she cried out her release.
Albin moved against her until with a low rumble of pleasure, he joined her at the heights of ecstasy. Still joined, he rolled onto his side to stare at her as if seeing her for the first time.
Confused by his manner, Lecie reached up to smooth his furrowed brow. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No, lass.” Albin drew her closer against his heaving chest. “It is only that I have never before known a woman such as you.”
“I do not understand what you mean.”
“Since you are a maiden, I half-expected you to be chaste of mind, and I am pleased to find that you boast more of a wanton streak.”
Taking offense, Lecie shot straight up in the bed. “I beg your pardon? Did you just call me wanton?”
“It was meant as a compliment.” Reaching for her, Albin frowned when she leapt from the bed. “Where are you going?”
“I am going somewhere that you are not.” Pulling the coverlet around her, Lecie paused on her way to the door. “And you owe me a new chemise.”
“Lecie,” he called after her. “You misunderstood.”
Ignoring him, she cursed beneath her breath when the door closed on the trailing hem of the coverlet. Opening the door again to jerk it free, she cursed again when she heard him chuckle.
* * *
After taking a leisurely bath, Albin descended the steps whistling a merry tune. The chaos that met his eyes drew him up short to seek out some sight of Lecie. Unaccustomed to the tavern being closed, it seemed as if every villager now crowded the place.
Talan stood behind the bar passing out ales as fast as he could pour them. Betta, Harsent and Lecie kept a steady pace from the kitchen to the tables filling orders of what little victuals they had to offer. Even the children were involved in clearing and wiping down the tables.
Failing to catch Lecie’s eye, Albin strode outside with a determined step. His wife and family would not toil when he had it in his means to do something about it. Thanks in part to his frugal ways over the years, he had amassed a fair sum to spend his dotage in leisure. Add to that the considerable piece of land Fulke had gifted him with, and many would consider him a man of wealth.
Joseph was busy tending to the horses crowding the stables when Albin approached, so he retrieved his own horse. Riding towards the tower, he began to whistle the tune from the inn where he left off.
Securing the services of three itinerant men and their wives at the tower site to work at the inn, he returned late morning to find the crowd had not lessened.
He tossed his reins to Joseph as he dismounted. “Do your best to find a place for him, lad.”
Betta, the twins and Clayton were at the worktable cutting vegetables to add to the pot already set above the cook fire as he entered the kitchen.
“Good morning all,” he called cheerily. “Is Lecie in the common room?”
“Aye, she is.” Clayton looked up with a dimpled grin to respond first. “Only, I would be staying well clear of her if I were you, Sir Albin.”
“Oh?” Albin stepped closer to rumple Clayton’s hair. “And why would I do such a thing as that?”
“Lecie is none too pleased with you at the moment,” Betta interjected. “One would think she did not enjoy herself on her wedding night, if you catch my meaning.”
“What would give you the impression she is vexed with me?” His eyes moving over the children, he swiftly changed topics.
“She went looking for you to bring in a barrel of ale from the shed, only you were nowhere to be found,” Betta replied. “In all the years I have known her, it was a first to see her so displeased.”
Unperturbed, Albin snatched up a raw carrot to take a bite. “Where is my lovely bride now?”
“Gunilda finally showed up from who knows where to tend the chambers, so Lecie is assisting Sir Talan behind the bar. Until the pottage is ready, ale is all we have left to serve. Soon enough even that will be gone.”
“Have you no fear,” Albin said on his way out of the kitchen. “Come night, our lots shall be made easier.”
Pausing in the doorway to the overflowing common room, Albin took a moment to admire his wife. Her flowing tresses pulled back into a snood, the constant activity of serving patrons added a becoming flush to her fair features.
Laughing at something Talan said as he passed her a full cup, she served the ale and froze when she spotted him watching her.
She caught Talan’s attention to gesture to him as she planted her hands on her slender hips waiting for him to approach.
As Albin passed through the crowd, Talan leaned to whisper something, causing Lecie’s lip to quiver as she fought to keep a straight face.
A twinge of jealously caught him off guard as he noted how at ease they appeared to be with each other. “I see cookery is not the only thing you seem to be adept at, Talan.”
Talan’s smile faltered at Albin’s gruff tone. “Seeing as how the Innkeep departed without so much as a word early this morning, I had little choice in the matter.”
“Instead of being vexed with Sir Talan, you should be thanking him for seeing to your duties,” Lecie spoke up. “We would have lost much-needed revenue if not for his kind offer of assistance.”
“And just where do you think I have been all day?” Albin bristled at the set down.
“I know not.” Lecie acknowledged a customer’s summons with a dip of her head. “You did not think it necessary to inform me.”
“I am unused to answering to a woman,” Albin responded in his defense.
“And here I believed myself more than just a woman to you,” Lecie huffed. “Obviously, I was mistaken.”
Albin exhaled heavily as she stormed off with a swish of skirts. “What just happened, Talan?”
“Take heart, my friend.” Clapping him on the shoulder, Talan slid a cup of ale in front of him. “Dealing with women does not come easily to every man.”
“Gervase and Guy never had this kind of trouble,” Albin grumbled. “I warrant even Osbert and Warin would do better than I these past few days.”
“I would wager on it,” Talan chuckled. “Where were you anyway
?”
“I was at the tower on a mission to benefit my wife.” Albin watched Lecie as she purposely stayed at the far end of the bar. “I set about hiring a proper staff for the inn.”
“Well, why did not you tell Lecie that?” Talan refilled the cup Albin drained in a few long swallows. “I know she will be most pleased to hear such news.”
“So thought I until speaking to her,” Albin replied tearing his gaze away from Lecie.
“Albin, I do not boast of knowing a woman’s mind, yet even I would have led off with that bit of news.”
“Thanks for the belated tip,” Albin grumbled. “I warrant it will take the whole of my life to discover my wife’s mind.”
“Mayhap, you are right. Would you rather have her be an amiable mouse without an inner fire to keep things interesting?”
“I would not change a thing about her,” Albin admitted.
“Well there you have it.”
Surveying the crowd, Albin changed the subject. “Has Hamon been about to stir trouble today?”
“No, and I do not expect him to.” Talan gestured to one of the tables with a tip of his chin. “Leofrick and Edmund have been here for some time.”
“What of the fair Mylla?” Albin grinned as a flush crept up Talan’s neck. “Has she made an appearance?”
“She is expected early this eve with her father to pay respects and salutations to Lecie, on the parting of her father and abrupt nuptials.”
“How convenient for you,” Albin observed.
“More like inconvenient, since it is I doling out ale while you deplete the stock.” Moving a little ways off to wipe up a spill, Talan returned. “When is the staff expected to arrive?”
“Within the hour,” Albin replied. “That should give you enough of a break to make yourself presentable for your Mylla.”
“Speaking of breaks, Lecie has not taken one since she started early this morn.”
“Has she not eaten?” Albin’s brows drew ominously together. “It is not the first time I have seen her overlook herself for others.”
“Hence my mentioning it,” Talan responded with a cocked brow.
“Right, I shall put my foot down immediately.”
“Albin,” Talan shook his head in exasperation. “You really do have a lot to learn about women, Lecie in particular.”
“Well what would you have me do?” Albin grumped. “Did you not just inform me she had not eaten all day?”
“Aye, I did. However, you cannot very well order her to take care of herself. She has been doing that for longer than you have been acquainted.”
“Then what would you advise?” Frustrated, Albin sloshed ale onto the bar as he snatched up his cup for a drink. “Plead with her?”
“I doubt with Lecie it shall ever come to that.” Wiping up the spill, Talan leaned close. “I think you will find the sweeter the request, the more amiable the response.”
“I do not have Guy’s ability to woo a woman with words.” Albin looked doubtful. “I am bound to louse it up.”
“Give yourself a little credit you have always managed well in the past.” Heeding a summons, Talan moved further down the bar.
Catching Lecie looking at him, Albin sighed as she abruptly glanced away. “How I long for the days on the battlefield,” he spoke to no one in particular.
* * *
Doing her best to ignore her husband, Lecie graciously acknowledged condolences while serving and cleaning tables. She paused in the act of clearing a recently vacated table when a group of people unknown to her walked through the front door.
Making her way through the crowd, her welcoming smile faltered as she drew up in confusion when Albin left the bar to greet the newcomers.
“If you will be showing us our duties, we shall get straight to work, Sir Albin.” A stocky red-haired man wearing a threadbare tunic who introduced himself as William spoke for the solemn group.
“This is my wife, Lady Lecie.” Albin waited for her to take the few remaining steps to his side. “She will instruct the lot of you as to your duties.”
Her confusion changed to surprise as the reason for Albin’s earlier absence became clear to her. Before she had a chance to voice her gratitude, the man called William doffed his cap to address her. “Lady Lecie?”
“You are William?” she responded with a smile upon hearing her title spoken for the first time.
“Yes, my lady.” William gestured to the two men beside him. “This here is Merek and Simon.” Gesturing to the three women standing behind him, he added, “These are our wives, Anne, Winifred and Mary.”
Noting the tattered state of the women’s kirtles, Lecie looked up at Albin. “The men shall be splitting their time between tending bar, keeping stock of the ale and replenishing supplies from the village, the first being a new feather tick for the master chamber. Would you please be kind enough to show them their duties?”
“I will be more than pleased to do so, wife,” Albin acknowledged with a grin.
“Thank you kindly, husband,” Lecie dipped her head with a warm smile before addressing the women. “Please follow me.”
Leading the silent women up the steps, Lecie instructed them to wait while she climbed into the loft. Digging through her truck, she withdrew a trio of chemises and kirtles.
On the way down the ladder, their low conversation halted abruptly. “There is no need for formality,” she assured them handing each a chemise and kirtle. “I cannot vouch for the fit, yet I am sure they will suit better than the ones you have now.”
The eldest gray-haired woman named Winifred held up the clothing. “You are gifting us with these fine kirtles, my lady?”
“My name is Lecie.” She smiled. “And yes, I am gifting them to you.”
“Thank you, my…Lecie,” the youngest of the three, named Anne, spoke. “We are grateful for your kindness and the position you have given us.”
“The position was my husband’s doing and I am grateful to him for it as well,” Lecie acknowledged. “Do any of you happen to know how to cook?”
“I am learned in the task,” Winifred spoke.
“Fine, your service is most desperately needed in the kitchen.” Glancing between Anne and Mary, she continued, “I shall need one of you to assist Winifred in the kitchen as well as serve meals in the common room. Betta, Harsent and Gunilda see to the chambers, so the other may lend them assist.”
Mary, the shyest of the trio stepped forward. “If I may, I would lend assist with the chambers.”
“Thank you, Mary,” she accepted with a dip of her head. “Gunilda and Harsent are often unreliable, so Betta will be most pleased to hear it.”
Showing Mary where the clean linens were stored in a cupboard at the end of the hall, she pointed out the chambers currently occupied. “The servants’ quarters are on the ground floor if you will follow me below. I am afraid they are none too clean since we have not had proper servants for as long as I can remember. Unfortunately, owing to the crowd, I cannot spare you free time at the moment to prepare them for yourselves.”
“Please do not worry with that,” Winifred spoke as she was about to continue. “I believe I speak for us all when I say anything with a roof shall be an improvement over what we have had of late.”
“Aye,” Mary and Anne murmured in agreement.
“Very well,” Lecie acknowledged. “Please make yourselves at home the best you are able.”
Passing through the common room, Lecie spotted Albin talking to the men behind the bar. He glanced up mid-laugh as she passed. A flutter filled the pit of her stomach as she held his gaze until she passed out of his sight upon entering the narrow passageway to the left of the kitchen.
She waved a hand in the direction of the garderobe as she pointed out three far doors at the end of the dark paneled passage. “They will be the best of the five. The other two we use for storage and until quite recently, the room beneath the steps belonged to the tapster. I dread the state he left it in so please see t
o it when you can.”
“We shall make do with our deepest gratitude,” Winifred replied.
“No thanks are necessary,” Lecie assured her. “Mary, once you are settled please tend to the chambers. I shall send Betta to you before I show Winifred and Anne the kitchen and brew house.”
Bobbing her head, Mary was about to depart when Lecie raised a hand to stop her. “The three of you should also be aware that Harsent, Gunilda and on occasion, Betta, see to the needs of some of the men who visit here. I am unaware of your views on such things, yet thought it prudent that I mention it.”
“We take no offense, Lecie,” Winifred replied. “On occasions past we have been known to sup with camp followers.”
“I am relieved to hear it. For the most part, they are kind women who have unfortunately been given a sad lot in life.”
“We shall get along fine,” Winifred assured her.
“There is one other thing,” Lecie glanced between the women. “I would ask you keep a watchful eye on the children. The tapster who departed did not leave on the best of terms and threatened to do harm to them.”
“He would have to go through me first,” Mary spoke up. “God in his goodness has yet to bless me and my Merek with children. If permissible, I would treat them as my own.”
“Then I consider them fortunate for having such a devoted guardian,” Lecie agreed with a smile. “They were last in the kitchen if you would like to introduce yourself.”
Bending a knee, Mary rushed off.
“Of the three of us, Mary is affected most by not having a child of her own,” Anne confided.
“Do you not want children of your own?” Lecie asked as she preceded the pair down the passageway.
“It is not that Simon and I do not want children of our own,” Anne replied. “It is only that we felt it best not to have any until we are more settled.”
“I do not understand.” Lecie said pausing to look back. “How can you keep from having children if you are wed and share your husband’s bed?”
Anne blushed and looked at Winifred to explain. “Though I warrant it is too late for me in any case, our husbands do not plant their seeds in us.”
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