Page 55 of An Inconvenient Vow

“That is not so.”

She sighed. “Very well. I will own, I have been outspoken these past few days, but even you will admit they have been littered with peculiar circumstances outside the realm of norm.” She paused before continuing. “In the general way of things, I am a woman who creates little stir in her day-to-day life. You gave me a cursory nod at the Bishop’s Palace and carried on your way. I neither stopped you in your tracks nor haunted your dreams,” she concluded drolly. “In short, you scarce noticed me, and I am sure I do not wonder at it.”

Her answer had him frowning heavily and strongly disposed to argue with her. “If I did not notice you at the Bishop’s Palace it must have been because you were acting out of character,” he said stubbornly. “You are not a woman to be overlooked.”

She gave a splutter, but whatever reply she had been about to make was quashed by Jasper calling over. “If you two have finished flirting, then mayhap Sabina can come and ride behind the cart with us again. It’s growing devilishly dull up here without her.”

Jeffree directed a glare toward his younger brother but found Sabina moving in that direction anyway, her vacated spot swiftly taken by his mother.

“She is very good-natured, I will say that much,” his mother murmured, shooting him a significant look. Jeffree made no reply, a mistake with his mother as she tended to take this as tacit agreement. “You seem to amuse her at all events. Whenever I happen to look your way, she is laughing.”

Jeffree glanced over to where Sabina was being regaled by his eager brothers. “She finds amusement in any situation,” he said sourly.

“I expect, given her circumstances, she has learned to take her amusement where she can find it.”

“What do you mean by that?” he asked sharply.

His mother’s eyebrows rose. “I intended no slight, Jeffree. Merely that life as a young widow can be wearisome and exacting. I speak from personal experience, remember?”

Jeffree grudgingly nodded, though he did not think his mother and his wife’s circumstances had been so similar.

“What do you intend to do with her?” his mother persisted in a low voice. “You surely do not mean to drag her around the tournament circuit throughout the year. Such a life would be a punishment to most women.” When he did not answer, her brows rose. “Or is that your intent? Do you mean to punish her, Jeffree?”

“No,” he answered shortly. “I was as much to blame for our predicament as she.” He meant of course, that neither of them was to blame for what had occurred, but his mother seemed embarrassed by his words, taking them as an admission of guilt.

“Yes, well,” she said shifting in her saddle and clearing her throat. “Let us not dwell on the more sordid aspect of your courting,” she said primly. “If only Sir Charles had not encouraged you to live like some sort of monk, then your flesh would not have been so ripe for corruption.”

Jeffree felt himself turn purple. “Mother!” he objected in a strangled tone, casting a look over his shoulder.

“Well, well,” she said. “I know your godfather is a great man, but your father would have handled things differently I assure you!”

“This subject is highly—”

“We will say no more about it,” Lady Maud agreed hurriedly. “I only wished to explain that—well, never mind. Let us speak no more of it. What is done is done.”

“Exactly.”

“You are married now and must make the best of things.” His mother took a deep breath and faced forward. “I only meant to say that things could have turned out a good deal worse than they have. Physical attraction, though it should never be the primary consideration in such unions, is not to be wholly despised. It can bring certain things to the table. Fruitfulness for instance.”

Jeffree almost groaned. “We are not having this discussion, Mother.”

His mother jutted out her chin determinedly. “All I meant was that you should not punish Sabina for your attraction to her.”

“I have no intention of doing so.”

“I am heartily glad to hear it, my son.”

“If you must know,” he replied, feeling goaded, “I told her only last evening that I bear her no ill will for what occurred and that I… I want us to put the whole manner of our… courtship”—he stumbled over the word choice—“behind us.”

His mother looked impressed. “That was handsomely done,” she said with approval. “I am sure she appreciates your willingness to reach an understanding.”

Jeffree struggled a moment with his response. Sabina had not been markedly grateful. Then again, she had bitter experiences of her own to move past, which he did not. In the end, he made do with a non-committal grunt.

“There is some jewelry,” his mother continued calmly. “A necklace your father gave me and a matching ring. I have not worn either of them for years. I will fetch them from Longacre and bring them to Lord Blandivar’s tournament so that you may give them to her. I have noticed she does not own any ornamentation of her own.”

The idea of giving Sabina gifts had not even occurred to him. Jeffree flushed, thinking of her plain manner of dress. “Thank you, but I believe I can buy my wife trinkets aplenty.”

“These are De Crecy heirlooms, and as such, you really ought to give them to your wife.” Jeffree gave a stiff nod and his mother sighed. “Do you have any friend that you give your confidences to, Jeffree? I do not believe for one minute that you and Sir Charles speak freely with one another. You are both far too reserved.” When he made no immediate reply, she gave him a frank look. “Mayhap you will be the kind of man who shares his innermost thoughts with his wife.” Jeffree blinked. “Your stepfather is that kind, you know.”