Claudia Dain by The Willing Wife

Author:The Willing Wife
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2012-10-21T10:23:27+00:00

Chapter 14

"Make the arrangements," Nicolaa said. "I want an annulment."

Father Timothy's eyes glowed at the news. He clasped her hands in his and smiled his approval. He was too joyous. He was a good man, but she would prefer an old, stooped priest to hear her confession once she was in the cloister. She might even make that a stipulation in her contract. For wealth such as hers, the church should be able to supply her with a priest to her liking.

She excused herself quickly, her heart and mind at ease. Nay, she was in joyous flight. She had not felt this free in ten years, since her first marriage. And this... this marriage was to be her last. Her joy was a ribald thing, pounding within her heart and quickening her breath. Oh, there was such joy to be had in ridding oneself of a husband. Had this been what her husbands felt in ridding themselves of her? No wonder they had done it; such joy was beyond the reach of repentance.

She hurried to the hall and was the last one to enter it. Rowland was at his place and stood, awaiting her, making her feel even tardier than she was. A husband was a most worrisome thing. How lovely to have the means to be rid of one. The last one. The last husband: what a wonderful phrase. She could hardly contain her smile when she looked at him, and then she did not try. It was her hall, and she could smile as she would; let him make of it what he might. She could hardly wait to be rid of him and his searching eyes. Let him study another woman, trying to read her heart and her thoughts. She rejected such intrusion. She rejected him.

As she sat at his side, he whispered, "I have arranged for a larger meal than is usual, Nicolaa; our guests leave at the dawn, and I would give them hearty sustenance before their ride."

Wonderful news, to be sure, and surprising. Guests rarely stayed for less than a week, as distances were great and travel difficult. Still, if they would leave, she would not bar the gates against their going. It was another firm step on the path to normalcy, and she could only welcome it.

"Will you be leaving as well?" she asked, washing her hands before the first course.

"Not yet," he said on a smile.

Dropping her head to wipe her hands on the cloth, she murmured to herself, "Too bad." She was certain he had not heard her, and it was the last thing she said to him for the remainder of the meal. Her conversational skills were all directed at Cathryn and Isabel. That Rowland did not demand entrance into their conversation caused her only joy and no surprise. Had she not noted that he was perceptive for a man? That he understood he was not welcome in their discourse was not cause for comment or praise.

She was chewing on

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