Perfect Wife by Lynsay Sands

Author:Lynsay Sands
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2011-11-25T23:56:12+00:00

"Avelyn, my dear. Please do not take on so." Lady Gerville knelt beside her and wrapped her arms around her.

Avelyn tried to stop weeping, but couldn't seem to help it. She simply sagged against the woman and sobbed her heart out. She was exhausted from lack of sleep, and really, this was just too much. Everything had gone wrong since the wedding, absolutely everything. This burning of the furs was just the final straw.

Avelyn had counted on the tunic and braes repairing much of her husband's mistaken opinion of her. She couldn't tell him that she could ride, or that she wasn't presently prone to misfortune—for clearly she was—but giving him the tunic and braes would have shown at least one of her skills in a good light. It also would have given her the opportunity to let him know that she wasn't normally so weary and sickly. She could have explained that she was exhausted during the day because she had been working nights on his clothes. On top of all that, she'd worked so hard, and all that work had been ruined in a moment of inattention. Avelyn had thought the candle was out and even had a vague memory of the small curl of smoke coming off it, but apparently she'd been wrong.

"Avelyn, dear," Lady Gerville almost moaned as she rocked her in her arms. "Surely this is not about the furs. They are replaceable."

Avelyn shook her head against the woman's chest. Her tears were finally slowing, but she was in no state to talk.

"What is it, then, child? Is it that you fear Paen will just see this as another example of your clumsiness and ineptitude?"

Avelyn paused, then burst into loud sobs again.

Lady Gerville gave up trying to soothe her for a while and simply rocked her like a child. When her crying finally slowed to sniffles and hiccoughs and Avelyn finally pulled free to hold herself upright, Lady Gerville took her hand and patted it as she waited for her to speak.

"Do you think you can tell me now?" she asked after another moment had passed.

Avelyn nodded wearily, but merely sat staring with dejection at the smoldering remains of the bed.

"Would you like a drink first?" Lady Gerville prompted. "I could call Runilda and have her fetch some mead."

Avelyn shook her head.

Another moment of silence passed; then Lady Gerville opened her mouth to speak again, but Avelyn blurted out, "I have been sewing new braes and a tunic for Paen."

Lady Gerville relaxed and patted her hand. "Aye, dear. I know," she said, then explained, "I was fretting over your being so exhausted all the time and Sely mentioned it to your maid. Runilda told her to tell me not to fret, that you were staying up well into the night, sewing new clothes for Paen." She patted her hand again. "Runilda said tonight that they were nearly done."

"They were," Avelyn admitted, and much to her consternation, fresh tears began to roll down her cheeks.

"Were?" Lady Gerville asked with the beginnings of dread in her voice.

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