Page 94 of Bold Angel
“I know.”
“She weeps, my lady. I have rarely seen her aught but smiling. I find it disturbs me greatly.”
Caryn brightened. “Then you must feel something for her. Is that not so?”
“Of course, I do.” He glanced away. “We are friends of a sort.”
“That is all you feel, Richard? Friendship?”
He looked decidedly uncomfortable. “I desire her, if that is what you mean. ’Tis only natural. Ambra is a very beautiful woman.”
“I am glad you noticed.”
He sighed. “What does it matter? Lord Ral would see her wed to Beltar.”
“Aye, that is true. ’Tis also true that Ambra could not wed him, if she were already wed to you.”
“What!”
“Surely it has occurred to you. You said that you desired her.”
Richard rested an unsteady hand on his desk. “Aye, it has occurred to me. It has also occurred to me how foolish such a notion would be.”
“Why? As you have said, Ambra is a lovely young woman. She would make any man a fine wife.”
“Any man but me,” he grumbled.
“I do not understand.”
“Can you not see? Never were two people less suited. I would choose a quiet, submissive woman for my wife. Someone who would not gainsay me at every turn. Ambra is hardly submissive.”
“No, she is not submissive. She is vibrant and spirited and full of life. The kind of woman who could walk beside you, instead of trailing along in your wake. Surely you would be bored in a fortnight with the kind of woman you describe.”
“’Tis not a matterof boredom,” Richard said. “’Tis only a matter of behaving as a woman should.”
“I have rarely behaved as you believe a woman should,” Caryn reminded him, suddenly wondering if that might be the kind of wife Ral had also wanted.
Richard eyed her strangely. “I suppose that is true. I did not mean it exactly as it sounded.”
For a moment, Caryn said nothing. Then she sighed. “I am sorry, Richard. I should not have come. ’Twas wrong of me to ask of you something you do not wish to do. ’Twas only that I thought mayhap… that I hoped…” She moved away from him and started toward the door.
“Wait.”
Caryn turned to face him, saw the uncertainty etched on his handsome face.
“Mayhap there is something to what you say.” He straightened, looking far too serious for a matter which should have brought him joy. “Mayhap in time she would adjust. Besides ’tis my Christian duty to save her from a man like Beltar.”
Christian duty,Caryn thought with a secret smile. ’Twould hardly be duty Richard thought of when he bore the lovely Ambra to his bed. “Mayhap you will learn to adjust a little, too.”
He frowned at the notion, but said nothing to dispute it. “You have spoken of this to Ambra? You are certain that she will accept me?”
“I am afraid that discussion must needs be left to you.”
A scoffing sound escaped him. “There is a good chance she will refuse me. And there is the matter of the priest. The banns have not been posted. Mayhap he will refuse to perform the marriage.”
“Father Burton is treated well here, far better than in other places he might go. He will do whatever it takes to maintain Lord Ral’s good will.”
“And Lord Ral?”
