It took a few moments for Marcus to respond. He tried to appear calm as he turned to Nesta. Her smile was that of a cat who had just lapped at some milk.

“Of course,” he said. He even managed to add a formal oath.

Edward pierced Nesta with a suspicious glare. “You are to obey your husband in this, as in all things. Your father’s lands will be absorbed into Marcus’s. Llygad’s manor is not to become some shrine.”

“Of course, my lord,” she said demurely.

“If you have a son, he will take service with an English baron, in England, not Wales, so that he learns the proper loyalty.”

“Certainly.”

Her submissive agreement appeased whatever worries Edward had developed. The King’s expression cleared, and he smiled. “If matters of state permit it, I will come for the baptism this summer as you requested.”

Marcus glanced to his wife. “We hope it can be so.”

Edward dismissed them. Marcus managed to hold his tongue until they were away from the royal chambers.

Outside in the yard, he slid his arm around her waist. “Nesta—”

“Not here. Not within these walls.” She gave him a melting smile as a groom brought their horses to them. “On our way back to your sister’s house, there is someplace that I would like to visit.”

The house was deserted, but one guard still manned the gate. He cast Nesta an accusing look, letting her know that he had not forgiven her for the purgative that she had fed him.

All the same, he allowed them entry. They circled the house to the garden in back. Its high walls made it private and quiet and separate from the city noise.

The trees were bare now, and no roses bloomed. It held a spare beauty, however. Tendrils of ivy grew everywhere, and boxwood lined the paths. The pool had not frozen, and the sky and clouds were reflected in its stillness.

Marcus pulled Nesta to the bench by the wall, the bench where it had all started. He settled her on his lap much as he had that first night, but he did not overwhelm her with passion. Rather they nestled together in a warm embrace, enjoying the silence.

“What did you say to the King?” Marcus asked.

“I reminded him that you had served him well, and averted what might have been an inconvenient war.”

“He acted as though you said more than that.”

“Well, I might have suggested, in my annoyance, that he would be wise to keep you in his favor.”

“You threatened our King?”

“I think he was well threatened before he spoke with me. I may have been less subtle, but the message was the same as yours.”

He laughed lightly, and kissed her cheek. The eyes gazing at her filled with warmth and love, and little sparks of excitement. “What else did you tell him? He spoke of a baptism.”