Paen immediately stumbled over something on the floor.

Put off balance, he muttered a curseand halfhoppedand half stumbled to the corner. The moment his foot hitthe furs, Paen lost the last of his balance and tumbled to the floor, grunting ashelanded. The women had beenawfully sparing with the furs, itseemed, but he supposed heshould just be grateful he had not landed on and crushed hiswife. It hadbeen a closecall,he realized when she rolled over inhersleep and curled against him as he lay there.

"My lord?"

Paen froze when those words came to him from outof thedarkness.

"Runilda?"he asked, sure it washis wife'smaid's voiceaddressing him from the floor near where he'd tripped. "Aye, my lord. Why are you not above stairs J with LadyAvelyn?"

Paen froze,his eyes shootingdownward as he tried to make out the figurelying nexttohimin the dark.

"Paen?"Diamanda's sleepy voice drifted up to himand hefelt her hand move againsthis legsas ifshe couldn't believe he was there.

And then,astonishingly, Lady Helen was heard to mutter,"Good heavens - what is going on?" fromanothercorner.

Cursing, Paen launched himself to his feet andstumbled backacross the tent, so flustered by his mistake that he didn't even think to mutter an apology before escaping out intothe safetyof thegreat hall.

Hehurried across thehall, leapingoverbodies and moving too quickly through the darkness. He nearly knocked his wife over beforehe sawher.

"Husband?" Avelyncaught at his arms to keep her feet ashereached to steady her.

"Aye. What are you doing up?"

"Iheard you ride in. When you did not comeabove stairs, I realized you did not know where our bed is. So I came to find you. "

"Oh. " He sighed as she felt forhis hand in thedark, then followed when she turned tolead himup the stairs. Paen remainedsilent as they movedthrough the pitch-black hall, depending on her to know theway. Muchto his relief, whenthey reached the room he was able to see again by the soft glowof a fire in thefireplace.

The light revealed thebandage around her head,and Paen frowned at the sight of it. "Howis yourhead?"

"It's fine,thank you," Avelyn murmured, then changed the subject. "Runilda told me youhadgone to thevillage. "

"Aye. "He glanced around theroom, noting that she'd not only hadthe room cleanedand new rushes put down,but had had their chests moved infrom the wagon. She'dalsohad the old bedremoved. Paenknew Legere's bed hadbeen in bad shape,but had expectedto make dountil a new onecouldbemade. However, Avelyn had made a nest of furs forthem to sleepon.

"Ithought you were inthe tent,"he blurted out.

Her eyebrows rose. "Nay. We ran out of timebefore we could prepare a second room forDiamanda and LadyHelen, so Ihad the tent set up to allow them some privacyfrom themen. Runilda isin with them. "She smiled faintly. "I guess 'tisgood I came to find you ere you stumbled in there and woke everyone up. "

Paengrimaced. "I didstumble in thereand woke everyoneup. It wasnotuntil Runilda asked why I was notupherewithyou that Irealized my mistake. "

Avelyn gave a softlaugh, then shrugged. "They are probably alreadyasleepagain, my lord. Everyonewas exhausted afterthe day's work. "She paused and asked, "Were you able to convince anyvillagersto work in thecastle? Thatiswhy you wenttothe village, isit not?"

"Aye, that is why, butI had no luck. Noonethere was willing to work for us. The village is poor and in no better shape than the castle. Between Legere and the reavers, they have been beaten down time andagain. They are angry, and resentthat Father neglected to look out for their welfareas he should have done," he admitted on a sigh. " Tiswhy I took so long. Irodeto Gerville. Father promised tovisit the village at Gerville first thing inthe morning and arrange for new servantsforhere. He will send them at once, and they should start arriving by noon. "

"Oh. " She nodded. "Well, good. The mengot alot donetoday, butthere is still much to do. The servantswill be welcome. " Avelyn shifted on her feet, then glanced around theroom. "Are you hungry orthirsty?"

"Nay. Iate atGerville. "

She nodded, thenturned to walk towardthebed offurs. "It is late and you look exhausted. I should stopaskingyou questions and let youget somesleep. "

Paenfollowedher tothe bed, asmall sigh slipping from his lips. Hewas tired, and she'd had a terrible fall today. Neither ofthem was inanyshape for him to bed her, but that didn't stop him fromwishing he could.

Tomorrow,he promised himself as hedisrobedand climbed intothenestof furs nexttoher. He would definitely make love to hiswifetomorrow.

Chapter Fifteen

Paen wasgone and bright sunlight was pouringinto the roomwhen Avelyn woke up. Blinking sleepily, she peeredtowardthe window. While she'dslept,someone had removed the furs Runildahad hung overthe opening the night before. Either Paen had done it beforeleaving theroom, or Runilda had already been upin the room at least once that morning.

As if drawn byher thoughts,the door opened andRunilda entered carrying a basinof water.

"You are awake. " The maidsmiled as shecrossedthe room. "How do youfeel?"

"Better,"Avelyn admittedafter a pause to take inventory. Much to her relief, the pain that had beenhammering at her headthrough the afternoonand evening before was now gone. The factwas enough to makeher smile as she sat up in bed. "Much better,thank you, Runilda. Whereis my husband?"

"He has been working on the wall with the men since first light," the maid announced as she carried thewashbasin to the chest.

AsAvelyn went towashshe pondered what she woulddo that day. Thechests they hadbrought with them were the only furniture theyhad inthe keep andhad doubled as seats and tables the daybefore. Avelyn decided that was asituationthat should be rectified.

The inside of the keep was her responsibility, and she had every intention of taking care of it. She thought she might make atrip to the village thatmorning before the servants startedtoarrive fromGerville. Paen had said the village hadsuffered as badly from the reaversas Rumsfeld had,and Avelyn hoped to relieve some of the poverty andrepairsome of the hard feelings by having all theirgoods made in the village.

Furniture wasn't the only thingshewould need to purchase,shethoughtasher stomach grumbled. At the moment, theyhad nocook at Rumsfeld, and whilethey did havethe foodsthey'd brought with them, thosewouldn't last long. However, she suspectedtheywouldn't be easily replaced either. Theonly animal she'dseen so far was the pigthat haddecided tobed downinthe greathallwhen theyarrived. She feared it might be the only livestock they had.

"Ishall go let the men know they can start work on the floorsin the other rooms now," Runildasaid asshe laid acleangown onthechest. "Lord Paen ordered them not to start hammeringuntilyou were, awake," Runilda explained when Avelyn glanced atherwithsurprise.

"How long have they been waiting?" Avelynaskedwitha frown.

"Halfthe morning,"Runilda said with amusement, then added,"But they kept busy whiletheywaited. Lady Helenhadthem cleaning and carting in the kitchens. "

"Half themorning?" Avelyn echoed with horror. Shehadn't realized she'dslept so late. "Whydid you not wake me?"

"Lord Paensaid to let you sleep as late as youneeded, that it wouldhelp you heal. "

Avelyn let alittlesighslipfrom her lips. It had beenthoughtful of him,but there was muchshe wished to get donetoday and the morningwas half over.

"I shalljust let the menknow theycan start work, thenI'll return tohelp you dress," Runildaassured her, then slipped from the room.

Avelynturned herattention toher ablutions, using therose-scented water and a smallstrip of linen to wash herself. Sheheard Runilda open the door again minutes later, but continuedtowash,lifting one footto rest on the chestas she ran the cloth overher leg. When hands closed over her shoulders, she jumped in surprise,then whirled to find herself facing Paen.

"Oh, husband, you startled me," she said breathlessly, then realized she was standing therenaked before him. Sheraised her little linen between them, tryingto coverherself withthe bit of cloth. It was afutile effort,worsethan useless, really, andPaen gaveit the attention it deserved. None. Ignoring the damp cloth, he caught herbythe upper armsanddrew her forward. Hethen lowered his head and covered hermouthwithhis.

At first,Avelynstood still, too flustered to respond, but Paen soonmadeher forget her embarrassment. When his tongue slipped out to tease her lips, she automatically let them drift open and breathed a small sigh into his mouth as his tongue slid in. A familiarheat immediately began to pool inside her. Avelyn soon forgot her linenand let it drop so she could slipher hands aroundhisneck. Paen was fully clothed, andthecloth of his tunicand braes felt rough against her tender flesh, as he cupped her behind andurged her againsthim. The cloth of his tunic rubbed acrossthe sensitive tips ofherbreasts, sending a shiver alongherback.

When Paen broke the kissandhis lips trailed to herneck, Avelynlet herhead fall back,her fingers knotting in his hair. She had thought his mouth wouldcontinue downto herbreastsas it had when they'd finally consummated theirmarriage, but instead, he pulled hislipsaway. She gave a little startas he cupped onebreastand squeezed gently. Thenhe caught the nipple betweenthumb and forefinger, teasing it untilit washard and aching. Only then did hefinally drop hismouthtolave it.

"Oh," Avelyn breathed as he caught her nipple between his teeth and nipped lightly. She gasped and roseup ontiptoes as thehandthat had been holdingher breast suddenly swept down betweenherlegs.

He cuppedherthere briefly, pressing firmly upward; then his fingers slid between the foldsand Avelynfound herself clutching desperately at his shoulders as his fingers danced overhermost tender flesh.

"Husband?" Avelyngasped uncertainly as she felt herbody begin totightenwith familiar excitement.

Raisinghis head, Paen claimed her mouthagain, hiskiss more aggressive this time, his tongue thrusting into heralmost forcefully. Asit did, she felt his finger slip inside her, and Avelyn cried out intohismouth, her hips bucking instinctively into thecaress, and doing so again as hisfinger slid out and then backinmore deeply.

She couldfeel her nails digginginto his skin, butcouldn't seemtohelp herselfas she rode the pleasurehe wasgiving her.

Had Hugo reallysaid aman's hands were not needed for thebedding? Perhaps they weren't -  certainly her husband had proven that the first time they'd consummated thewedding - but,dear God, they could addsomuch pleasure. Paen droveheroff the edge with just his touch until shecried out and saggedagainsthim.

She wasnothingbut asenseless,trembling mass whenPaen scooped her up into his arms and carried herto the furs. Avelyn did not evenmindthat she was naked, fullyexposed as helaid her out onthe bed. Her eyes were drowsy and she felt almost druggedas shewatchedhim stripoffhis tunic and shed his braes. Thistime Avelyn felt no fear atthesize ofhim, butcouldenjoy the beauty of his physique as he straightened, then knelt on thefurs by her feet.

Watchingher face, Paen caught her by one ankle and liftedit to rest on his shoulder, then caughtthe other andraised it as well. Avelyn blinked, unsure what he was doing,then heslidhis hands under her hips and pulled her forward across the furs untilhis manhood pressedagainst her. Shestaredathim withconfusion. This was something elsehermother hadn't mentioned. Then he slid intoher, and Avelyn's back bowed, a surprised moan slipping from her lips as he filled her.

With Paen outof her reach, she found herselfclutching atthebed linens on either sideof her headas he withdrew andthen drove intoher again. He reached between them to caress thesensitive center of her as he thrust again. Avelyncriedout,her headtwisting on the linen-covered fursas her sensitive body immediately responded.

Her heelsdug intohis shoulders, her legs flexing asone footslid off his shoulder.

Rather thancatch it and pull it backup, Paenmoved her other ankle off andleaned over her, holding his weight off of her with hisarms as hecontinued to drive intoher untiltheyboth cried out with pleasure.

Avelyn was aslimp asa wetlinen asPaen shiftedoff ofher. He settled himself beside her,then drewher into his arms, moving her head to wherehewantediton his chest. She smiled faintly at the action, finding it adorable, for some reason.

Avelyn was suddenly too tired to botherto try tosort it out. She simply let her eyes driftclosed and allowedherhusband'sheartbeattolull her into sleep.

It was nearly noon the next time Avelyn woke up, andher husband had again alreadyleft the bed. She didn't mind, though; itallowed herprivacy to washand dress. Avelyn couldn't even seemto mind thatonce againshe'd sleptthe morning away. She smiledas she descended the stairs... untilshe spotted the activityby the fireplacein the great hall.

Avelynpausedon the stairs, gripped the newrail the menhad put on the night before and stared in disbelief. The sow had returned. Runildaand Diamandawere trying to get the beast on her feet and out of the keep, but the sow appearedto have a stubborn streak. Shewas ignoring alltheir efforts to rouse her.

Shakingher head, Avelyn hurried down the stairs and crossedthe hallto join Lady Helen, whowas standing to theside,wringingherhands as Diamanda poked at the pig,trying to get ittoits feet: "Oh, do be careful, Diamanda,"her auntsaid with concern. "Canyou not fetch oneof thementoscareit out ofhere?"

"Paen usedan apple to lure it out yesterday,"Avelyn saidas she paused beside Lady Helen.

"Oh, Avelyn, dear. How are you feeling? Has the rest helped your head? I know you were in terrible painyesterday. " Lady Helen forgother worry for a momentto offer Avelyn a smile.

"Iam much better, thank you,"Avelyn murmured.

"I did try an apple, but she doesn't appear to be interested," Diamanda announced. Pullingan apple from her skirt, she held it before the pig, but the trick wasn'tworking thistime.