“No?” Her tone arced high with surprise and an edge of teasing. “And what, may I inquire, brings you to this decision?” She laughed at him, arch and a little cruel, and went on, “I know you, my Duke. You’ll not cleave to me for long, so I’ll have as much as I may before that time comes. Did you wish me to be blind to you?”Humphrey stopped and looked at her with cold grey eyes. “You know nothing,” he hissed. “You know the gossip and rumors about me and my pasttime. I thought you might be fitting for something more meaningful, have I been mistaken? If so, then you are right. I shall not cleave you for much longer.”
“People change, and you just proved you have very little faith in me, my lady. Tis disappointing indeed.” He added with sadness in his voice.
“And how else should I know you? We met, we parted, we have met again.” Her voice cracked like a whip. “You expect faith of me, who has not yet earned it? I am not one to be won with pretty gifts or sweet words alone.” Summer stepped closer, laying her hand against Humphrey’s chest, and hissed, “You may make free with my body, and this is expected, and in time you may show change, and then will you truly win my heart.”
Humphrey looked at her with disbelief. “Tis one thing to be one that ha yet to prove, tis another to be one put in the wrong for it.” he said, his voice calm and distant. His steward stepped to them, and Humphrey ordered a chamber to be prepared for her, and asked the man to lead her to the hall for supper, excusing himself for no longer wishing to attend. When she turned to go, Humphrey grabbed her arm gently, yet his calm voice was cold. “You don’t kick the dog that you want to scratch, my lady, for it may bite in return.”
Humphrey returned to his chamber, but seeing the mess they left, he decided to spend his time in his library, sitting by the fire and reading, while the servants clean and tidy the room. His books had their magical way of calming his always restless mind.
She bit her tongue on any further words, seething within. She followed the servant, but only picked at the food, and spent long minutes simply staring into the fireplace. At last, she sent the dishes away, asking the steward to bring her books from her saddlebags and a quill. Carefully, she tore a blank leaf from one book and wrote, slowly,
‘My lord, the words we exchanged are not our wont. Please understand my concerns — we know so little of what could be known one of the other, and if you intended some longer association I was not aware of it. I will look for you at Court, and hope that we may repair this rift.’
Glancing over the text, she nodded and bid a servant to take it to Humphrey. She herself made her way to the stables, saddling her horse herself. Humphrey’s worries notwithstanding, she would rather return to the city right away than stay, fretful.