Claire Delacroix (74 page)

Alys paused in the shadows of the portal when she found knight and maid seated in the sunlight. Burke sat well apart from Brigid, his manner much as one would take with a child.

“So, Alys erred in breaking the tooth of a comb, your mother saw her punished for this crime, and ’twas then that Heloise intervened.” The tight line of Burke’s lips told Alys what he thought of this deed. “Heloise fell ill and was moved to the point, Alys tending her there for some weeks. That is why she was not in the hall when I came.”

Brigid nodded quickly, then flicked her fingers toward the gates. “Y-you left, Alys returned.”

As simple as that, and Alys had never known. Only now she realized the real reason for the runners Aunt had sent to ensure she remained longer with Heloise—at the time, she had thought it an uncharacteristic concern for the older woman.

But Aunt was never uncharacteristic, and never concerned for Heloise.

Burke had been here and Aunt strove to keep him for Malvina.

This time, however, the knight seemed to share that
objective—at least in Aunt’s presence. But what was the truth of Burke’s intent?

Burke arched a dark brow as Alys wondered, his expression hinting that he thought little good of this revelation. “It seemed I erred in sending word of my arrival ahead, for Alys paid the price,” he muttered, and Alys’s eyes widened.

Aunt had
known
he was coming? A horrible dread took root within her. Alys had wondered at the time how a humble comb could prompt such a vicious response.

Aunt had used the comb as an excuse! Clearly, Alys’s beating had been intended to remove her from view but had borne unexpected fruit in Heloise’s attack.

Alys could have wept that Heloise had suffered so much for Aunt’s selfish goal.

Burke frowned at his boots for a long moment before his toe began to tap. “Why was she beaten this time, Brigid? Do you know?”

“N-n-naughty Alys.”

Burke was consummately patient though the girl was flustered. “But why, Brigid? What sin did she commit?”

“Alys b-b-broke her promise.” Burke lifted his brow, inviting more, and Brigid took a deep breath. “T-t-to not see you.”

Burke’s brow darkened ominously. He pushed to his feet, he paced, he shoved a hand through his hair, and he muttered something that Alys was quite certain Brigid should not hear.

“ ’Tis all my fault!” he declared in vexation. “ ’Tis my pursuit that brings the lady such punishment. But
WHY
? Surely Deirdre would be glad to see Alys gone?”

Aye, that was exactly the riddle that Alys could not solve. Burke sat down heavily, and she knew his mind worked like lightning. He spoke aright in this one thing—there must be another piece to the puzzle.

But Alys forgot her own concerns as Brigid suddenly reached for the knight’s hand. “I-I-I-I like you,” she confessed.
Alys took a step forward, halting only when the knight smiled gently.

Would he be kind to Brigid?

Or would he take advantage of her trust?

What could Alys do to intervene?

Burke captured Brigid’s fingers, even as Alys watched, and pressed a chaste kiss to her fingertips. Brigid’s eyes widened with wonder.

“I thank you, Brigid, for you honor me with your honesty,” he said in a low voice. “Indeed, if my heart were not already captured by one lady, I would be honored by your esteem.”

He set her hand back in her lap as Brigid stared at him and Alys eased back into the shadows. “But, as you doubtless know, a man can grant his heart but once, if he grants it fully.”

Brigid clasped her hands together and leaned toward the knight, rapturous at this romantic tale. “Who is she?”

Alys nearly gasped aloud. ’Twas the first time in a long while that she had heard Brigid utter a full sentence without stammering.

And Brigid did not even note that she had done it.

Burke glanced up abruptly. Alys saw the flash of surprise cross his features. So he had noticed as well.

“ ’Tis not evident?” he demanded, amazement in his tone.

Alys’s heart warmed that he pretended ’twas Brigid’s question alone that surprised him. Brigid shook her head, her eyes shining.

Burke shook his head in turn. “Ah, but I should not be so bold as to utter the lady’s name before she accepts my suit.”

Brigid rolled her eyes and smiled. “Tell me!”

“I should not.”

“You must!” Brigid wrinkled her nose. “It cannot be Malvina.”

Burke echoed her expression, making Brigid laugh. “Nay, not she.”

“I knew you did not court her! Tell me.”

Burke looked from side to side and Alys drew back into the shadows. “ ’Tis a secret!” he whispered, and Brigid’s eyes sparkled. Alys bit back her smile, unable to tear herself away from the sight of this bold knight being so gentle with a maiden’s heart.

Oh, there were times when this man was too good to be true.

“Tell me!” Brigid insisted.

Burke grinned. “ ’Tis my heart we discuss here! If I share the tale, then you must pledge to keep this secret for me.”

Brigid smiled and made a cross over her heart with one fingertip, then touched that fingertip to her lips. “Secret,” she whispered.

Burke leaned his dark head close to Brigid’s and dropped his voice yet lower. “The lady is here at Kiltorren,” he confided.

Brigid poked him when he took too long for her taste. “Tell me!”

“ ’Tis your cousin, Alys, who holds my heart,” Burke admitted. “ ’Twill be hers for all time.”

Alys’s felt her heartbeat falter before it began again to race.

Later she knew she would doubt that she had heard aright. Later Burke would make some charming comment that could not possibly be true, some lover’s words that made Alys feel as if she were only the current candidate in a long, long line of women that stretched both before her and would continue after she was forgotten.

For that was the trouble with Burke. He was so handsome, so charming, so utterly alluring, that Alys could not believe that she—or any other woman—could hold his attention for all time.

’Twould be against the odds, indeed.

She forced herself to note that he made no mention of nuptial vows, except when compelled to do so about Malvina, and felt disappointment swell within her. And indeed the
knight himself confessed that a lie did not count in pursuit of the greater good.

The greater good would always be to his advantage, she was certain. Nay, Burke was not her Aucassin, even if he did fill that knight’s shoes in her dreams.

Alys folded her arms across her chest. No doubt that even if she ceded to Burke, his interest would fade once she was no longer in distress. It might not happen for years. But one day a beautiful maiden would catch his eye and Burke would be gone, as surely as if he had never been by her side.

As surely as Alys’s own father had been.

Or Burke would take a wife in truth. The very thought chilled Alys’s blood. She could not imagine being forced to share Burke’s attentions with another for all her days and nights—another, perhaps like Malvina.

Nay, Alys would rather have naught than hold a dream doomed to be shattered. She would not repeat her mother’s error.

Alys would not die alone, pining for a lost love.

rigid gasped and sat back. “Alys!” she repeated, then clapped her hands over her mouth in horror. “ ’Tis a secret!” Burke teased. His manner was as playful as one would be with a younger sibling, and Brigid giggled. She repeated her pledge with her fingertips.

Then her mouth drooped with dejection. “Why not me?”

Alys bit her lip at the sight of her cousin’s vulnerability. She nearly stepped forward, but Burke took Brigid’s hand again in his.

Alys watched as he turned the full weight of his charm upon her cousin. “Brigid, there is a special bond between a man and a woman meant to be together. They know each other when first their eyes meet, they understand that each was made for the other.”

“Love,” Brigid said with a shy smile.

“Aye, love ’tis and no match should be without its flame.” Burke looked down at her hand, his expression pensive.

Brigid smiled. “I want love.”

Burke smiled at her. “Then I am not the man for you. There will be such a man, Brigid, and he will cross your path when you least expect him.”

But Brigid’s smile faded and she shook her head sadly. “Not me. I will not be able to talk to him.”

“That is not true,” Burke insisted gently. “You have just spoken to me.”

Brigid glanced up in alarm, her eyes flew open as she realized what she had done.

Then Brigid flushed anew and fixed her gaze on the ground. “I c-c-cannot do it again.”

“Of course you will,” Burke maintained. “You are a lady of charm, a lady of beauty, and one day a man will be as awed by you as you will be of him.” Tears shone in Brigid’s eyes, and Alys blinked back a few of her own. Burke gave Brigid’s fingers a squeeze. “Wait for him, Brigid. You deserve no less.”

Alys spun and flattened her back against the wall, biting her lip to fight her tears. Far from taking advantage of Brigid’s truth, Burke had behaved with a rare gallantry.

And his chivalry had made Brigid forget to stutter. ’Twas no small thing, and Alys knew she must thank him, whatever the toll he demanded in return. Alys heard Burke clear his throat and peeked around the corner again.

The knight grinned as he braced his elbows on his knees. “So, Brigid, can you help me win Alys’s affections? I shall need aid if I am not to make difficulties for my lady with your mother.”

But Brigid did not smile. She shook her head. “Nay.”

“Why not?”

“She is not allowed.”

Alys frowned in the same moment as Burke.

“What nonsense is this?” he asked, his voice rising slightly. Alys took a good look, but Brigid was not intimidated by his increasing volume.

Nor apparently by the flash of his eyes.

Brigid tapped a fingertip. “First, Malvina.” She indicated herself. “Then Brigid.” She smiled sadly for Burke. “
Then
Alys.” She shrugged. “But no one wants Malvina.” Brigid
kicked her feet. “We wait and wait and wait but no one comes.”

And no one ever would, Alys realized with a start. She would never be free of this place, by Aunt’s dictate! ’Twas unfair!

Burke had already leapt to his feet. “Who made this demand? Who insisted that Alys could not wed at her choice?”

Brigid opened her mouth, but Burke held up a hand to silence her. “Nay, Brigid, I can guess the truth readily enough.” He spun and headed for the portal where Alys was hidden, the grim look of him enough to make her heartbeat skitter. “What I do not understand is
why
I did not know.”

And Alys knew from whom he would seek the truth. It seemed rather a poor excuse not to have even known. She picked up her skirts and turned to flee, toping to take advantage of the fact that neither knew she was there.

Dame Fortune, once again, did not play Alys’s game.

Alys heard Burke mutter her name, then the thunder of his footsteps as he gave chase. She was not even out of sight when he rounded the corner, and he paused to bellow, no doubt certain she could be readily caught.

“Alys! You listened!”

Alys spun to a halt, turning to face him proudly. He would catch her and she knew it well—she would rather face him here. “Aye. I wanted to be certain you treated my cousin with honor.”

Burke’s eyes gleamed as he advanced upon her. “You secreted yourself in the shadows! You eavesdropped upon us.”

Alys could not argue with that.

Burke took a dozen quick strides to bring them toe to toe, his voice dropping to a low silky tone that melted Alys’s knees. He smiled down at her, looking like a cat who had cornered its prey. “Why, Alys, you
deceived
us both.”

He had her there and Burke knew it well.

Alys looked past him to the portal to the garden, then flicked a glance to Burke’s eyes. Even in the shadows, he could see her slow flush.

“ ’Twas only for a moment,” she said tentatively.

“ ’Twas a deception.” Burke found himself enjoying this change of circumstance. “Indeed ’twas a manner of
lie.
”