Claire Delacroix (84 page)

Attitude was all. He would have this one first.

The woman was cursed with the red hair and pale skin that so many of these Irish seemed to share, but in this light, her hair hung loose over her shoulders like liquid fire. She looked faintly familiar, but they all looked somewhat similar, particularly now that the wine had blurred his perceptions.

He must have seen this one earlier in the hall. Talbot let his smile broaden, wanting her only to come closer.

The woman smiled in turn and strolled across the room. Her hips rolled with the easy seductiveness of an Eastern whore he had once had the fortune to sample.

And she smiled. Indeed, she had already unfastened the neck of her kirtle and now worked the drawstring of her chemise. Her fingers hung with rings, a testimony to her skill. Even the lady of this pathetic keep was not so bejewelled, and Talbot knew suddenly where the lord spent his wealth.

And with such a shrew of a wife, who could blame the man?

Talbot grinned. He liked the idea of bedding the lord’s own whore. ’Twas fitting of a visiting king to take the finest for himself and disregard any result. He liked the ripe perfection of the creamy breasts this one revealed, he liked the tentative way her tongue flicked over her lips.

“Would you join me in a quiet chamber?” she asked throatily. “I would not have us be disturbed.”

Talbot smiled and took her hand. Aye, she would do very well.

Alys moved with haste. She cast away the shredded kirtle and donned Burke’s chemise, the one that Edana had repeatedly forgotten to return, and breathed deeply of his lingering scent. ’Twas as if his protective concern surrounded her, and she closed her eyes, drinking in reassurance.

The door jiggled and Alys jumped in alarm.

“Alys?” Edana hissed. “Why is the door bolted?” The maid fiddled with the latch again. “May I come in?”

Alys touched her bruised cheek. She could not let the goat-girl see her in this state. “Nay, Edana. I have a task for you.”

“Aye?”

“Aye. Run to Brigid and tell her to pack with all haste.”

“Pack?” Edana squeaked. “You are leaving?”

“Aye, immediately. And—”

“But, Alys, why? Where are you going?”

“Brigid and I leave with Burke, Edana, to find Brigid a spouse.” Alys knew she should go to Brigid to explain, but she had to hide her rising bruise and she had naught to wear. “Perhaps you could assist Brigid to pack. Ask Burke how much she can take.”

“But, Alys …”

“Edana, I have naught to pack, and there is much to be done.” Alys considered how angered Burke would be if he glimpsed the blackened eye she was certain she would have in the morning.

She must ensure that Burke did not do something they all would regret. Aunt would demand a penance for any misdemeanor within Kiltorren’s walls. Alys wanted only to be gone, to never have to look back.

“But, Alys …”

“Edana, please ask Brigid if she has a kirtle she might grant me for travel and a spare cloak, one with a hood. Make haste, if you please. Burke would leave immediately.”

Alys held her breath. She could nearly hear the goatgirl thinking furiously. The latch moved one last time, Edana sighed, then her footsteps faded away.

Edana ran.

She stumbled down the stairs, she tripped over her skirt, she scraped her knee and stubbed her toe, but she did not stop.

For Alys was
leaving.
Edana could not bear the thought of remaining here without Alys, or even Brigid. She fled the keep on fleet feet, not caring who jumped when she raced through the kitchen. The sky darkened already, the bailey was damp underfoot. Edana heard the low murmur of men’s voices and raced for the stables.

She found the knight packing saddlebags, deep in discussion with the ostler. The very sight made her heart chill. ’Twas true! Both men looked up in surprise at her sudden arrival, and Edana had to catch her breath before she could speak.

“ ’Tis my lady Alys.” She gasped.

The knight stepped forward with concern. “What is amiss?”

“She wants to know how much Brigid should pack.”

He smiled, then looked at the ostler. “That depends. Is it two palfreys you can spare until we reach the port or three?”

The ostler frowned as Kerwyn stepped out of the shadows.

Edana took a breath, but she had no chance to speak before Kerwyn hailed the knight. “Are you truly leaving?”

“Aye, with all haste. We shall be gone this day.”

Kerwyn cleared his throat. “I would travel with you, sir. It seems you could use a squire.”

Not Kerwyn, too! Edana nearly cried aloud.

The knight paused. “Are you not beholden to Kiltorren?”

Kerwyn shook his head. “Not I. I am a freeman who labors for his keep. I would welcome the chance to leave this place.”

“And I would welcome your hand, Kerwyn, for you are gifted with horses,” the knight admitted. “But understand that I cannot offer you much. Perhaps not even the security of a crust of bread thrice daily or a roof over your head. I am without legacy in these days and must tourney to win my own keep. Until then I have naught.”

Kerwyn shrugged. “I have lived with uncertainty all my life, sir.” His dark eyes glowed. “I would do it in your employ,
caring for your fine steed, rather than age unappreciated in this place.”

The knight smiled slowly and offered his hand. “Then I welcome your labor, Kerwyn freeman. Know that I will do my utmost to ensure your security and welfare.”

“I know, sir. ’Tis why I would travel with you.” They two shook hands, then the knight turned back to the ostler.

Edana found her voice. “But what of me?” she cried.

All the men looked to her. Edana’s goats stirred at the sound of her voice, or perhaps her dismay. They milled from the sheepfold into the stables, sleepily butting their heads against her knees.

“You?” the knight asked.

“I do not want to remain at Kiltorren if Lady Alys and Lady Brigid depart!” Edana felt her tears rise. “I do not want to stay and be beaten with the willow switch and labor for naught but sharp words.” She bit her lip, forced to face one unwelcome truth. “But I am not free.”

Edana sat down amidst her ladies, her tears falling. “I was born on Kiltorren. I am beholden to this estate for all my days, as were my parents, as will be my children. I cannot go.”

The goats surrounded her, as if they would console her, the eldest doe nuzzling her hand. Edana flung her arms around the gentle beast and curled her fingers in its fur. She cried, hating herself for appearing so weak before these men.

Before Kerwyn.

To her surprise, the knight cleared his throat at close proximity. Edana looked up to find him squatted beside her, his expression grave. “Do you truly want to go with us?”

Edana wiped her tears. “I would hate to leave my ladies.”

“But I heard you were a maid now,” the ostler interjected. “You may be certain that you will not be cast to the fields again. Her ladyship and Lady Malvina will be expecting your aid.”

“
Them
!” Edana could not stop her grimace, and she noticed that the knight failed to smother his smile.

“Well?” he asked again.

Edana looked to Kerwyn, she could not help it. His dark gaze was fixed upon her, and there was a glimmer there that made her heart skip. “Every journey is both an end and a beginning,” he said quietly, and Edana suddenly felt warm all over.

With an effort, she tore her gaze from his and looked to the patient knight once more. “I would come, given half a chance.”

Burke smiled and pushed to his feet. “Then I shall endeavor to see it done.” He paused to shake a finger at her. “There is no guarantee in this, though. I can only try.”

Edana bounced to her feet, unable to suppress the quiver of excitement that ran through her. She had no doubt that if any could achieve this end, ’twould be the man before her. “Aye, sir. But I still need to know how much Lady Brigid might bring.”

The knight winced. “Best make it as little as possible.” He turned to the ostler, asking after the closest harbor, and was quickly embroiled in a discussion of steeds.

Edana hesitated before running back to the keep. If she did win the chance to leave, she would not be able to speak to her ladies again.

She had best do it now. Edana kissed the top of the eldest doe’s head and brushed her hands over all of her flock. When she was done, she stood reluctantly, only to be halted by Kerwyn’s gaze upon her. He leaned against the far wall, motionless as a shadow, silent as the night. He was watching her, smiling slightly, as if he waited for her attention. The knight and ostler were gone already, pacing the length of the stable corridor and discussing horses.

Edana held the stablehand’s gaze until she was certain she would faint from not taking a breath. Then Kerwyn winked
and loped after the other men, leaving Edana staring at his back. Her fingers rose to cover her dawning smile.

An end and a beginning indeed.

While Burke readied the trio of palfreys, the mist rose from the sea and enshrouded Kiltorren, making it seem truly on the edge of Christendom. All was ready quickly, leaving Burke anxious to be gone.

’Twas not long before Brigid stumbled down the stairs to the bailey. She held one end of a small trunk, Edana puffing with the other, and was garbed for travel in plain homespun. Burke relieved the two of them of their burden, setting Kerwyn to the task of lashing it to one steed.

Brigid wrung her hands before herself, her eyes filled with concern. “Is it true?” she asked, her hope undisguised.

Burke smiled for her. “Aye, Brigid. We shall find you a spouse.”

“So you can wed Alys.” Brigid sighed with satisfaction.

“Aye.” Burke had no chance to say more, for Deirdre erupted into the bailey.

And erupt was no understatement. She fairly flew out the portal, her kirtle flaring behind her, her expression fearsome.

“THIEF!” Deirdre raised an accusing finger at Burke and screeched, her voice echoing oddly in the fog. “You would steal my daughter without the burden of marital vows! How dare you bring such shame to my door?”

Brigid shrank back but Burke faced Deirdre squarely. “I would find your daughter a spouse, as you have failed to do,” he retorted coolly. “ ’Tis clear enough that none are to be had here, so we ride to Paris.”

“You cannot do this! You cannot take her away.”

“But I will. The lady has given her consent.” Burke pivoted with crisp ease and escorted a wide-eyed Brigid to one of the palfreys, murmuring reassurance to her under his breath.
He aided her to mount and left Edana settling her skirts, both women’s nervous gazes following him as he faced Deirdre anew.

“I shall see Brigid wed to a good man of good fortune, you have my pledge in that.”

The older woman’s eyes narrowed. “ ’Tis an odd way you have of seeking my endorsement of the match you would make,” she complained. “Abducting my daughter to win my niece.”

Burke spoke even more coldly than before. “You may well recall that more conventional methods met with little result. And understand, Lady Deirdre, that my interest in Brigid’s fortunes stems purely from Alys’s concern for her cousin. They both will marry well, despite your efforts.”