Return of the Rose (13 page)

Matti gasped. The women of Braddock had thought the troubadour resembled a Greek god. When Matti and the other maids heard he preferred a gentleman’s attentions, they had all been devastated by the news.

Matti elbowed her husband in the side, and Hugo provided her with a sheepish, lop-sided grin.

“The point of my retelling of these stories,” Derek went on, “is that the two of you have been plotting and scheming within these castle walls for many years. Although I had assumed you had absolved yourselves of such childish games, it is clear that is not the case. Those flowers for instance.” He frowned at Hugo. “An ingenious feat waiting for me to walk by Lady Amanda’s bedchamber so that you could trick me into bringing them to her. A well-laid-out plan I must say, telling me that she could not walk. And the doctor. Strange, I have not seen that young physician around Braddock before.”

Matti looked to her feet.

Derek’s voice softened a bit. “Anyone can see that the two of you share something most wedded couples do not. I am glad for you. But as I have told you both before…I have no time for such nonsense as love.” He shook his head at the mere thought of such absurdity. “Whether there someday be a lady of the castle or not, I expect the everyday administration of this household to remain the same. Do you both understand me?”

“Aye,” Hugo said. “We understand, my lord, and I can assure you that we meant no harm.”

“But can you not see that Lady Amanda cares for you?” Matti questioned. “Mayhap she is a bit unconventional and has a set mind, but naught that cannot be softened with a bit of coaxing.”

“And what do you have in mind?” Regret filled Derek the moment the question flew from his mouth, for he had no intentions of dawdling further with the wench. It was his body that deceived him over and over again when it came to Lady Amanda.

“Hugo and I thought it would be appropriate that you should court Lady Amanda,” Matti began. “Bring her flowers and mayhap a small gift every now and then. Possibly bestow her with a compliment here and there.”

Derek glowered at Hugo, who raised both brows, cocking his head toward his wife to let Derek know this was all her doing.

“I hate to disappoint you, Matti,” Derek said, “but I have no intentions of courting the wench. If the marriage vows are ever spoken, the alliance between Lady Amanda and myself will remain just that: an alliance…an association to further the common interests of the king’s holdings. Nothing more, nothing less.”

Matti sighed.

A knock sounded at the door before Emmon hurried into the room.

Derek crossed his arms and waited to see what was so damned important. The people of Braddock were making it a habit of disturbing him whenever they pleased.

“I apologize for interrupting, my lord, but I thought I should tell you right away.”

“What is it now?” Derek growled.

“Lady Leonie is here to see you. And she has enough trunks with her to last a sennight.”

Derek cast a weary sigh. He had thought he’d made it clear to Leonie that he wanted no more to do with her. “Show her in, Emmon. I will see to her momentarily.” A thought suddenly struck him. “Before you go, Emmon, you wouldn’t happen to be involved with this matchmaking scheme of theirs would you?”

A look of horrified dismay covered Emmon’s face. “I am sorely insulted to think you would believe me to have joined in on one of Matti and Hugo’s simple-minded schemes. I am as innocent as a newly born babe.”

Matti glared at Emmon’s back as he hurried out. As soon as the door shut, Matti shot Derek a look of disbelief. “Surely you do not intend to let Leonie enter Braddock when your betrothed lies dying in her bedchamber?”

Derek groaned. “Lady Amanda, I can assure you, is very much alive and kicking.”

~~~~

Twenty-four hours had passed since Derek had brought Morgan flowers. And just like her, the roses were beginning to wilt. Morgan was tired of sitting in bed. It bothered her that Derek hadn’t visited, especially after all that had transpired between them. The only thing she knew for certain was that her heart was in trouble. And that realization made her nervous. She’d seen first-hand what her adopted mother had gone through after losing her loved ones. She hated the idea of putting herself through the same life-long torment. Isn’t that what would happen if she allowed her feelings for Derek to grow, only to suddenly disappear through time and never see him again? Until she figured out exactly why she was here, she needed to keep her distance from him.

Hearing a commotion outside, Morgan jumped from the bed and went to the window. A long-line of squires and pages carried large trunks across the outer bailey and toward the castle’s main entry.

The prospect of having visitors appealed to her. She dressed quickly in a pale blue gown of silk with gold embroidery and matching slippers. She used a ribbon to pull her hair back. Not only did she and Amanda supposedly look alike, they were very nearly the exact same size.
Very strange indeed. Where was this Amanda and when would she make an appearance
?

Downstairs the entire castle bustled with activity. Great puffs of smoke came through the hall as the fires within the kitchen were readied for cooking. Tables once stacked to the side of the hall were being set up front and center and it seemed that all the castle people were chattering at once today.

Seeing Odelia scamper across the keep, Morgan snuck up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder. “Odelia, what is going on?”

Odelia spun around in alarm. “What are you doing out of bed? Verily, I was about to ready your tray and bring it to you.”

“Don’t bother. I’m bored stiff. I saw all the excitement outside. I couldn’t just sit in bed and let you have all the fun.” She gave Odelia a teasing jab with her elbow.

“Ow,” Odelia muttered. “Nobody important visits Braddock this day, my lady. Go back to your bedchamber and I will keep you company there. You could teach me to play chess as you promised.”

“Don’t be silly. My legs are healed.” She raised her dress to prove it.

“My lady! Put your skirts down before every knight within view comes begging for your attentions.”

Morgan dropped the hem of her gown and laughed. “You are wrong, Odelia. Not one knight is coming my way.”

Odelia glanced about and let out an audible sigh. “‘Tis only because there are no knights within the hall, my lady.”

“You worry too much. And stop looking so serious,” Morgan said as she hurried off before Odelia could stop her. Outside by the well-tended gardens, Morgan heard a group of people talking. She edged closer to a tall well-manicured hedge and peered through the leaves. Matti, Ciara, and another woman she’d never seen before talked beneath a willow tree. Dressed to the hilt in a gown made of a rich scarlet cloth, the visitor resembled a voluptuous vogue model. Her dark hair was interwoven with sparkling gemstones, wrapped in perfect swirls about her head. She was a breathtaking sight: tall and graceful with a figure to die for. Even her voice had a pleasant ring to it.

Morgan was about to come out of hiding and introduce herself when the woman pulled out a note and handed it to Matti. “‘Twas kind of Lord Vanguard to send for me,” she said. “I never would have thought he would be so bold…especially with his betrothed right here under his roof and all.”

Frowning, Matti took the parchment, studying it carefully before handing it back to the woman.

Derek invited her
? The woman tucked the note into a silk sachet tied around her wrist. All gazes turned to Derek as he exited a side door and made his way toward the group. He made an imposing sight with his tight breeches and loose-fitting shirt.

Morgan felt a tap on her shoulder and jerked about. “Shayna! You scared me.”

“I apologize, my lady, I did not mean to frighten you whilst you spied on the guest.”

Morgan gave Shayna a culpable smile. “Who is that woman?”

“She is a harlot, that one.”

“She’s beautiful.”

“Perhaps on the outside, but inside lurks a hundred snakes preparing to strike.”

Morgan feigned a small shiver. “A hundred snakes? Maybe you exaggerate just a bit?”

“Believe what you will. But the woman is here for one reason only.”

After a few minutes passed in silence, Morgan said, “Well? What is the reason?”

“Him,” Shayna said pointing at Derek. “His lordship is the reason Leonie is here.”

Morgan turned back in time to see Leonie rush into Derek’s arms and kiss him like a leech sucking blood from its victim. They definitely weren’t related, Morgan thought. Having seen enough, she turned to leave.

Shayna followed her. “Don’t let Leonie bother you. You are much prettier…and friendlier.”

Morgan gave Shayna a well-meaning grunt as she made quick strides toward the kitchen door. “That’s kind of you to say, Shayna, but you don’t have to worry about me. Seeing that woman in his arms doesn’t bother me a bit.”

Shayna did her best to keep up with her. “Truly?”

Morgan stopped to look Shayna squarely in the eyes. “Truly. I couldn’t care less who that roguish, dog-hearted man kisses. Our engagement is a farce anyhow.”

“I do believe she was the one kissing him,” Shayna reminded her.

“Maybe,” Morgan said with a curt wave. “It just doesn’t matter.”

The kitchen door opened and both Shayna and Morgan watched Emmon come through the door, stopping short when he spotted them heading his way. Emmon’s powder blue eyes met Shayna’s emerald green ones and they stared at one another as if Cupid had struck them both smack in the forehead.

Morgan chuckled. “Have you two met before?”

Neither responded, having suddenly lost all touch with the world around them. “Emmon, why don’t you show Shayna your roses?” Ushering them in the direction of Emmon’s well-tended flowers, Morgan watched them walk away. The smile vanished when she caught a glimpse of Derek talking to the woman beneath the willow tree.

CHAPTER 8

Back in her room, Morgan struggled with the removal of the medieval dress, groaning as she yanked it over her head and tossed it on the bed. She was annoyed with Derek, but mostly she was angry with herself. She knew what kind of man he was, and she knew she had no claim on him. He had made no promises to her. Hell, he’d made it perfectly clear that he hardly even liked her. There was probably a perfectly good explanation for that woman to be wrapped in his arms like that. But the reason didn’t matter because she didn’t care. She didn’t want to know anything more about Derek Vanguard.

Besides, it was time to go in search of Amanda and the Earl of Kensington. She had waited long enough, procrastinating with unreasonable thoughts of lurking danger when the real problem was that she couldn’t bear the thought of leaving Braddock, and especially Derek Vanguard. Something about that man made her want to seek him out at every turn. It was time to do something about her situation…time to search for the real Amanda. She would find shelter in the village or at an inn. She pushed open the heavy lid of Amanda’s trunk and rummaged through the neatly piled clothes until she found her jeans, T-shirt, and a small purse filled with coins. She dressed quickly, putting on the tennis shoes she’d had on when she first arrived in this century.

There was leftover bread on the tray from this morning which she shoved into a leather pouch. She needed to get far away, find a way home while her heart was still intact. Her feelings for Derek were spiraling out of control, causing her to lose direction and focus. Besides, she missed her mother back home. Her mother must be worried sick about her.

She threw on Amanda’s woolen cloak, hoping to pass the guards without attracting much attention. With all the excitement over Derek’s lady friend, hopefully they’d be too busy to notice her at all.

She made it to the stables without anyone trying to stop her. The blacksmith was busy fitting a horse with new shoes. Further on, two men were digging holes that would be used to empty dirty basins and chamber pots. She heard laughter while passing the gardens, but the stone walls and high shrubs provided cover.

Using the hood of the cloak to hide her face, she kept her gaze straight ahead as she arrived at the outer gates.

“You there. State your name.”

Morgan swallowed and said in a low, husky voice. “‘Tis Odelia, her ladyship’s maid. I have been instructed to go to the village for almonds. It seems our guest likes nuts.” She grimaced, praying she hadn’t ruined her chance of getting through the gates without Derek’s permission.

“You may pass,” he said. “Make haste though, for the gates will close at sundown.”

Morgan nodded as she hurried past.

It was late afternoon by the time she arrived at the village. Judging by the crowds of people coming and going, she figured it had to be market day which she’d heard Odelia speak of on more than one occasion. Morgan stopped the first woman who passed by. Two children clutched at the woman’s stained brown skirts. A basket filled with bruised apples hung from the woman’s arm. Beneath the ragged cloth tied to the woman’s head was a gray mass of tangled hair.

“Would you mind if I asked you a question?” Morgan pleaded.

“I hath not the time,” the woman muttered.

“I need to find a woman who looks a lot like me,” Morgan said anyhow, struggling to keep up with the woman as she headed onward. “I’ll pay you with coins for your help.”

The woman did stop then and watched closely as Morgan slid back her hood. The woman gasped.

“What is it? Have you seen someone who looks like me?”

The woman nodded. “She is prettier than you but she lives at Braddock over yonder. The villagers say she is a witch and breathes life into the dead.”

“Thanks,” Morgan said half-heartedly as she realized the woman was talking about her. “You’ve been very helpful.” She handed the woman one of two-dozen coins, no longer feeling guilty using Amanda’s clothes or spending her money. If Amanda wanted to claim her things, she’d have to come get them.

The woman smiled broadly as her kids clamored to see the shiny coins. Thoroughly disappointed, Morgan set off again. Hours later she was down to her last two coins. As she wondered what to do next, a filthy old man approached her. She couldn’t see his face beneath his hooded cloak. She tried not to gag at the sour smell of him as he leaned close to her and said, “I hear you are looking for a woman with golden hair and sparkling eyes,” the man said, hacking out the last word.