After the Storm (14 page)

"Me either. I'm more likely to kick a man in the ball—I mean—"

"Shin?" Matilda supplied with a giggle.

Sizemore, Susan - After the Storm

"Yeah, shin. Anyway, I'm more likely to yell at a man who is acting like an ass than I am to wheedle what I want out of him."

Bastien listened to this conversation with almost amused fascination. So, here was what women talked about when they were alone. And here was what Lady Isabeau of Lilydrake thought she was about. Was she really so honest and direct?

Or was she lying to herself as well as Matilda?

"I have seen you raise your voice to Henry," Matilda conceded. "He liked it."

Isabeau sighed. "I know. Why don't you try it? You can't let Henry get away with treating you badly."

"He is my lord."

"He's your husband—or will be. Marriage is a partnership, you have to respect each other."

Bastien found himself nodding agreement at the woman's words. His marriage had been like that. It broke his heart to know that it was gone. He felt the threatened sting of tears behind his eyes and cursed the noblewoman for reminding him of his loss. He damned her even as he found something to admire in her attitude.

"Your words confuse me, Isabeau, but I will think on them," Matilda said softly as the dogs came bounding back to the tower. One stopped to sniff at Bastien but he pushed it away before he was noticed.

"All right, you two," Isabeau said to the animals, "let's get back to bed, shall we?"

He would much rather it be him rather than the dogs and the girl who accompanied Lady Isabeau back to her chamber. But he stayed where he was, aware that now was not the time to follow her inside. Though he'd learned something of the woman, acting on hungry impulse had been a mistake. She slept with her women and the dogs in the tower, so the tower was no place to Sizemore, Susan - After the Storm

confront her. He had to get her alone.

"You kissed me, woman," he whispered into the lonely night. "Soon I'll be kissing you. And more."

"I have got to get the man alone."

"What?" Marj asked.

Libby didn't answer. She shouldn't have spoken aloud, but her belt was sending out short bursts of heat that tingled the spot just above her navel. The belt sensor had not been built to draw attention to its wearer. What it was silently telling her right now was that Bastien of Bale was nearby. She supposed that he was concealed under a hood and a stooped walk amid the group of workmen she, Marj and Matilda were observing. He was probably the one who'd just paused in his work to pet the two no-good watchdogs who'd run off to mingle with the workers as soon as they were let out of the tower.

She didn't know why Bastien was at Lilydrake, but she'd first sensed his presence two days before. Her supposition was that he was spying on the intentions of the sheriff. If she'd been an outlaw based only a few miles from the castle, she'd want to know what Reynard was doing in the neighborhood.

"Trying to get a date with Jones," she muttered, "that's what he's doing."

"What?" Marj asked again. She planted herself firmly in front of Libby. "Lady Isabeau, are you well?"

No, she wasn't all right. She was having headaches and weird dreams that weren't exactly dreams but weren't memories, either. And Bastien of Bale was hiding out in her castle when he was supposed to be running around in the forest where she could study his activities. If the blasted man didn't start cooperating with her research soon she was going to be tempted to turn him in. Maybe then the sheriff would leave, she could find some other outlaw to investigate and she Sizemore, Susan - After the Storm

could have a decent night's nightmaring that didn't involve fooling around with the man who'd held a knife to her throat. Last night she'd very nearly gone off to kick him awake for a confrontation that was really more about her over-active, libidinous subconscious than about his proximity. Only Matilda's presence had stopped her from doing something really stupid when she'd taken the dogs out.

"I'm fine," she told Marj.

"Ah, good morrow, ladies," the rich voice of the sheriff rumbled before any more could be said. "What a fine sight to greet the day with." He came striding up to them from the direction of the wall tower. His cheeks looked freshly shaved, his mustache was trimmed, and he had a bright smile turned on Marj. "Lady Marjorie," he said. "Think you your lady might spare you from your duties for the day?"

Marj turned a look on her that was both panic-stricken and hopeful. "I do not think that—"

"Oh, go on," Libby said as an idea occurred to her. While Marj was by her side the sheriff was there as well. Even if Bastien hadn't been in the castle she wouldn't have been able to venture alone into Blean. Reynard of Elansted was always nearby, always vigilant. Maybe if he went off with Marj she could get some work done. "I think you should spend your day with Sir Reynard," Libby told the historian. "It will do you good."

"You see," Reynard said. He momentarily turned his smile on Libby, "Your lady thinks of your welfare, and mine. You have my gratitude, Lady Isabeau."

"But—" Marj said. "I don't think—"

"It'll do you good to stop thinking for a while," Libby said cheerfully. "Won't it, Matilda?"

He held out his hand. Marj looked at it as though she didn't know what hands Sizemore, Susan - After the Storm

were for, then she looked up into his smiling face. She took his hand, and was still sputtering that she shouldn't be doing this as he led her off.

Matilda gaped after them until they disappeared from view. When she looked back at Libby the girl was blushing. "What do you think they'll do? Together.

Alone?"

"What I think they're going to do," she told Matilda, "is none of our business."

The girl blushed a darker red. "Yes. Of course." She looked at the ground, then at the sky, then at the men working within earshot of their conversation. "Lady Isabeau?"

"Yes, dear?"

"May I talk to you? Alone? About things?" She leaned close and whispered,

"About men and women?"

Libby knew that theoretically Isabeau was a maiden herself, and wasn't supposed to know about these
things
either. Obviously Matilda found her far more worldly than she was supposed to be. It was probably those dreams the girl had been overhearing.

She sighed. "We live in an earthy age, child, with little privacy. I'm surprised you don't already know—"

"I do!" Matilda looked around hastily. "I know, basically. But—"

Well, if Lady Sibelle or the girl's mother hadn't explained the finer points, it was about time someone did. All Libby could do was hope that she didn't mess up

"the talk" since she wasn't sure if all those heated dreams she'd been having had any basis in her memory. Frankly, she wished she could just hand the girl her romance novel collection and a couple of Harrison Ford movies for an audiovisual explanation of what romance was all about.

She pointed toward the wall tower. "The roof's repaired. Let's go up there and Sizemore, Susan - After the Storm

look at the view while we talk."

The warmth from the blinking belt sensor intensified as they moved away. She didn't look back, but apparently Bastien of Bale was following them. She wondered why. She didn't mind, as she was looking for a chance to get him alone. Maybe one would present itself soon. She also wondered if having him listening in was going to interfere with the sex education lecture. For Matilda's sake, it had better not.

"In your sleep you spoke about tongues."

Libby blushed. She looked out on the sight of forest and fields beyond the castle wall. "Did I?"

"What have tongues to do with coupling? What should I do with my tongue to please Henry?"

Bastien was lurking on the walk that led from the tower to the curtain wall. He was hidden from view by the top of the tower wall, deliberately spying on them.

How could she talk about tongues—and stuff—with Bastien of Bale not ten feet away?

She looked down at the freshly mended wood, then up at a passing flock of birds. What to say? He was going to laugh at her, wasn't he? She looked back at Matilda.

The girl tucked her hands in her sleeves and said meekly, "Father John said that women's tongues were to be kept behind their teeth, that they should be silent."

Let him laugh.

"Father John's a jer—an ass."

"Henry would agree with him."

"Henry needs training. Now, about tongues." She stepped close to Matilda and Sizemore, Susan - After the Storm

began to whisper as softly, but as clearly as she could, into the girl's ear.

Bastien felt like a bloody fool as he knelt behind the tower wall. He was trying to look like a busy servant while he listened in on the women's conversation. The worst part was that all he could hear was an occasional giggle from Lady Matilda. Whatever Isabeau was saying was definitely shocking and amusing the girl by turns. It fed his imagination almost beyond all limits.

It was proof positive that the noblewoman was a wanton who deserved any shame he might bring on her and her house. She was already debauched. Perhaps all he needed to do to punish the owners of Lilydrake was to make a public scandal out of the woman's private vice. The seduction would be as sweet as the revenge. Perhaps that was his real reason for returning to Lilydrake, not to spy on Reynard, but to find a way to pay the owners back for what had happened to him here. Taking the heiress to his bed would make a good beginning to his revenge.

The thought brought Bastien up in shock. Seduction? Was vengeance worth such treachery to all he'd loved and lost? Did he truly mean to take Isabeau of Lilydrake to bed? To commit adultery for the sake of retribution? It wasn't his wife's fault the memory of her was a faded, uncatchable thing. Gone or not, she was his wife, the woman he'd sworn to be faithful to.

He was shaking with disgust, at himself and the Jezebel wiles being taught to the girl on the tower when he forced himself to stand and walk away. He didn't return to the work crew, but walked out the castle gate. He had stayed too long for no good reason. It was time to return to the forest.

Where's he going? Libby wondered as she stood on the tower and watched Bastien of Bale make his exit from Lilydrake. She could tell by his stiff-backed walk that the man was furious about something. The further

Sizemore, Susan - After the Storm

Chapter 8

Dining at Lilydrake
was alfresco. The household gathered outdoors to eat the main meal at trestle tables set up under large canopies. Libby thought this was a pleasant way to eat while the new hall was under construction, as long as the weather was fair and there weren't too many jellied eels on the menu. This evening, fortunately, the cook had provided them with fish, cheese and fresh-baked bread. The sunset-vivid sky was clear and it was still too early in the warm season for bugs to be a nuisance. Libby thought she could almost have enjoyed dinner, if her latest uninvited guest wasn't seated by her side.

Unfortunately, the era's strict code of precedence dictated that she share her trencher with the highest ranking nobleman at her table, who happened to be Henry. Marj had said so. Then again, Marj was probably just trying to get even for Libby having sent her off to spend the day with Reynard.