Claire Delacroix (92 page)

Brigid looked hopeful for her cousin’s approval and Alys smiled warmly. “What a wondrous idea! Why, Brigid, he could assist you in learning Parisian manners.”

’Twas no small thing Alys and she thought similarly, Lady Crevy concluded as Brigid beamed. “I c-c-can do it!”

“But of course!”

When Lady Crevy went to summon the bath, she caught Alys’s elbow and made some excuse of needing her counsel. “I see your hand in this, and it shall not go unappreciated,” Lady Crevy confided in an undertone. “I shall turn a blind eye upon you and Burke sharing a chamber in this keep.” She shook a finger at a delighted Alys. “But understand that if Margaux de Montvieux believes I approved of such behavior, I shall deny it to my dying breath.”

Alys laughed and threw her arms around the older woman, thanking her with a resounding kiss that boded well for this couple’s happiness. “You are most kind!”

“Pshaw! Burke would do as he would with or without my approval—I would know only who sleeps where in my hall.” Lady Crevy winked. “ ’Tis clear he has a store of ardor to share.” Alys’s flush deepened and Lady Crevy smiled. “You had best share your cousin’s bath,
petite,
and I shall find you new garb as well.”

Burke turned at the sound of the women on the stairs, though he could never have prepared himself for Alys’s radiant entry. She wore a different kirtle, one finer than any she had possessed thus far, though ’twas her smile that made his heart pound. She crossed the floor to his side with quick steps and laid a kiss upon his lips that made Burke marvel that he had ever been able to conceive of chastity.

He did not know how he would survive until their nuptials, for one lingering taste of his lady only tempted him yet more.

She smiled up at him, as if reading his thoughts. “Rogue!”
she whispered with sparkling eyes, then pointed across the hall. “Watch this.”

Burke reluctantly looked up in time to see Brigid, not only similarly arrayed but apparently buoyed with new confidence. Guillaume met her gaze, then might have retreated to the board, but Brigid, to Burke’s astonishment, lifted her chin. She and Lady Crevy exchanged a smile, then the girl swept toward Guillaume with rare purpose. She smiled at him, then clasped her hands together before herself.

“Sir, would you t-t-tell me of Crevy?”

Burke stifled his smile as his friend was visibly enchanted. As usual of late, matters proceeded markedly well.

Alys savored Burke’s rare surprise when Lady Crevy insisted on seeing them to their chambers that evening. The chatelain frowned but withdrew at his lady’s command. Guillaume and Brigid were so deep in conversation that they barely noted the trio’s departure.

Alys elbowed Burke as they climbed the stairs, keeping her voice low so that their hostess did not overhear. “It seemed you have known best yet again.” Burke glanced down in surprise. “I think your friend is an admirable choice for Brigid.”

“One can only hope they two share our conviction.”

“Surely you would compel them to share your view,” Alys teased. “You are not one to welcome objections.”

Burke grinned. “And you have complaints of this?”

“Nay,” she conceded, then winked at her knight. “Indeed I could grow used to your determination—no less your lessons in the amorous arts.”

Burke chuckled, then feigned sternness. “I cannot recall that we agreed to further tutelage,” he mused so solemnly that Alys almost laughed aloud.

Lady Crevy paused ahead of them, then indicated a door on her right. “Alys, I hope this will suffice.”

“Oh, ’tis a lovely chamber. I thank you so much.”

Burke hesitated in a decidedly obvious manner. Lady Crevy propped her hands upon her hips and surveyed him. “Is it not fine enough to suit your taste,
chevalier
?”

“Of course! Alys will enjoy …”

“Then get yourself within before all of Crevy sees my indulgence of you two!” And Lady Crevy shooed him with her hands. Burke’s eyes widened, but Alys seized his hand when he hesitated and dragged him into her chamber.

Lady Crevy winked. “I like a woman who knows what she desires,” she murmured, then closed the door behind them.

Alys leaned her back against it just as Burke’s laughter burst forth. “You cheeky wench!” he charged, admiration gleaming in his eyes. “You planned this!”

Alys propped her hands on her hips to regard him. “Oh? Did you not mean to wed me, after all?” she teased, and found herself in Burke’s arms with satisfying speed.

“Indeed, I would not dare to let you go,” he declared warmly, then arched a brow. “What was this you said about lessons?”

“I demand to know all you can teach me.” Alys twined her arms around her knight’s neck. “Continuing this night from this afternoon.”

Burke smiled down at her, his gaze intent. “ ’Tis an investment I doubt I will regret.”

Alys smiled and stretched to her toes, ensuring that he had very little to say for a very long time afterward.

She could not, after all, leave the man with any doubts of her trust.

n the morning following Burke’s arrival, Guillaume paced the breadth and width of his own hall anxiously. He knew he did not have sufficient charm to win a lady’s affections, but Lady Brigid’s attention the night before encouraged him. He kept one eye on the stairs and deliberately ignored his mother’s humming as she spread honey on her bread.

Indeed, he scowled at the floor, telling himself he was a fool even to hope for shy Brigid’s favor. She had simply been polite, nodding at her host’s tales and smiling at his jests. It had been so easy to talk with her, the wine loosening his tongue, but this morn he half feared it had been a dream.

Aye, ’twas all too readily in the morn’s harsh light that Guillaume recalled how many times he had presented a suit, his heart in his hand, and been mocked by the fine lady in question.

Perhaps this was a poor idea. Perhaps he should let Brigid proceed to Paris, perhaps he truly should live out his days alone.

Perhaps he should not be such a coward. ’Twas not a flattering realization, and it set Guillaume to more concerted pacing. He ran a prosperous estate, he could command an army when needs demanded, yet he worked himself to a frenzy over one damsel’s potential refusal.

“Ah!” his mother cried. “
Ma petite
!”

Guillaume spun and his heart skipped a beat when he spied Lady Brigid hesitating on the last stair. She smiled shyly to his mother, then glanced at him and flushed. Indeed, she bit her lip in the most fetching manner, as if she found him rather fearsome. Her blush made her freckles even more winsome, her tentative manner prompted Guillaume’s protectiveness.

Indeed, he was halfway across the floor, wanting only to reassure her, before he realized that he had taken a step. The lady did not move away, her gaze did not waver from him. She did not seek him out as she had done the night before, but neither did she flee.

Guillaume smiled and summoned every vestige of his charm as he came to a halt before her. “Did you sleep well?”

“Aye.” Brigid looked as if she could not decide what to do. She seemed to hover, like a young bird uncertain of what
he
might do.

Guillaume hastened to reassure her. “Was there anything of which you had need? You have only to ask to see your will done in this place.”

“Aye. I mean nay.” The lady’s cheeks turned crimson. “All was f-f-fine.” Then her expression turned pained. Guillaume did not imagine that she glanced at his mother as if seeking escape.

This was not proceeding well, to his thinking, and was a bit too reminiscent of his experiences at the king’s court to be encouraging. All the comments Guillaume had practiced in his chambers cruelly abandoned him as his confidence in his charm faded to naught.

But all the same, he felt compelled to say
something.

When he spoke, his disquietude summoned an old plague, one that he had thought banished for good.

“Good, then. I suppose, I mean, I should suggest that, um, perhaps …” Guillaume gritted his teeth at his own idiocy when the lady looked at him in astonishment, then he swore
softly under his breath. If only he had Burke’s way with flattery, just for this one moment! “I should like to invite you to um, to join us to um, break your fast, Lady Brigid.”

She said naught.

Guillaume knew he had made a muddle of this. Now she knew he was a fool! Indeed, he should do best to pretend this exchange had never occurred and spare his guest further embarrassment.

But he could not refuse himself one last glance at the lady.

Guillaume was surprised, for Brigid regarded him with undisguised delight. Indeed, she stared at him as if he were the most marvelous man in Christendom.

Knowing his own allure to women and the foolishness of what he had just uttered, Guillaume glanced over his shoulder. He fully expected to find Burke lingering behind, but no one was there.

The lady giggled, her hands landing on his forearm. Guillaume turned to find her leaning toward him, her eyes sparkling. “You almost stammered!”

Guillaume felt his ears heat to have his inadequacy pointed out to him. “Well, I cannot help it. Sometimes I just cannot, well, the words do not, um, when I want to make a good impression …” He heaved a sigh and shoved one hand through his hair, stared at his boots, and decided simply to state his case.

“This is the root of the matter. I want to ask you to remain at Crevy,” he declared flatly. “I do not want you to seek a husband in Paris, for I should like the chance to court you, and I know well enough that I cannot compete with the men in that fair city. I am sorry to be blunt, but I cannot think of the words to ask your favor more graciously.”

Now he had done it. Guillaume glanced at the lady carefully, certain she would turn and flee his boorish company. But she giggled and dimpled in a most charming way, her gaze dancing to his watchful mother and back to Guillaume.

“Oh, I like you too,” she breathed, to his astonishment. “And I should like to know you better.”

Guillaume stared at her in wonder. “Then stay,” he urged.

The lady bit her lip and nodded quickly.

Guillaume dared to take her hands within his, a thrill running through him when she did not pull away. “Will you spend this day with me? We can talk, I can show you Crevy.”

In truth, he did not want this fair flower to escape.

“Aye, I shall laugh at your jests.” The lady leaned toward him, her fingers tightening over his. “But I did not have to try.”

Try? Guillaume glanced to his mother. She hummed more loudly and spread honey with a determination wholly unnecessary.

He knew he had no reason to challenge what she had done. Indeed, it made Guillaume want to laugh.

In fact, he would not have put it past Burke to have …

“I am so hungry,” Brigid whispered.

“The board awaits your favor,” Guillaume declared gallantly.

His mother looked up with an approving smile and patted the bench beside herself. “Come here,
ma petite.
I have saved the comb of the honey for you. ’Twill build your strength anew.”

“Oh, I love honey,” the lady declared, eyeing the comb laid upon her bread as if ’twere a crown jewel. “We never have it at Kiltorren.”