Lakota Princess (29 page)

Not that she had seen much of him in these past few weeks. In truth, she hadn’t spoken to him, not counting the few monosyllabic replies society demanded she utter in polite company.

And it was just as well. What could she say to him, after all? She was still recovering from the degradation of being discovered tied in her room—nude—to do more than mumble polite nothings whenever she had to “suffer” his presence. That Anna was the only one who had discovered her, and had enjoyed quite a laugh at her mistress’s distress, hadn’t mattered.

Pride demanded she prove to Black Bear that he could not treat her in such an improper manner although her heart pleaded that she put her shame aside.

But pride won, that and her sense of duty toward the late Earl, both providing reasonable excuses for her to ignore Black Bear.

And she had proceeded to do just that—no simple undertaking, especially when Black Bear gave every impression that he enjoyed her “nonattention,” seeming to relish her attempts to “cut him”, enjoying a quiet chuckle over calling her Stubborn Woman—not in Lakota, of course, but in English, so that all could share in his joke.

In truth, it was just as well she had seen little of him; the man was grating on her nerves.

He came upon them now and stared down at her, his features unreadable.

“I see,” he said to her, to them all, “that you are ready to go. This is good. I have discovered that the Earl of Langsford’s estate is not far from here. We should be there by evening.” He placed a foot on the carriage steps and leaned forward to gaze at her. “And how is Stubborn Woman?” he asked, a slight grin on his face as she raised her chin upward. “I regret to say that since a terrible, fateful day a few weeks ago, I have not been able to witness
all
”—he stressed the word—“of Stubborn Woman’s beauty. Not that I couldn’t, you understand.”

“Humph!” It was all Estrela deemed to say to him and if she hoped to avert a confrontation, she was to discover it was not so easy.

Instead of ignoring her, he raised his voice, saying, “But then it has been so difficult to find you these past few weeks. I’ve heard you were ‘tied’ into doing other things.”

Estrela tilted her nose a bit more into the air, while Anna grinned. But none of it tempered Black Bear. He just grinned while he sent a mild nod of acknowledgment to Anna in the coach and to the Prince, who still stood outside.

“It reminds me,” he said, “that I should ride in your carriage so that I might participate in your conversation.”

He glanced over his shoulder at Prince Frederick. “Do you ride in the carriage here with the women?”

“I had thought to do so, my friend.”

Black Bear nodded. “You do realize that were we in Lakota country, you and I would be considered
winkte
to ride with the women.”

“How true,” Prince Frederick said. “How true. But”—the Prince swept his handkerchief from his pocket with the flick of his hand—“we are no longer in your country. And I might add, I am grateful that we are not.”

Black Bear smiled. “Do I detect the wistful sounds of infatuation in your voice there, brother, or is there another reason you wish to stay in this country?”

Prince Frederick snorted. “You imagine things, my friend. But I say there, old man, do I detect a note of frustration in
your
voice?”

“No more than in yours.”

Prince Frederick shook his head. “Were there ever two less likely specimens of
winkte
than ourselves?”

Black Bear glanced away toward the Duke of Colchester’s carriage. “I will ride with you soon,” he said. “But now I must see to the Duke and Duchess of Colchester before we set off. Ensure all is ready.”

With this said, Black Bear strode away toward the front carriage, toward the Duke of Colchester.

And although Estrela marked Black Bear’s progress across the yard, Prince Frederick had no such inclination; and with a click of his heels, a slight bow and a “Ladies,” the Prince proceeded to climb into the carriage.

That he chose the seat directly across from Anna, was to be expected, although he didn’t glance at the maid or say anything to her. Instead, he glanced out the window, his gaze careful to show boredom, though Estrela, by now, knew better.

He Topa and Wasute Sni chose that moment to ride up to their carriage and, looking inside, addressed the Prince, saying, “Do you ride in this coach with
women?”

Prince Frederick looked mildly out the window. He sniffed the air, tilting his chin upward before replying, “Of course. And do you gentlemen, too?”

“Hiya! Do you seek to insult me?” It was Wasute Sni who spoke.

He Topa, however, bent down toward the window, and looking in, said, “Tell me why you wish to ride with women.” He smiled. “Perhaps, my friend, you do not remember that it is
winktes
who stay with women. We have good horse out here for you, unless you wish to be thought of as
winkte.”

But Prince Frederick was not to be coerced. Instead of responding at once, he produced the handkerchief out of his pocket again and with the flip of his hand, he applied the cloth to his nostrils. “I say, my good friends,” the Prince said, sniffing, “perhaps you are unaware that we are no longer in your country. We are in England. Ah, England. ’Tis not done, my friends. ’Tis not the gentry who ride up ahead, but servants. And you.” He didn’t even smile. “
You
may ride with us, if you would desire.”

The two Indians scowled at their friend.

At length it was Wasute Sni who, pursing his lips and shaking his head, said,
“Win-ni-yan!”
With a flick of his hand upward, he signaled that this was all he had to say on the matter.

And with this, both Wasute Sin and He Topa turned their horses, galloping away.

Estrela laughed, as did Prince Frederick who said, “Well, I guess that takes care of that.” And, with this said, he proceeded to glance back out the window.

At length, Anna leaned over toward her mistress, asking; “W’at did the Indians say, M’lady? What did t’ Indian call t’ Prince?”

Estrela gave Anna an amused glance. “Wasute Sin told the Prince,” she said in a low whisper, “that he was acting as
wintke,
men who are women.”

Anna gasped.

Estrela placed her white, gloved hand over Anna’s unadorned one. “Do not be concerned. ’Tis only a good-hearted argument. The two Indians do not understand the English penchant for riding in the carriage. ’Tis not the Indian way. In truth, who could find two more handsome specimens of men than Black Bear and the Prince?”

When Anna dipped her head in agreement, Estrela smiled.

Just as he had promised, Black Bear joined the two women and the Prince soon after the noonday meal.

As he strode toward their waiting carriage, he presented an odd picture, a strange mixture of English and Indian dress. He wore the standard English buckskin tights and linen shirt with coat, but at his neck he again had chosen to wear the Lakota bone choker instead of the silk cravat, and on his feet, he had traded the well-established black riding boots for his tall moccasins, which themselves rode up high on his calf, almost to his knee. That the moccasins were colorfully decorated with beads and porcupine quills, plus a few items of crystal and gold chain, only indicated that Black Bear had produced these moccasins himself here in England recently.

Estrela watched him approach and admired his stately gait, with his toes turned inward, as graceful as ever, a trait that manifested itself as clearly belonging to the American Indian. He had once again left his hair down, but he had tied one side together in front, positioning two feathers to dangle from the front lock. And there was one other thing he had added, earrings. Long, beaded earrings.

Estrela gulped. She had never seen him look so handsome.

His black eyes sought her out. And though he didn’t smile, Estrela could feel the warmth of his glance upon her.

“Ladies,” he said, reaching their carriage and bending to climb into the seat. It was another odd combination, gentle, English manners with stoic, Indian charm. An intoxicating blend.

The barouche tipped as he leaned his weight onto the steps, and eased his tall frame into the coach. Prince Frederick had scooted over until he sat directly in front of Anna, a not unlikely maneuver.

And if the Prince were happy about being closer to the maid, he never showed it. In truth, Estrela might have been fooled by him if it weren’t for the Prince’s fleeting looks at the young lady seated before him, those glances occurring much too frequently to be casual.

Anna sneezed and the Prince produced a clean, silk hanky for her disposal. Anna murmured a polite, “Thank you,” and quickly looked away.

Black Bear, however, ignored them both and sat glaring at Estrela. His gaze seemed to take in everything about her and Estrela glanced down at her white gown self-consciously, wondering if she were properly “put together.”

But the gown, though quite low-cut and pulled in tightly to emphasize her bosom, was still fashionably correct, her coat of the same color, worn for warmth, yet still accentuating her beauty. She had left her hair in the stylish ringlets at her ears, while the back of her hair was pulled up onto her head, though a few wisps were left to dangle in springy curls.

She glanced down to her feet where her slippers peeked out beneath her gown.

No, she was properly dressed, which meant Black Bear tried to intimidate, not an uncommon occurrence of late.

She stuck her chin up in the air and placing her hands carefully in her lap, she raised her gaze to his, glaring back at him.

But he was too much for her. He was
too
handsome,
too
imposing,
too
magnificent.

She looked away.

“How long has it been,” Black Bear asked in his low baritone, “since you were last at the Earl of Langsford’s home?”

Estrela glanced up at him, gazed away. “I wish I could remember,” she said, “but I don’t. Ten years, perhaps twelve. A little more, a little less.”

“Do you remember anything of the house itself?”

She shook her head. “Hardly anything at all, a library, a door, books. Not much to talk about, I’m afraid.”

Black Bear nodded, but all she heard was his “humph.”

“I have been there already,” he said casually. “I rode there only two days ago when He Topa stood watch over you. I wanted to see this place where you spent many years of your life. Do you remember the Duke of Colchester from your early days here?”

“No,” she answered. “I recall little from that time, only dim memories.”

Black Bear nodded. “My father used to tell a story about a very sad man who could remember nothing. One day, the man came upon a place where his wife and children had been killed. For several days nothing happened and then, all at once, the man remembered. Not just that incident, but all others. The man felt relieved, for at least now he could remember. It is said that our Grandmother, the Earth, healed him. And so it is legend among our people that if one is bothered by a loss or pain, he should ask our Grandmother, the Earth, to take him again to that place where it happened. And there she will ease his pain.”

Estrela stared at him. “I have never heard that story. Is it true?”

“Yes.”

“And then you hope that I will remember something?”

Black Bear shrugged. “I do not know. I can only hope for something, anything that will lead me to this person who threatens your life. Do you recollect any of the people who had been with the Earl when you lived there?”

Estrela shook her head. “That whole period of my life is unclear to me. I remember silly things. Like a doll. I had a porcelain doll. I recall that but little else. I was awfully young when we left this place.”

Black Bear nodded.

“Am I to be guarded?”

Black Bear looked to her quickly, frowning.

“These past few weeks I have had no moments to myself. If it’s not Anna with me, then it’s He Topa or Wasute Sin, even Prince Frederick. I can’t even have a moment’s peace when I use the toilet.”

“I understand,” he said. “And yes, you are to be guarded.”

Estrela scoffed at him. “Am I some sort of child that I must be watched continually?”

“Yes. It is for your own good.”

Estrela sighed. “It seems I have heard these words from you before.”

Black Bear leaned forward to whisper, “Yes, you have, I think. Would you like me to refresh your memory as to when?” He raised his voice. “I believe it was in your bedroom—”

“Black Bear!”

He smiled. “What I have done, I have had to do to protect you. I said that I would keep you safe and I will. But it is not easy when you fight me; pleasurable, perhaps, but not easy.”

“Black Bear!”

He chuckled and sat back in his seat, his gaze lingering over her.

Anna leaned over toward them. She pointed out Estrela’s window. “Look t’ere.”

They had been driving along a tree-lined dirt road, the oaks, the beech, the chestnuts all blocking their view. But as they glanced out the window now, there was an opening in the trees, admitting to a most beautiful view of rolling, golden hills, amid rising fog. The fall foliage touched each tree, each bush and seemed to scream with different hues in colors ranging from the bright reds, the shiny golds, to the yellowish oranges. It was the most beautiful sight Estrela could remember seeing.

“What’s it called?” she asked, her voice just barely above a murmur.

“’Tis Sun Rising Hill.” It was Prince Frederick who spoke. “A most pretty place, I daresay.”

Anna smiled at him. “I do believe, M’lord,” she said, “t’at ye do understate.”

The Prince grinned back at the young maiden, and as Estrela glanced over to Anna, she saw her friend quickly look down, the maid’s golden hair falling down to hide her pretty face. Estrela had always thought Anna a beauty, with her clear skin and golden eyes. And Estrela wished that Anna were not a maid, a position that allowed for no other life outside of that of a servant.

It was not fair, Estrela thought. Anna was too pretty and too kind to live the life of a mere servant. It was a pure waste. Anna deserved more: a husband who adored her, a family of three or four children, and a nice cottage somewhere in the country.