Medieval Ever After (57 page)

“What say you?

Mathias pulled the shoe out of the fire, his face red from the heat and exertion of wrestling with the horse. “What would you have me say?”

“Tell me your thoughts,” Sebastian pushed. He could see that he wasn’t getting anywhere with his brother so he ventured onward in an attempt to prompt him. “I heard something the other day that might be of interest.”

Mathias was only half-listening to him. “What is that?”

Sebastian reclaimed his food and chewed on the last of the meat. “Henry de Beaumont is trying to put Edward Balliol on the throne of Scotland instead of the infant David,” he said. “I heard some men speaking of it the other day. De Beaumont will need knights, Mat. Mayhap this will be an opportunity for us.”

Mathias looked at his brother. “De Beaumont is allied with our king,” he said frankly. “If we take up arms for de Beaumont, do you not think that Edward will catch wind of that? Nay, brother, I will not lose my head for a Scots rebellion.”

Sebastian knew that would be his brother’s response but he wasn’t pleased with it. He tossed aside the stripped bird bone and stood up, his manner growing agitated as it so often did.

“I do not want to be a smithy the rest of my life,” he hissed. “Mayhap you find comfort in swinging a hammer instead of a sword, but I do not. I will be a knight again someday, I swear it, and if it is without your support, then so be it.”

Mathias wiped the sweat off his brow. “Patience was never one of your virtues.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means that times change. Tides and the flow of power change. You must be patient, little brother. We will not be like this forever, but for now, it is what we must do to survive.”

Sebastian wasn’t satisfied with that. He was about to fire off a volley of insults at his brother’s lack of courage when a soft voice interrupted him.

“Excuse me?”

It was a gentle female voice. Startled, Mathias and Sebastian turned to see Cathlina standing at the entrance to their stall. Lit from behind by the nooning sun, her silhouette gave off an ethereal glow as she stood at the threshold. Wrapped in a yellow linen cloak, her dark hair was braided and draped over her right shoulder and her dark eyes glimmered as she fixed on Mathias.

“I am so sorry to interrupt,” she said politely. “Do you remember me? You saved my sister and me yesterday from a brute, right out there on the avenue. I do hope you….”

Mathias cut her off, gently done. “Of course I remember you,” he said, realizing in a rush that he was both surprised and glad to see her again. “Are you and your sister well?”

Cathlina smiled warmly at him, thrilled that he remembered her. “We are very well, thanks to you,” she said. Then her gaze passed between Mathias and his brother. “I did not mean to intrude. I will only beg a moment of your time and then I promise I shall be gone.”

Sebastian was the first one to move towards her, his enormous red-headed presence overwhelming. “Lady Cathlina,” he said, a smile on his lips. “’Tis a welcome interruption, you are.”

Cathlina looked at the big, ruddy-faced brother and couldn’t help but be a bit put-off by him. He was smelling and sweaty and large. She instinctively took a step back as he came close.

“Thank you,” she said, eyeing him. “How do you know my name?”

Sebastian pointed to Mathias. “My brother told me,” he said. “I am glad to hear that you and your sister are faring well after yesterday’s fracas.”

Cathlina nodded. “Well indeed,” she replied. “Thank you again for coming to our aid. In fact, that is why I have come. I have brought you something in the hopes of emphasizing our gratitude.”

She lifted the basket in her hands and both men looked at it as if only just noticing it. Both of them had been looking at her face, mesmerized by the unexpected appearance of such beauty. Sebastian looked at the basket with interest but Mathias was on the move. He didn’t want his brother frightening her, or worse. The man could offend easily.

“Your thanks yesterday was quite enough,” he said, his deep voice soft. “You did not need to bring us anything.”

“I realize that, but I wanted to,” she said, once again completely focused on Mathias as if Sebastian did not exist at all. She couldn’t seem to do much more than stare at him. “You would not take a reward and you would not sup with us, so I took it upon myself to bring you a few tokens of my appreciation. I hope you will accept them.”

Mathias was genuinely touched. More than that, he was coming to realize that every time he saw the woman, she seemed to grow increasingly more beautiful. He was still apprehensive about her being a de Lara but truth be told, every second that he gazed at her saw that resistance taking a beating. Looking at her hopeful face, he knew he could not refuse her.

“Of course we will accept whatever you have brought,” he said, his eyes glimmering at her. “You did not have to go to the trouble.”

She smiled brightly and he was enchanted. “It was no trouble at all,” she said, moving to the nearest table surface, which happened to be littered with a mixture of tools and scraps of food. Setting the basket down, she peeled back the embroidered cloth. “I brought you pear and cinnamon compote, and different types of bread, cherries soaked in honey, and – oh! – pickled onions. Have you ever had them? They are quite delicious. The cook pickles them with vinegar and herbs.”

Sebastian was extremely interested in the contents of the basket, pulling things out to smell them, while Mathias tried to control his boorish brother by putting things back where they belonged.

“I have had them, aye,” he replied, smacking Sebastian’s hand when the man tried to stick his fingers in the cherries. “This is most kind and generous of you, my lady. This is truly an unexpected treat.”

Cathlina beamed happily, thrilled by Mathias’ response but rather peeved at his brother’s uncouth manners. She had the little cakes she had made tucked down in the corner of the basket and she pulled them out before Sebastian could stick his fingers in them, handing them over to Mathias.

“Here,” she said. “I made these just for you. I do hope you like them.”

Sebastian was busy with the bread and wasn’t paying much attention to the cakes Cathlina had presented to Mathias. But Mathias was acutely aware that she seemed to be speaking only to him. His eyes were on her as he unwrapped the cakes, hit in the nose by the clove and nutmeg smell. The gesture of bringing him gifts coupled with the delight of her lovely face had his careful control slipping.

“They smell wonderful,” he said quietly. “It was very kind of you to do this.”

She picked one out of the bundle and held it up to him. “Would you try one?”

He did. It was a marvelous bit of culinary achievement. “Did you make these yourself?” he asked.

“I did.”

“Then they are the most wonderful gift I have ever received,” he said. “No one has ever made treats for me before.”

Cathlina was smiling so broadly that her face threatened to split in half. “Then I am happy to be the first,” she said, noticing that Sebastian was tearing into the onions. She sighed at the sight. “Mayhap I should have made two baskets – one for you and one for your brother. It would seem he is going to eat everything before you have the opportunity to taste it.”

Mathias cocked an eyebrow as he snatched the basket away from his brother, shoving the man back by the chest when he tried to pursue. Sebastian balled a fist but Mathias held up a finger.

“You have already shown Lady Cathlina what an animal you are,” he said. “Would you show her that you are a brute as well? Show some manners in front of the lady, Sebastian. You are shaming me.”

Sebastian tried to throw the punch but couldn’t bring himself to do it. His brother was right; moreover, if he had any chance of wooing the woman, he would have to behave himself.

Lowering his balled fist, he forced a smile at Cathlina and sought to apologize for whatever brutish manners he had thus far shown when Justus entered the stall with a customer, bellowing for Sebastian. Disgruntled, Sebastian was forced away from his brother and the lovely lady.

“Good,” Mathias snorted as he watched his unhappy brother stomp away. “That should keep him occupied for a while.”

Cathlina watched Sebastian move away. “Your brother is quite… lively? Friendly? I am searching for the correct word that will not offend you.”

Mathias laughed softly. “He is aggressive and he is a boor,” he said. “But he is also fiercely loyal and strangely compassionate. It is an odd combination.”

Cathlina grinned at him. “Mayhap you should hide this food from him. I have a feeling he will eat it all given the opportunity.”

“He will,” Mathias agreed, his gaze drifting over her delicate features. “Truly, it was quite kind of you to bring this. Where is your father so that I may thank him also?”

Cathlina’s grin faded. “He is at home,” she replied. “He did not come with me.”

Mathias looked over her shoulder, back in the direction she had come from. “Where is your escort?”

“I do not have one.”

His brow furrowed. “Did you come here alone?”

“It was not a long ride and the day was fine.”

Now both eyebrows lifted in a mixture of concern and disapproval. “It is not safe for a lady to travel alone,” he said as mildly as he could. “Does your father know you have come?”

“He does not.”

Mathias wasn’t sure what to say to that, but one thing was for certain; he was very flattered that she should risk her personal safety to deliver what she considered a reward for assisting her. In fact, he was rather stunned.

“Would you allow me to escort you home, then?” he asked softly. “I cannot allow you to return home unattended now that I know you have no escort. I hope you understand.”

“It is truly not necessary. I can find my own way home.”

“I am sorry, but I must insist. If you will not give me permission to escort you, then know that I will follow you all of the way home to ensure you do not run into any trouble. I can either ride with you or as your shadow. It is your choice.”

Cathlina very nearly refused him again but she quickly realized that if he escorted her home, they would have more of a chance to talk. Perhaps she could come to know him better. Clearly, she was attracted to the man. Now that she had seen him again, it served to reinforce her initial opinion of him. He was handsome, gentle mannered, and undoubtedly brave. There was much to be attracted to.

Unlike her sister, Cathlina didn’t particularly care if he was a lord or not. Roxanne was the one with lofty goals. Cathlina had, since she could recall, merely wanted a man she liked a great deal no matter what status he held in life. She’d heard of many lords who were selfish, vain, and immoral. Being a lord didn’t mean one was automatically of good character. Cathlina would rather have good character and love over wealth and status. The man in front of her was of good character. She could sense it.

“Very well,” she said after a moment’s deliberation. “I would be honored with your company. Are you certain you can spare the time?”

Mathias looked around the stall, at the big charger he needed to finish. Taking the basket in one hand and the lady by the other, he gently escorted her over to a stool near the wall and helped her to sit. He set the basket down next to her.

“I must finish with this Son of Lucifer,” he said, throwing a thumb in the direction of the big black charger. “When I am finished, I will be happy to escort you home. Is that acceptable?”

“It is.”

Their eyes met, brown against green, and for a moment, the pull between them was stronger than they could grasp. It was difficult to describe, this attraction between two people who had no expectations or obligations to their brief association. Up until a few minutes ago, all Mathias knew of the Lady Cathlina de Lara was that she was incredibly beautiful but, unfortunately, she was also a de Lara. He had warned his brother against her. Now, he was not so apt to heed his own warning. There was something about the woman that was very, very special. He couldn’t seem to take his eyes off of her because she muddled his mind. She was bewitching. He finally had to force himself away.

“I will not be long,” he said as he made his way back over to the horse, who tried to bite him. He frowned at the animal. “These animals are sometimes quite difficult to handle for those they are not familiar with.”

Cathlina watched him with interest as he pulled another red-hot shoe out of the fire and began hammering at it.

“It is a very big horse,” she said. “A war horse?”

Mathias nodded as he pounded. “This nasty boy has seen several battles.”

Cathlina eyed the scarred horse. “We saw several knights in town yesterday when we arrived,” she said. “My father says there is to be a tournament in a few days.”

Mathias nodded as he put the shoe back into the fire. “So it would seem.”

Cathlina studied the man as he stirred the fire. He was wearing leather breeches and a leather apron, and a rather worn linen tunic that in greater days had probably been a bright shade of red. It was very worn and the neckline was torn just enough so she could see portions of his muscular chest. The man had the biggest arms she had ever seen, muscular to a fault, and his chest seemed to match that particular pattern. She’d never thought much about men’s chests before but in peeking at Mathias’, she thought his rather attractive. The man was purely big and beautiful, and her cheeks began to flush. She averted her gaze and sought to divert her innately passionate thoughts.