The Dark Angel, page 6
Lista was absolutely mortified by the invitation. By tonight, her mother and aunt would be flying with the night birds on all of the potions and weeds they’d purchased. That was certainly not what Lista wished to show Lady de Velt and her family. In fact, it would be an incredible embarrassment. But before she could politely decline, Meadow went to Kellington and took the woman’s hand.
“You are very gracious, Kelli,” she said, smiling. “May I call you Kelli? I used to, once. A little girl with long, blonde hair and skinny arms. What a terror you were!”
Kellington burst into giggles. “Of course you may call me Kelli,” she said. “And I hope I will always be a terror.”
Meadow threw her arms up as if to cheer. “Well said,” she declared. “I hope I always am, as well. We shall accept your invitation to dine this evening. You are very kind.”
Kellington laughed softly. “I am looking forward to it,” she said. “Hurry, now – finish your shopping and come to the castle when you are finished. I will see you there.”
Thrilled, Meadow kissed her loudly on the cheek and flitted off, rushing over to the de la Mere escort where Amaury was standing. He’d heard everything and he, too, was troubled by the fact that Lady de Velt, one of the most respected women in Northumberland, had just invited a pair of squirrels to dine with her in Meadow and Flora. The pair sauntered away, leaving Lista still standing with the de Velt escort.
Truly, she was torn. She wanted to decline the invitation in private because she could just tell that tonight would be a terrible night for her mother and aunt to be in a social situation where they would be expected to behave. She turned to look at Kellington, now standing with the young woman who had been in the carriage with her. They were speaking quietly as Lista summoned her courage and made her way over to them.
“Lady de Velt?” she said to catch the woman’s attention. “My lady?”
Kellington and the young woman turned to her, expressions of kindness and interest on their faces.
“May I be of service, my lady?” Kellington asked. Then, she suddenly indicated the young woman next to her as if she had been most forgetful. “I did not introduce you to my daughter, Addington. Addie, this is the daughter of my old friend, Lady Lista.”
Lista looked at the young woman who had the same two-color eyes that her eldest brother had, only hers were a different pattern. She had pale green around the pupils with a big, outer ring of muddy brown. But the green wasn’t any green – it had gold and yellow in it, quite dynamic. Lista found herself looking into the face of a most beautiful and unusual looking young woman.
“I am honored to meet you, Lady Addington,” she said. “I must say… you have such beautiful eyes. Has anyone ever told you that?”
Addington grinned. “My parents have told me often enough,” she said. “But it is so much nicer coming from someone I have just met. Thank you very kindly, my lady. I am flattered.”
Lista smiled timidly, already sensing something kind from Addington de Velt. “It is true,” she said. “Your brother has similar eyes. Is it a family trait?”
Addington nodded. “We all have it in different ways,” she said. “My father had two-colored eyes, so we inherited it from him.”
“I see,” Lista said. “You are very fortunate. It makes your beauty most memorable.”
“That is very kind of you, thank you.”
With a final smile at Addington, Lista turned to Kellington. “My lady, I hope it will not be too much trouble, but I fear my mother was not thinking clearly when she accepted your invitation to sup,” she said quickly and quietly. “You see, we came to Berwick today for… medicines. My mother has not been feeling well and I fear these medicines will make her say or do something to embarrass herself. Mayhap we should visit another time when she is feeling better.”
Kellington looked over Lista’s shoulder where Meadow and Flora were dancing with each other next to the escort. It appeared quite strange, as it had from the beginning. The moment she’d encountered Meadow and her odd sister, something just seemed… off. As she watched, they suddenly scurried off down the street as a big knight began to walk after them.
“I’m sorry to hear that she is ill,” she said after a moment. “What is her ailment, if I may ask?”
Lista wanted to crawl into that hole she had once hoped would open up and swallow her. She didn’t want to spill too much of the family secret, but with her mother and aunt clearly under the influence of something, she didn’t see that she had too much choice.
But, God… it was embarrassing.
“My father died a few years ago and my brother was murdered shortly thereafter,” she said. “The grief of my brother’s demise has been too much for my mother to bear and she does… things to make her forget. Sometimes it is ale or wine, sometimes it is ingredients she purchases from the apothecary. She muddles her senses in such ways. Anything to forget her pain, so I am afraid today might not be a good day for her. I would hate to have her shame herself in front of you, or worse, make you angry.”
Kellington’s expression changed slightly. Her smile faded, but the warmth in her dark eyes was still there. Reaching out, she grasped Lista’s hand gently.
“I lost my husband a few years ago and my youngest son shortly thereafter,” she said softly. “Therefore, I understand your mother’s grief. I know it all too well. Please come tonight. I would very much like to see her and mayhap… mayhap I can help her.”
Lista wasn’t at all sure she should. Her gaze moved to Addington, who smiled encouragingly, before returning her focus to Kellington.
“If you are certain,” she murmured.
Kellington nodded firmly. “I am,” she said. “Bring her. Come and visit with us. And mayhap you and Addie can become friends in the process.”
Lista looked at Addington, who readily agreed. “I would like that,” she said. “Won’t you please come, Lady Lista? If you don’t, I shall be forced to converse with Julian and he is terrible at conversation.”
She only said it because Julian was closer to her than anyone else. She giggled, which made Lista giggle as she looked over at the enormous knight who had just put his helm back on.
“I am to save you from boredom, am I?” she asked.
If Julian heard them, he didn’t acknowledge it. He simply went about his business. But Addington nodded as she continued to giggle, suggesting to Lista that the situation wasn’t all that dire. It was clear that she was only jesting with her brother and Lista liked her spirit. She thought she might like to spend the evening conversing with a woman who didn’t eat dirt and burn herbs.
Throwing caution to the wind, Lista sighed heavily.
“Very well,” she said. “You have convinced me. But if my mother and aunt act strangely… thank you for making allowances.”
Kellington’s eyes were glimmering warmly. “We are quite understanding in such things,” she said. But then she glanced over to where the de la Mere escort had been, noticing that they had all gone in pursuit of Meadow and Flora. “But it seems as if you are all alone, my lady. Julian will escort you to find your mother.”
Before Lista could lodge a protest, Kellington was already turning to Julian and instructing him to escort her friend’s daughter to find her mother. Lista watched as the helmed head turned in the direction of his mother, his impossibly broad shoulders slumped in resignation, and he gathered his horse’s reins. No question, no protest.
Simply duty.
“But… truly, my lady,” Lista said, stammering slightly. “I am sure they are just around the corner. I can find them easily.”
Kellington wouldn’t hear of it. “Nonsense,” she said. “A young woman must have an escort. Julian will be happy to lend assistance.”
Lista had to bite her tongue because any further protest might make her sound ungrateful. She didn’t want to get into an argument with Lady de Velt when she was doing something kind and proper. Moreover, the way Julian had immediately complied with his mother told her that any refusal would be futile.
Like it or not, she had an escort.
Therefore, Lista managed a smile, but it was more like a grimace. As Kellington and Addington moved away, they also removed the only barrier between her and the big knight she’d almost fought with. The one she’d insulted. For a moment, they simply looked at each other until Lista finally turned away, heading back towards the spot where she’d last seen the de la Mere escort.
Julian followed.
Lista had been hoping that the escort was only out of her line of sight, but when she reached the spot where she had last seen them, they were nowhere to be found. There was a crowd in Berwick on this day, as was usual during market days, so there were people everywhere, blocking her view in all directions.
“I am certain that I can find my escort from here, Sir Julian,” Lista said. “You do not need to be troubled with me, truly. I can take care of myself.”
He acted as if he hadn’t heard her. “I saw them head east,” he said. “Mayhap if we go that way, we shall locate them.”
Lista eyed him. “I can find them on my own,” she said, more firmly. “I have already troubled you too much today. You may return to your group. I insist.”
He just started walking towards the east, leading his massive warhorse behind him. Lista watched him go and, frustrated that he had ignored her, she went in the opposite direction. In fact, she moved very quickly because she wanted to lose him. She was almost to the street that ran along the river when she suddenly heard the thunder of hooves come up behind her and a big horse abruptly blocked her path. Startled, she looked up to see Julian astride his big war beast.
He extended his hand to her.
“Come, my lady,” he said. “Let me take you to your mother.”
He was meaning to pull her onto his horse, but Lista didn’t take his hand. Unfortunately, she had a stubborn streak in her and she didn’t like the way he was ignoring her wishes.
“You do not seem to understand,” she said. “I do not want your assistance. I did not ask for it. You may return to your party because I do not want your help. Is that clear?”
He didn’t move his hand. “My mother has asked me to assist you and as far as I am concerned, that is as good as a command from God himself,” he said. “We can do this the easy way or the difficult way, but either path you choose, I shall escort you back to your mother, so choose wisely.”
So he was as stubborn as she was. She was digging in, he was digging in, but he was only succeeding in making her angry.
“Sir Julian,” she said, her tone heavy with hazard. “If you truly saw what happened today between my mother and your soldier, then you know what I must deal with when it comes to my mother and my aunt. They are as skittish as colts, as unruly as foxes, and as difficult as wild boars. I do battle with them nearly every day and the truth is that I am sure they did provoke your soldier. I apologize for insulting you about it, but you understand that I must defend my mother. However, given what I have just told you, every moment they are out of my sight is a moment they could possibly be doing something outrageous and shameful, so I do not need to stand here and argue with the likes of you. I understand that you are an elite knight and I respect that greatly, but when I tell you that I do not need your help, I would appreciate the courtesy of having my wishes respected. You are the last person I need to do battle with.”
She was nearly in tears by the time she finished although she had no idea why. It had something to do with embarrassing herself in front of a de Velt knight. A handsome knight who had probably never known a day of embarrassment or shame in his life. Quickly, she turned away and headed in the opposite direction, trying to get away from him and hoping he would simply leave her alone. She hadn’t gotten very far when she heard a voice behind her.
“I do not wish to do battle with you, my lady, I swear it,” Julian said. He was off his horse again, walking about ten paces behind her. “I promise you that I am not being stubborn. But I would be a callous man indeed if I did not make sure you were safe. There are all sorts of men in this town who would be happy to see you come to harm and if I can prevent that, I will. Besides… if I return to my mother and have not completed my task, she will be very unhappy with me and I do not wish to incur her wrath.”
His response was far less stiff than he had been with her since their introduction. She had to admit that she was rather surprised by it. That deep, raspy voice that could be so hard could also be somewhat… pleasant.
She came to a halt and faced him.
“I appreciate your noble intention,” she said. “And I do understand about your mother, truly. But I do believe it is customary to obey a lady’s wish. My wish.”
“Not if that wish will see her come to harm.”
“Are you so certain it will?”
“Are you so certain it will not?”
He had her with that logic. Lista cocked an eyebrow. “I see that I will not be able to discourage you,” she said with regret. “Tell me the truth. Are you really concerned for my safety more than you are afraid to return to your mother and tell her that I told you to leave me alone?”
“If I must choose, the latter, my lady.”
Her lips twitched with a smile. “At least you are as honest as you are stubborn,” she said. “Then I suppose if you are so grimly determined to be of service, I should let you.”
“That would be wise, my lady.”
Her smile broke through, as much as she tried to stop it. “Very well,” she said. “And I meant what I said. I am sorry I was sharp with you, but it was my mother, after all.”
“Understandable, my lady.”
“Mayhap when we see each other tonight at the feast you will not view me so unfavorably.”
“I would not view you unfavorably in any case, my lady.”
He didn’t seem much of a conversationalist so Lista didn’t continue. She simply nodded her head as if to acknowledge that things were settled between them and there were no hard feelings before turning around and heading off towards the east. Julian trailed after her, following her for the next twenty minutes until she finally found her mother and aunt in a merchant stall.
Once Julian saw the de la Mere escort, he backed off and returned to the de Velt group, but not before casting a lingering glance at Lista as she tried to convince her mother and aunt that they didn’t need whatever the vellum merchant was trying to sell them.
Julian never saw the lingering glance she cast him in return.
CHAPTER THREE
Berwick Castle
“She is a beautiful woman,” Ashton said. “Too bad she has the manners of a shrew.”
By candlelight and in the reflection of a polished bronze mirror, Julian was shaving the stubble off his neck, which his hauberk was starting to irritate.
“Who?” he asked.
Ashton had just splashed water all over his face. “Today,” he said, grabbing blindly for a towel. “The woman who told you that you were a poor commander.”
Julian watched his reflection in the mirror as he carefully shaved. “The de la Mere lass?”
“The same.”
They were in one of the many chambers of Berwick Castle, a vast complex of outbuildings, towers, chapels, and halls. Julian and Ashton were sharing a larger chamber in an apartment block near the southwest tower. There was some construction going on at the great donjon, which was synonymous with the great gatehouse, but there was also a keep on the northwest side of the castle where Cole and his family resided. In all, Berwick was a massive and impressive place, and Julian was always properly awed by his brother’s command but at this moment, he wasn’t thinking about Berwick.
He was thinking about a certain young woman who had insulted him.
“I suppose she is pretty enough,” he said after a moment, carefully moving up his throat with a sharp razor. “I didn’t think her manners were horrible.”
Ashton frowned. “She all but condemned your ability as a commander,” he said, agitated as he wiped his face. But he suddenly stopped. “And that’s another thing – speaking of commanders, I swear to you that if de Bourne so much as looks at your sister in a manner I do not like, I will flay the man.”
The change of subject was swift, from one young woman to another, and Julian grinned. “Anteaus de Bourne has as much right to look at Addie as you do,” he said. “Christ, Ash, you’ve known my sister for ten years and you have had your chance. She’s has grown tired of waiting for you.”
Ashton turned his nose up at him. “I’m to inherit Bowes Castle and my father’s titles,” he sniffed. “What does de Bourne have to offer her? Nothing. Nothing but his big muscles. The man is as stupid as a post.”
Julian burst out laughing. “He is more handsome than you are.”
“He is not.”
“Addie thinks so.”
Ashton’s eyes widened. “Did she say so?”
Julian was still chuckling as he rinsed off his razor in the basin. Ashton was quite beauteous with his blond de Royans looks, but it was always fun to poke at the man’s pride.
“She did not,” he said. “But Effie has said so.”
Ashton sneered. “Effie has no bearing on the situation,” he said. “She has a husband, the poor man. She should not be commenting on the comeliness of other men.”
Julian snorted again, drying off his razor. “I like Rod,” he said, referring to Effington’s husband of several years. “And her husband is not a ‘poor man’. He’s skilled and wealthy. Rod de Titouan is a close ally of the Earl of Hereford and Worcester, you know.”
“I know.” Ashton tossed the towel aside. “I like Rod well enough, too, but Effington puts poison in Addie’s ears. Her attitude is always quite different after she visits with her sister.”
Julian glanced at him. “You mean that Effie tells Addie not to wait around for you?”
