The Dark Angel, page 7
Ashton wasn’t going to admit to anything. As Julian had mentioned, he’d known Addington for several years, only becoming interested in her over the last two. Addington was a beautiful girl, but since the death of her father, she’d stuck to her mother like flies to honey. She really didn’t entertain suitors and the only reason she entertained Ashton was because he served at Pelinom. She saw him every day. But she was very much attached to her mother, something the family didn’t really talk about much.
There was an underlying reason for that.
With the loss of Cassian, Addington was the baby of the family and there was something in her that couldn’t seem to leave the nest, not just yet. She felt that her mother needed her more than a husband would. Ashton hadn’t pushed, and that worked well in his favor since he wasn’t entirely eager to marry yet, but when Cole’s brother-in-law, Anteaus, started showing interest in Addington last year, Ashton was forced into the position of a dog protecting his bone.
It made for some humorous – and tense – moments at times.
“I do not care what Effington thinks,” Ashton finally said, turning up his nose. “What’s between Addie and me is our business, not hers.”
“It’s going to be Anteaus’ business if you don’t do something about it,” Julian said.
Ashton shrugged, ever defiant. “It would serve Addie right if I married someone else,” he said. “That woman from earlier today – the de la Mere girl – is quite pretty the more I think on it. And she’ll be here tonight. Mayhap I should get to know her better and throw a little envy into Addie. If she sees me paying attention to another woman, mayhap it will drive her into my arms.”
Julian shook his head at the logic. “Or drive her fist into her eye,” he said. “Leave Lady Lista out of your manipulation. I have a feeling she has enough to deal with.”
Ashton looked at him curiously. “What do you mean?”
“Did you see her mother and aunt?”
Ashton’s eyebrows lifted in realization. “Oh, that,” he said. “Those two were a pair. Mad, both of them.”
“It seems so.”
“If today was any indication, I have a feeling we are in for an interesting evening.”
Julian tucked his razor away, his thoughts lingering on Lista de la Mere. Ashton was right – she was quite pretty. Magnificent, even. He thought on her long, dark hair with some wave to it, her sweetly oval face and pert nose, but most of all, he thought on her eyes. They were the purest shade he’d ever seen, the greenish-blue of the ocean when the water was clear and cold. There was something about her that would make any man take a second look at her, including him. But he thought it all rather futile.
A woman like that would never look at a man like him.
A not-unfamiliar sense of disappointment swept him.
Washed and shaved, because Cole’s wife didn’t like dirty, smelly knights at her table, Julian went to the window that overlooked the bailey of Berwick Castle. It was a vast, open space and he could see the men moving about now that night had fallen, hundreds of torches lighting up the bailey and the night sky. On the wall walk, he could see men moving about but the mist was starting to roll in from the sea, creating halos around the torches that were staving off the darkness.
“The mist is rolling in,” he said. “It is going to be a cold and damp night.”
Ashton already had his tunic over his head, putting his belt on. “Mayhap Addie will require extra warmth,” he said, strapping a few weapons on his body. Broadswords were also forbidden in Berwick’s hall. “I would not be disinclined to warm her should she ask.”
Julian was still looking out of the window. “You should probably not tell me that,” he said. “I have told you this before – any untoward behavior with my sister will not only incur my wrath, but Cole’s as well. I do not think you can take us both on.”
Ashton lifted his head from where he’d been fumbling with his buckle. “Nor would I want to,” he said. “I did not mean that as a lascivious comment, only as a polite one.”
Julian cast him a long look. “Lies do not become you.”
Ashton snorted. “I am sorry I said anything at all,” he said, throwing up his hands in surrender. “Sometimes I forget to whom I am speaking.”
“You are speaking to Addington’s older brother,” Julian said, noting a party entering from the gatehouse, which had been closed up for the night. “I will be watching you tonight, Ash.”
“You will only see proper behavior, I promise.”
“And stay away from Anteaus.”
Ashton didn’t like that command, so he curled his lip unhappily at Julian and quit the chamber, heading out into the damp evening. Julian heard the door shut but didn’t pay it any attention because the small party entering the bailey had his focus. The area was so well lit that it didn’t take him long to see that it was the de la Mere party – six soldiers, a knight, and three women. They were met by a servant, a man who was in charge of all visitors, and he could see clearly when they were directed to leave their horses and head to the hall.
Perhaps it was a good time for him to head to the hall, too.
It was the nightmare she had feared.
Lista had just spent the past three hours in a tavern down by the river’s edge, a grubby hovel of a place called The Silver Fish where there was a fight every hour, where women lifted their skirts and allowed men to do whatever they wished for a price, and where her mother and aunt could drink cheap wine that went straight to their heads.
An utter and complete nightmare.
After purchasing the brined fish and a few other things they needed from local merchants, the effects of the apothecary’s ingredients had worn off and Meadow and Flora were on the lookout for their next thrill. They had been in The Silver Fish before and knew the barkeep, a man who always kept them well supplied, so they rushed to the tavern before Lista and Amaury could stop them. Amaury went so far as to try and remove them but that nearly started a fight when the rough-looking patrons thought the knight was trying to harass the women. Only Lista’s intervention had prevented a bloodbath as Meadow and Flora went about drinking with the men.
They bought the entire tavern drinks.
After that, Amaury was forced to wait outside unless he wanted to start another fight and Lista was condemned to keeping an eye on her mother and aunt from inside the establishment. Too many men tried to speak with her, or buy her a drink, but she refused to speak and she refused to drink, kicking men in the groin who wouldn’t leave her alone or gouging an eye or two if they came too close. For three long and horrific hours, she watched her mother and aunt drink themselves into oblivion until Lista finally reminded them that they were expected at the castle for supper. Only the thought of more food and drink got them out of the tavern and here they were, ready to continue drinking with Lady de Velt’s expensive wine.
It was going to be another horrific evening in a long line of them.
The de la Mere party entered from one end of the great hall, with enormous metal doors that looked like chainmail, and traveled into the chamber with an enormous vaulted ceiling and stone floor. There was a colossal hearth about mid-hall, belching out smoke and sparks and a great amount of heat into the room. In addition to the table on the dais, there were several other large feasting tables, half of which were already full of men drinking and eating bread before the main meal got underway. While Amaury and the escort took Meadow and Flora into the hall and got them settled, Lista went in search of a servant who could deliver a message to Lady de Velt.
She wanted the woman to know what had transpired since they’d last met.
As Lista waited in the alcove for the servant who would come to take her message, she stood there and shivered. She was wet and cold from the ride from The Silver Fish, hoping for a few moments in front of that giant fire so she could warm up and dry out. Trembling, she rubbed at her damp arms, trying to bring some heat into her limbs, when Addington entered the alcove.
Surprised, Lista found herself looking into those mesmerizing eyes.
“My lady?” Addington said, equally surprised to see her. “A servant told me that you wished to send a message to my mother.”
Lista was mortified. “I am very sorry if they sent for you instead,” she said. “I did not ask them to. I simply wished to send your mother a message.”
Addington smiled. “It was no trouble at all,” she said. “I was coming to the hall, anyway. But why on earth are you so wet?”
Lista smiled weakly, her lips quivering with chill. “My mother forgot her cloak, so I gave mine to her,” she said. “Unfortunately, it is rather wet out right now.”
Addington was stricken. “We must get you into dry clothing immediately before you catch your death of chill,” she said, reaching out to take Lista’s ice-cold hand. “Come with me. I will find something dry for you to wear.”
“Wait,” Lista said, digging in her heels before Addington could whisk her away. “I must tell your mother that my mother and aunt are already… tipsy. I could not keep them out of a tavern this afternoon, so they are…”
“Full of sauce?” Addington finished for her.
Lista nodded, embarrassed. “I wish it was not so, but it is,” she said. “I am so sorry. If you could simply give us a chamber, I will take them there and make them sleep it off. You will not see us again, I promise.”
Addington’s smile grew. “Then I would not have a chance to make a new friend,” she said. “Where are they now?”
“In the hall, with our knight,” Lista said. “He is keeping an eye on them.”
“Good,” Addington said. “Then they are well cared for at the moment. Come with me and let me care for you, too.”
It was a very kind way of putting it, something Lista wasn’t used to. She was so accustomed to being the one doing the caring that for someone to show her such regard nearly brought her to tears. She didn’t know what to say, so she said nothing. She simply went with the woman when she tugged on her hand.
Berwick was a maze of corridors, doorways, chambers, and passages. Lista had no idea where Addington was taking her, but she simply followed along, trusting the woman who seemed very much to want to be her friend. Because of her mother and aunt, Lista really didn’t have any friends. She was so focused on tending those two that any friendships had long since died away due to sheer neglect. Therefore, the prospect of a friend wasn’t an unattractive one at all.
There were times when she desperately needed someone to talk to.
Somehow, they ended up at the big, block-like keep of Berwick. They had come out of a passageway and ended up on the front steps of the keep. Lista looked skyward, seeing how tall the building was. In fact, all of Berwick was ridiculously tall. She’d never seen such a big place in her entire life. Just as they were mounting the steps to enter, a worried servant stopped them.
“Lady Addington,” the woman said. “We have a problem in the kitchen and I cannot find Lady Corisande or your mother. Will you help?”
Addington paused. “I do not know where Cori is,” she said. “My mother was in her chamber the last I saw her.”
“She’s not there now, my lady. Will you come?”
Addington grunted unhappily. “I have a guest,” she said, pointing out the obvious. “My mother is around here somewhere. You simply have to look for her.”
The servant was wringing her big, chapped hands nervously. “It may be too late, my lady,” she said. “We have a problem with the pig. The fire was too hot and we think it’s ruined. We will have nothing to feed the men. Will you please come?”
Addington sighed heavily at what seemed to be a dire situation. She didn’t see that she had much choice and was preparing to return Lista to the hall when someone crossing the bailey caught her eyes. She perked up, waving an arm to draw attention.
“Julian!” she shouted. “Julian, attend me!”
Startled, Lista turned to see Julian nearing the hall. There were so many torches in the bailey that it was easy to see the men moving through it. When Julian heard his sister, he paused, shifted, and headed in her direction.
Lista could feel her cheeks growing hot at the mere sight of him.
“Julian!” Addington sounded relieved. “Thank goodness. I need your assistance with Lady Lista. She is soaking wet and I was going to find her a change of clothing, but I am needed in the kitchen and mother is nowhere to be found. Will you please take Lady Lista in-hand and see that she has something dry to wear?”
Lista could hardly look at Julian with that embarrassing request, but before she’d averted her gaze, she had noticed a few things about him – he was without his helm or any of his armor this night. He was wearing a buttery-soft leather tunic and breeches, with a belt of weapons around his trim waist. Earlier that day, she’d noticed how utterly muscular and massive the man was but she thought some of it might have been the protection he was wearing.
She was wrong.
All of that bulging muscle was his.
Much to her consternation, he was more handsome than she remembered. He looked as if he’d washed and shaved because he certainly didn’t look like the man she’d seen earlier in the day. The front of his dark blond hair was still draping down the right side of his face, covering his right eye, and he made no move to push it aside as he looked at her.
“I would like to help, but I do not know anything about women’s clothing,” he said. “Mayhap I can help in the kitchen?”
Addington frowned. “A man in the kitchen?” she said as if it were the most ridiculous thing she’d ever heard. “Take the lady up to my chamber and let her pick out something dry. We are about the same size. Bring her back to the hall when she is properly dressed.”
Julian didn’t react or respond and Addington didn’t wait for him to either resist or agree. She headed off with the servant, leaving Julian and Lista standing in awkward silence.
“Once again, you are being forced to assist me,” Lista finally said, breaking the stillness between them. “I am terribly sorry. I can simply return to the hall and dry myself by the fire.”
Julian’s left eyebrow lifted. “And risk my sister seeing that you are in the same wet garment?” he said. “Not bloody likely. She’d tell my mother and we would both be in trouble. You’d better come along with me.”
Before Lista could reply, he took her by the elbow and directed her into the keep. His enormous hand on her arm was like a firebrand – powerful, searing. She could feel it through the damp fabric. In fact, she could feel everything about him through that fabric – his size, his heat – everything.
It was enough to make her heart race.
“That is the second time you have expressed fear of your mother’s wrath,” she said as they entered the dimly lit innards. “Clearly, you have a healthy respect for your mother.”
Julian grunted softly in agreement. “You will, too, once you come to know her.”
“I hope I have the opportunity,” Lista said. “Truthfully, this entire day has been rather strange. My mother is not usually so social as to accept an invitation to dine.”
He directed her to a narrow spiral staircase that disappeared into the upper floors. He pointed to the steps and she headed up as he followed.
“Why not?” he asked. “She seemed pleasant enough.”
Lista emerged on another dimly lit floor. “You are kind to say so,” she said. “But you saw how she was today. I do not mean to keep bringing it up, but she is difficult to bear with some people so she and my aunt keep to themselves.”
“And you?”
“I keep with them.”
There was something decidedly lonely in that statement. Julian opened the first door they came to, revealing the lovely chamber beyond. There was a fire burning in the hearth and hides on the floor, making it all quite cozy and warm. Lista was so busy admiring the chamber that she didn’t notice that Julian was looking at her with a good deal of interest.
As if he were trying to figure her out.
“Addie’s wardrobe is over there,” he said, pointing to the enormous cabinet against the wall. “Select something and I shall wait for you in the corridor.”
“Nay,” Lista said quickly, turning to him. “Please do not leave.”
His brow rippled with confusion and perhaps even concern. “I cannot remain, my lady.”
“Leave the door open and you can,” she said. “I do not wish to be alone in this room with your sister’s fine things. She does not truly know me and I do not know her, and I am uncomfortable enough going through her wardrobe. She is far too trusting, so I do not wish for there to ever be any question as to my actions. I would never want to violate that trust, so you will remain as a witness to my actions.”
Julian understood and, in truth, he was impressed that she would be so forthright. Rather than throw him out and rifle through her sister’s things, possibly even stealing something, she was determined to be transparent and honest, as a guest should.
Respect for the woman took root.
“As you wish,” he said.
He planted himself in the doorway, not making any move to go further into the chamber, as Lista lit a big bank of tapers near the bed. As a soft, warm glow filled the room, she went to the old wardrobe and carefully opened the doors. Immediately, piles of clothing fell out, right onto her feet, and a cat jumped out, running onto the bed. Surprised, Lista looked at the clothing, the cat, and then burst into soft laughter.
Julian bit his lip to keep from grinning.
“My sister is a sweet woman, but she has never been the tidy sort,” he said.
Lista put a hand over her mouth to stifle the giggles, but not before Julian caught a glimpse of straight, white teeth and a big dimple in her right cheek. “It is comforting to know that she is not as perfect as I thought she was,” she said. “This wardrobe looks like mine, except I do not trap cats in it.”
Julian let his grin break through, flashing his own dimples. “I would be careful sticking my hands in there,” he said. “You just never know what more she has trapped in there, living or dead.”
