Her smile faded as she sensed more than irritation in his manner; he had failed to respond to her teasing in his usual fashion. Reaching out, she grasped his arm. “You will not,” she said softly. “Is something the matter, Kirk? You seem… edgy.”
He found himself swallowed by the brilliant eyes, thoughts of the previous night filling his veins with warmth. “Nothing you should concern yourself over, love,” he patted her hand. “Go with Niles. I shall seek you when I am finished.”
As Mara watched him disappear from the great hall, a thought occurred to her; he had never clarified why they had come to Quernmore in the first place, aside from the fact that he wanted her away from Anchorsholme. Obviously, there was a motivation and she wondered seriously what it might be. Kirk had been perfectly calm until they had arrived, but now, he seemed preoccupied and harsh.
Thoughtfully, she turned for the table laden with a half-finished feast and chattering people. Niles and Spencer had finished their conversation, Niles waiting patiently for her to return as Spencer seemed focused on his drink.
Niles served her a fresh helping of meat and she delved in with gusto. Ignoring Lady Lily’s inquisitive stares and Spencer’s brooding silence, her mind remained focused on Kirk as he met with Lionel le Vay. She wondered why he seemed so edgy even though he had told her not to be troubled by it. Anything that worried him, she was naturally concerned.
But there was nothing she could do about it at the moment. Her more prevalent concern was staying clear of Sir Spencer now that she had enticed the man. As she approached the feasting table that looked as if it had been picked over, she was considering all manner of behavior to un-entice him.
Unfortunately for her, he proved rather resistant to her revolting charms.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“This has just arrived, Lord Edmund,” Corwin’s voice was tight, his face beaded with sweat from racing up three flights of stairs. “From Wicklow.”
Edmund snatched the missive, damp and stained, from the knight’s hand. He nearly tore it in his haste to unroll the parchment, his faded green eyes greedily consuming the message contained. After a moment, he sighed with great remorse.
“My God…,” he breathed, his eyes still glued to the vellum.
“What’s happened?”
Edmund sighed again. The sun was beginning to set on the winter-dead fields of Lancashire, a break in the storm permitting a few weak rays to caress the landscape. The small solar was musty, dim, lit only by a tallow taper and a fire in the hearth. As Edmund rounded the large desk, the vellum still in his hand, Corwin struggled to make sense of the expression on the man’s face.
“So it comes,” Edmund said slowly, letting the parchment fall to the desktop. Running his fingers through his hair, he sighed again as if his entire body was deflating. “My foolish Irish vassals have finally managed to overrun the Castle. Kirk’s father has been killed in the siege.”
Corwin visibly blanched. “Christ,” he hissed. “We must send Kirk a missive immediately.”
Edmund nodded, watching the weak flicker of the hearth. “I have lost him completely.”
“Who?”
“Kirk,” Edmund turned away from the blaze, pacing. “The arrival of the le Bec sisters has driven a wedge between us. Kirk appointed himself their protector and his loyalty to me was weakened.”
“Foolishness, my lord,” Corwin chided softly. “Kirk is ever loyal to the House of de Cleveley.”
Edmund stopped pacing, shaking his head. “Not at all,” he insisted. “Certainly, I cannot give him what the youngest sister has. My loyalties would be swayed, too, by a beautiful face and sensual body.”
Corwin was silent a moment, knowing his liege spoke the truth. “It matters not that he thinks himself in love with her. His fealty is still sworn to you and he takes his oath very seriously.”
Edmund appeared not to have heard him. “He asked to take her with him on his journey to Quernmore,” he resumed his pacing, losing himself in thought. “He gave me some foolish explanation about her distress with her sister’s marriage and the disorientation of a new home, but I knew better. I knew it was because he was afraid to leave her here, alone.”
Corwin watched his liege, his expression guarded. “Do you blame him?” He turned away, jaw ticking with disgust. “Look what we’ve done to her sister. And should Johanne realize that Kirk is in love with Mara, then…”
“She shall never know,” Edmund’s expression was unusually harsh. “She does not suspect and I wish to keep it that way. With her attention on Micheline, Kirk’s feelings for the little hellion went unnoticed.”
Corwin cast a long glance at the fidgeting man. “When he leaves for Ireland, he cannot take her with him. What then?”
Edmund shrugged. “She will be untouched.”
“Why?” Corwin was genuinely curious. “There have been ten ladies in all, my lord. All but your wife showed Kirk too much attention and Johanne was determined to do away with them. Why would you leave the one woman Kirk has responded to untouched?”
“For the very reason you give,” Edmund’s voice was barely a whisper. “He feels for her, Corwin. I suspect that if something happened to her, I would see my last day upon this earth. Kirk would stop at nothing to seek vengeance.”
Corwin thought on that a moment. “So Kirk leaves her here while he sails to Ireland to quell the rebellion. There is a very strong chance that Johanne will learn the truth of the matter the longer Mara stays. Whereas you and I are capable of respecting the emotions Kirk holds for the lady, Johanne is not. She is fully capable of injuring the girl, if not worse.”
Edmund lowered himself into a chair next to the hearth. “She will not be here.”
“I do not understand.”
Edmund was silent a moment, contemplating the course of his actions. “When Kirk rode to Quernmore, he carried two missives with him. He was aware of the contents of the first. But he was unaware of the contents of the second.”
“And what was that?”
“A marriage contract,” Edmund turned to look at him. “A proposal of marriage between Lady Mara le Bec and Lord Lionel le Vay. If le Vay reacts to Mara as most men do, then I suspect he will accept and while Kirk is fighting to free my holdings, the young lady who has managed to turn him against me shall wed another.”
Corwin’s eyes widened. “And you do not think he will seek vengeance for your treachery?” he could hardly believe what he was hearing. “He’ll return from Ireland and kill you!”
Edmund looked away from the man, studying the weak flame. “After she is married, there is nothing he can do. He’ll simply have to resign himself to the inevitable and killing me will not solve the problem.”
Corwin shook his head. “Why would you do this, Edmund? To Kirk, of all people. You love the man!”
“Exactly,” Edmund struggled against the guilt Corwin was attempting to evoke. “I love him and I want this woman away from him. Away from us all so that things can return to normal. In time, he’ll understand. He must.”
Corwin stared at the man, long and hard, before turning away. “He’ll never understand,” he muttered, raking his fingers through his auburn hair. “He’ll kill us all.”
Edmund heard the knight, ignoring the truth of his words. He simply couldn’t think on the long-term implications of his actions, not with his Wicklow holdings in jeopardy. The flames in the hearth continued to snap and crackle as each man lost himself to his own turbulent thoughts.
“Send word to Kirk this night,” Edmund’s voice was faint. “He must be prepared to sail to Ireland immediately. In fact, tell him you will meet him at the port with our troops. He can ride from Quernmore with le Vay’s support.”
Corwin sighed heavily, feeling the familiar disgust for his liege. A man he was helpless against. “Do I tell him of his father?”
Edmund nodded. “Aye. It will feed his sense of vengeance against the rebels and move him faster to his duty.”
Corwin turned to
glance at the man one last time, a man he wished he had the nerve to stand against. Without another word, he moved for the door.
“Corwin,” Edmund stopped the man in his tracks. “If you are also thinking to send word to Kirk regarding my plans for Mara, I would reconsider. You will be sailing to Ireland as well, leaving your wife at my mercy. Quite a bit can happen while you are away.”
Corwin turned shades of red, biting his tongue as he quit the room.
Within an hour, a messenger was speeding for Quernmore Castle.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Clad in a bright blue surcoat that, even with its simplicity, was the very best surcoat she owned, Mara was escorted to the evening meal by Niles. The sun had set and an expensive display of torches lit the corridors as she was led from her comfortable chamber to the smoky and crowded hall below.
Kirk had remained with le Vay all afternoon, affording Mara a good deal of time alone. A chambermaid came late in the day to help her with her surcoat, the only surcoat she had packed, and the woman pressed it as Mara sat in a big copper tub. Lady Lily had sent her a bar of scented soap and Mara felt like a hypocrite for accepting a gift from a woman she had sworn to hate. But her guilt did not prevent her from stashing the bar in her satchel.
The chambermaid had styled her hair, brushing it until it gleamed with auburn highlights. Pulling it away from her face, the woman secured it with an old clip that had once belonged to Mara’s mother. Dressed in a surcoat that was far too thin for the winter air, Mara passed the time until supper gazing from the window overlooking a neat bailey and very high walls.
Twice, she saw Sir Spencer. He waved to her and she responded weakly, retreating from the window until he moved on. He was a nice man, but she truly wasn’t interested and she was coming to regret her attempts to make Kirk jealous. She suspected, if Spencer persisted, that it would be necessary to inform the man he was barking up the wrong tree.
The afternoon had passed into evening and still no Kirk. Niles appeared at her door shortly after sundown, his eyes gleaming with appreciation at the sight of her. Cold in the thin surcoat but without anything to wear other than her mother’s worn cloak, Mara braved the chill and allowed him to escort her to the hall where a great feast had been set.
Having never attended a lavish supper, other than the meals at Anchorsholme, Mara was entranced with the beauty and warmth. Banks of tallow candles graced the corners of the room and a massive fire blazed in the hearth. Several people were already seated, including Lady Lily’s women. But she turned her nose up at them as she passed their table, snubbing them for having paid attention to Kirk. Niles grinned when he saw what she was up to.
“If you put your nose any further into the air, a bird will nest in it,” he murmured in her ear.
Mara struggled not to crack a smile. “I am sure I have no idea what you mean.”
He laughed softly. “You cannot blame them, Mara. Kirk is like a god to them. Instead of showing your disregard, mayhap you should show your pity. You have, after all, what they want.”
She hadn’t thought of it that way. Her stance began to soften. “But Lady Lily….”
“Lady Lily is to be married at the end of the month, to a great knight in Henry’s court. You needn’t worry over her, or the rest of these women. Kirk has eyes only for you.”
Her smile broke through, weakly. “And I have eyes only for him.” Her smile suddenly faded as her gaze moved across the room. “Oh… my goodness, Niles. I see Sir Spencer. And he is waving to us.”
Nile’s head snapped in the direction she was indicating and his eyes narrowed. “I think it would be best if we sit over here, away from him.” He stopped at the next available space, seating Mara while still keeping check on Spencer. “All we need is for the man to pay you more attention and we shall have a bloodbath on our hands.”
Mara’s back was to Spencer. “Kirk would really kill him?”
Niles took his seat. “You have no idea what the man is capable of when provoked.” He motioned for wine. “I have seen him… well, it does not matter. But he is most protective of you and I….”
“So you have chosen to sit here?” Spencer was on her other side, helping himself to the vacant seat. “Then this will suit me fine, as well. Good eve, Niles.”
Mara smiled weakly as Niles cast the man a heady look. Spencer, however, ignored the knight, bringing Mara’s hand to his lips.
“My lady looks ravishing tonight,” he said smoothly, his pale eyes glittering. “I trust you have a healthy appetite for tonight’s fare? Wild boar I killed myself.”
Mara pulled her hand away as discreetly as she could manage, glancing about to see if Kirk had entered the room. “How… how impressive, Sir Spencer. I am sure your skill is amazing.”
He shrugged modestly, taking a chalice offered by a serving wench. In the balcony, a cluster of minstrels began to play and Mara glanced up, watching the performance. Across the swell of her breasts, Niles and Spencer exchanged glares.
“I have always been rather fond of the hunt,” he said, still hexing Niles with his stare. When Mara looked away from the musicians, he smiled warmly. “And you? Do you hunt, my lady?”
She shook her head. “I do not. But I am rather good at catching rabbits. Unfortunately, they are so cute that I have a difficult time killing them.”
Spencer laughed, deep and hearty. “Take heart, my lady. Boars are ugly, so you may be guilt-free when consuming their meat.”
Mara smiled at his humor, noticing over his shoulder that one of Lady Lily’s women seemed to be glaring at her. Her smile faded and, without tact, she pointed at the woman. “Sir Spencer, who is that lady? She is frowning at me.”
Spencer glanced over his shoulder, clearing his throat when he realized who Mara was indicating. “That is the Lady Juliet.” He turned his back on the woman. “And it is not you she is frowning at, but me.”
“You?” Mara lifted an eyebrow. “Have you angered her somehow?”
Spencer wriggled his eyebrows, turning his attention to the guests filling the hall. “I suppose so. I rejected her suit.”
“Oh.” Mara looked at the lady again, rather small and average-looking. “No wonder she is frowning.”
Niles was gulping his wine, his gaze scanning the room in anticipation of Kirk’s arrival. He ignored the conversation between Mara and Spencer, mostly because Mara kept it very generic. Whenever he would ask her something of herself, she would give him a vague answer and change the subject. And the message, as Niles saw it, was obvious.
Pleased that she was making an attempt to disinterest the man, Niles was feeling rather comfortable with the situation when his gaze suddenly came to rest on the balcony directly above their table. And who should be staring down at them but none other than Kirk himself.
Niles nearly choked on his wine. He sprayed it over the table, his tunic, leaping to his feet as Mara and Spencer turned to him with concern. He assured them that he was well, already moving away from the table in an attempt to intercept Kirk, who was leaving the balcony and heading down the stairs. Covered with red wine, Niles met his captain half-way down the steps.
“How long were you standing there?” he demanded.
Kirk was in no mood to be interrogated. “I told you to keep him away from her. Now I see I must take matters into my own hands.”
Niles put his red-stained hands on Kirk’s chest, preventing him from descending. “She is handling him quite well, Kirk. The conversation has been very limited and she has made it obvious that his presence is of little interest to her.” When Kirk tried to push past him, Niles asserted himself and shoved Kirk against the railing. “Listen to me! ’Twill be much simpler and far less bloody if Mara discourages the man herself. How do you think le Vay will react if he learns you have challenged one of his knights?”
Kirk eyed him, righting himself where Niles had pushed him off-balance. “Le Vay is aware of my feelings for Mara. He will understand if I must defend what is mine.”
&nb
sp; “Officially, she is not,” Niles reminded him quietly. “Technically, Spencer has every right to pursue her. You have hardly told him otherwise.”
A dark eyebrow rose. “But I inferred as much. If the man cannot understand that she belongs to me, then I will gladly teach him a lesson.”
“And what lesson is that? That you are bigger, stronger, and by far more skilled? Before this afternoon, you liked Spencer a great deal, Kirk. Now you are determined to kill him?”
“He has eyes for Mara.”
“Every man in the room has eyes for Mara. Are you going to kill them all?”
Kirk sighed, his hard stance softening in the slightest. After a moment, he scratched his scalp irritably. “Then what would you suggest? That I simply look the other way while he pants and paws over the woman I will marry?”
Niles shook his head slowly. “I have already suggested the solution. Allow Mara to discourage him in her own way. She was doing quite well when I left.”
Kirk pursed his lips, eyeing Niles as he continued to scratch and pace on the narrow stair. “She all but encouraged him this afternoon.”
“Because she was seeking revenge against the attention Lily was paying you. Truthfully, Kirk, it would have been well had you informed her of Lily’s infatuation.”
He shrugged. “It was never an issue. Certainly not enough to explain it to Mara as if it was a viable threat.”
Niles grabbed Kirk by the shoulder, shaking him gently. “So you have both punished one another with your schemes and petty jealousies. I would say the time has come to put this foolishness behind you.” He released Kirk and began to descend the steps. “Come along, my Irish hooligan. The time has come to return to Mara and forget about Spencer’ weak challenge.”
Kirk growled in response and, reluctantly, followed Niles into the great room.
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