“You have,” Faith insisted. “You both care as only friends can care for each other. Think about and know how very lucky you are.”
Silence followed them the rest of the way to the cottage and Hope was grateful for the quiet time. She needed time to make sense of the dilemma she had gotten herself into. While she felt she had experienced a grand adventure, a better one than she had anticipated, she had foolishly allowed herself to taste the wonders of falling in love. And try as she might to convince herself that her romantic emotions were simply a temporary condition, she knew otherwise.
She could not, if asked, explain how her feelings came about. She did know she was attracted to him when first they met, but then his handsome features would catch any woman’s eye. Nay, she realized it was spending time with him daily and coming to know him, his true character—the essence of the man he actually was rather than the charming rogue he played so well—that captured her emotions.
Knowing all this did her little good, however; after all, to him she was a young lad who needed a friend and a home. While he had provided both, she could accept neither.
Her thoughts lingered and nagged at her as she entered the small cottage. She was grateful Bridget had arrived and was busy conversing with Faith. They were close friends and Hope envied their relationship. She yearned for female companionship. It had been much too long since she had talked as a woman about womanly matters. And she missed the comfort of it.
She listened to their conversation while sitting on a small stool near the hearth and removing dried plants from their stems into a large wooden bowl at her feet.
Her ears perked up when she heard Colin’s name mentioned.
“So many village women worry that Colin will marry,” Faith repeated.
Bridget nodded, her fingers busy stitching a perfect embroidered line along the hem of the tunic she worked on. “Most are hoping you have no luck in finding him a wife or”—she laughed briefly—“you find him a wife who does not please him and he seeks his pleasure elsewhere, after doing his duty, of course.”
Hope held her tongue. She wanted to let both women know that when Colin found the woman he loved, he would make her forever his and never once think of wanting another woman again. True love meant too much to Colin ever to betray it.
“Colin would never enter into a forced marriage,” Faith said with confidence.
“I tried to tell the chattering women the same myself,” Bridget agreed. “Colin has a mind of his own, especially when it comes to females. He will have a wife his way and that is all there is to that. But would the stubborn, foolish women listen?” She shook her head, answering her own question.
Faith smiled. “The women around here favor Colin like no man I have ever seen.”
Hope silently agreed.
Bridget giggled. “There is Lord Eric.”
“Handsome as my husband is, his size and manner tend to intimidate women and they give him a wide berth when he passes by.”
Hope bowed her head to hide her smile; Faith certainly knew her husband.
“Colin, however, can charm most any woman.” Faith gave her remark thought and then shook her head. “Nay, not most women; all women. I have never seen Colin not be able to charm a woman. That is why I must find him a wife who sees past his charm and understands him for who he truly is.”
“I do not envy you your chore,” Bridget said, her brow furrowing with concern. “Not many women will look past his attractive features or that breathtaking charm of his. I even find myself caught up in it from time to time. The man does know how to deal with women.”
Hope bit her tongue. She wanted to tell them both that he used his charm as a shield. He shielded himself from falling in love; though he wished for love, he also feared it—feared he would not find the true love he hungered for, and therefore his charm protected him from the hurt and pain of loving.
“Colin deals with women by not dealing with them.”
Bridget raised a brow and Hope raised her head at Faith’s surprising and astute remark.
Faith continued. “He pleases a woman for a night or an afternoon interlude and while he commits himself for that time he will not allow his heart or mind to take it any further. He keeps himself a safe distance apart. That is why Colin must first befriend a woman before he can love her.”
Hope’s eyes rounded like two bright moons.
Bridget simply spoke her mind. “Colin, be a woman’s friend?”
Faith was adamant. “Precisely; he must be a friend before he is a lover. Only then will he find the love he searches for.”
Bridget had trouble accepting the concept. “I cannot see that happening. Colin just does not view women as friends.”
“He accepts me as a friend.”
“You are Lord Eric’s wife. He would not think of you in any other way.”
“Well then, if Colin can be a friend to me, why not another woman?” Faith asked and sent Harold a sweet smile.
Hope instantly was on guard and remained silent minding her own business, though she was much interested in their conversation.
Bridget paused to consider her response. “I suppose it is possible, though his charm often precedes him. I cannot see him approaching a woman without his charm intact; therefore, how could he ever first befriend a woman?”
Faith looked to Hope when she spoke. “Perhaps he will be blinded by her charms.”
Bridget laughed. “Colin blinded by a woman’s charms? That I would love to see, and I am certain Lord Eric and Borg would also be dutifully entertained by such an occurrence.”
Hope remained silent, her eyes steady on Faith.
“Anything is possible,” Faith said with such confidence that Hope felt her own heart soar with possibilities.
“Aye, that is the truth,” Bridget agreed. “I never thought a man like Borg would wish to marry a lowly servant like me.”
“But he did not marry a lowly servant,” Faith said, reaching out to pat her friend’s arm. “He married a beautiful woman whom he dearly loves.”
“Anything is possible,” Bridget said with a tear in her eye. “I would never have believed it so before, but I do now.
“Good,” Faith said cheerfully. “Then you can help me find Colin a wife.”
Bridget grew excited enough to halt her stitching. “I would love to help find Colin a wife. A wife he could first befriend.”
Faith turned to the lad. “Would you care to help us, Harold?”
Hope regarded her with cautious eyes.
“You have come to know Colin and I am certain you could provide us with insight that we as females fail to recognize,” Faith said, that sweet smile of hers a little too sweet.
“I know nothing that will help you.” Her tone held a hint of defense.
“I think you know much,” Faith said softly. “You need only to trust.”
Hope stared at her and realized at that moment that Lady Faith knew her secret.
Chapter Fourteen
Colin searched the great hall for Harold and grew annoyed when he could not find him. Of late the lad was never around, and he found himself missing his company. He favored talking with him. He was extremely intelligent for one raised in poverty. His insight into human nature amazed Colin, though his stubborn manner could irritate. But he had no business complaining about such a trait. He had possessed the same manner as a young lad and it had served him well. It had taught him to survive just as Harold was doing. Surviving was not enough, though, and he hoped to give Harold more.
“Lose someone?” Eric asked with a laugh.
Colin reached for his tankard of wine. “Misplaced.”
“The lad certainly has a mind of his own.”
Colin could not argue. “His wit is too sharp.”
“I like him,” Eric said. “No matter his size, he holds fast to his convictions.”
“He is not strong enough to defend himself.”
Eric noted the concern in Colin’s voice. “There are many her
e who would protect him.”
“Of that I have no doubt. It is when he is off on his own that I worry.”
“You do not expect the lad to remain at Shanekill, do you?”
“I have my doubts,” Colin said, casting another glance around the boisterous hall.
Eric spoke his mind. “It puzzles me as to why a young lad on his own would choose not to remain in a good home when finding one.”
“I have thought the same myself, and I wonder if he hides.”
“From whom?”
Colin shook his head. “I do not know. I only know that since I first met the lad I felt as if he kept something from me. A secret that he would share with few, if any.”
“Do you think someone hunts him?”
Colin rubbed the back of his neck. “I am not sure. I only know something is not right. And then there is that large dog of his.”
Eric smiled. “The one Rook is smitten with?”
Colin laughed this time. “They do make a fine pair, but I doubt the lad speaks the truth of how he came by the animal. And I cannot help but wonder if he knows something about Hope and her whereabouts.”
Eric’s tone turned serious. “Do you think he keeps information from us?”
“I think if he gave his word he would keep it, and I wonder if he gave Hope his word.”
“I can see you have given this much thought.”
Colin shook his head. “It is all I have thought about lately. How can a woman of distinctive breeding simply vanish without a trace? If someone wanted her done away with it would have been a simple matter to see to her death. But this Hope appeared to be loved and respected by many. Her own uncle wished her happy and believes her adventurous enough to take off on her own. Then there is the fact that no one has seen her. Not a village I passed through had even caught a glimpse of a woman fitting her description. Why?”
“She hides herself well,” Eric suggested.
“That she does, and to do so she would not be able to keep her faithful dog with her.”
“This is where Harold comes in?”
“I believe so,” Colin said with near certainty.
“Have you discussed this with the lad?”
“He insists he found the dog half starved beside the road, and I must admit when I met them both they were starving, though they worked well together.”
“Which leads you to believe that Hope directed the dog to remain with the lad for safekeeping,” Eric said, refilling their tankards with more wine.
“It makes sense when nothing else does.”
“Talk with the lad.”
Colin picked up his tankard. “I have tried and gotten nowhere.” He took a generous drink.
“You admire him.”
Colin did not bother to deny the truth. “You would think his pint size and small frame would make him lack confidence.” He laughed. “Not Harold. He plunges in without thinking, defends the weak when he cannot defend himself and stands beside friends with courage. Aye, I do admire him. For one so young and scrawny he possesses much strength.”
“From what you say of him it makes sense to believe he would not betray a friend.”
Colin frowned. “You think him a friend of Hope?”
Eric shrugged. “Anything is possible. You met up with the lad along the road and fast became friends. Why not this Hope? A woman in need always attracts men—even the youngest lad.”
“True enough; men instinctively wish to protect.”
“Children as well as women,” Eric said with a knowing smile and a slap to Colin’s back.
“Harold is no child,” Colin said adamantly and shook his head at his own remark. “But he is no grown man as yet.”
“And therefore he needs guidance as a woman needs protecting.”
Borg joined them at the table on the dais. “I would not let your wife be hearing you talk like that.”
“My wife,” Eric boasted, “is intelligent enough to realize that in certain situations a man’s strength is needed.”
“Or a boy’s,” Borg said with a laugh and a nod of his head toward the front of the great hall.
Harold had entered behind Bridget and Faith, her attention on Lady who immediately followed Rook in the general direction of the kitchen. She was glad her dog had made a friend though she felt neglected at times. It was a moment after turning her attention away from the dogs that the scuffle had broken out and the two men paying no heed had tumbled directly in Lady Faith’s path.
Hope wasted not a moment nor gave her action thought; she simply tossed herself into the two brawling men, sending herself tumbling to the ground along with them.
Colin was over the dais before Eric and they both charged into the melee. Eric grabbed one man, Colin grabbed the other and Harold was left in a crumpled heap on the floor.
Faith grew alarmed and was about to go down on her knees beside Harold when her husband’s arm stopped her. “Nay, the lad can stand on his own.”
Faith objected most adamantly. “He needs help. He could be seriously injured.”
Eric often allowed his wife her way, understanding her need to help the ailing, but he realized of late she had been extremely protective of the lad and it puzzled him. He certainly did not need coddling. “Harold, stand up.”
Faith turned wide eyes on her husband, his command holding not a shred of concern.
Eric glared back and repeated his command even more staunchly. “Stand up, lad.”
Faith knew better than to defy her husband in front of everyone but her look told him that he would answer to her later this evening.
He simply smiled.
Colin watched with concern, having tossed the man he held aside after ordering him to his quarters along with the other man involved in the brawl. He would deal with them later. His worry was now for the lad. He was not moving and he agreed with Faith; the lad could be seriously hurt. But he would not go against his lord’s command. So he waited, his worry mounting as Harold lay motionless on the ground.
The first groan cut into Colin like a sharp knife and he grimaced, recalling his many altercations when he was young and the pain that had accompanied them. While he wished to spare Harold the ordeal, he knew it was part of the maturing process.
“Up on your feet, lad,” Eric ordered more sternly.
Hope heard the Devil’s command, and she wanted nothing more than to tell him to go to hell but then she figured he was already there, so what difference would it make. That crazy thought brought a smile to her face and another groan to her lips. She realized then that her lip was split and bleeding, as was her nose, and that one of her eyes was difficult to open. But the Devil had issued a command and she had to obey, did she not?
She grinned to herself, got up on bended knees and looked up at the Devil himself. “I will stand when I damn well please.”
A collective gasp could be heard and from the corner of her eye she caught the smug grin on Colin’s face. He actually looked pleased with her audacity.
“Good,” Eric said, not at all annoyed but well satisfied, “then stand.”
“Are you deaf?” Hope all but shouted; at least, to her ears it was a shout. “I stand when I am ready.”
Another collective gasp was heard and Hope thought she heard Colin chuckle, which quickly turned to a rough cough…presumably the Devil had cast him an accusing eye.
“Good,” Eric said again, “then we will all wait for you.”
Hope had not realized she had an audience. The gasps should have alerted her but her mind remained foggy no matter how hard she tried clearing it. And it took a moment for her to realize that the Devil meant to help her, not harm her. He wanted her to stand on her own, to show all present that the lad was strong and courageous.
The Devil truly did have a heart.
“Good,” Hope reiterated. “Because now I feel like standing.” With that proclamation issued she rose up on weak legs and stood swaying, blood running from her nose and mouth.
Silence foll
owed. Hope chose to break it. “Are you all right, Lady Faith?”
Colin looked on the lad with pride and Eric with admiration; Faith, however, burst into tears.
Eric was taken by surprise and was even more surprised when Faith went to Harold and hugged him, crying on his shoulder, “You are so brave.”
Hope was stunned herself, though her womanly instincts kicked in and she slipped her arms around her, offering comfort. “I could not allow anyone to hurt you.”
“But you could have been hurt,” Faith insisted between tears.
Eric and Colin looked on the scene, a bit confused.
“Better me than you,” Hope said, meaning every word.
“And I had thought my situation was difficult.” No one understood her remark, though Hope suspected.
Hope lowered her voice, wanting only Faith to hear her words. “I know what I do; do not worry.”
Faith collected herself then and drew back away, wiping at her teary eyes. “I apologize for my unmannerly actions. My emotions of late seem to have a mind of their own.”
“The babe,” Hope said with the shrug of a lad who felt a bit uncomfortable referring to her delicate condition.
“Let me see to your wounds,” Faith said with a sniffle.
Hope responded as a lad of twelve would. She stepped back, swiped her sleeve across her nose and mouth and shook her head. “I can see to myself.”
Faith seemed upset. “But you need tending.”
Eric stepped in, placing an arm around his wife. “The lad is fine; leave him be.”
Colin agreed. “A drink or two will clear his head and dull his pain.”
“Absolutely not,” Faith said with such horror in her voice that the two men glared at her as if she were a complete stranger.
“I could use a drink,” Hope said, hoping to divert their attention from Faith who was being too unreasonable about the whole situation.
Faith continued to be unreasonable, however. “You are too young to drink.”
Colin laughed. “Quit fussing, my lady; the lad deserves a drink after seeing to your safety.” He walked over to Harold and placed an arm around his shoulder.
Hope fought the urge to collapse in his arms. She remained, with much courage, standing on her own.
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