Tiberius eyed Maximus. “I think our dear, sweet Max is fond of the lady,” he said. “She was the only one he spoke to all evening. It was as if there were only the two of them in the entire hall.”
Shocked, Jeniver looked at Maximus. “Is this true?” she asked. “Are you fond of the woman, Max?”
Maximus wasn’t ready to divulge what was in his heart yet, and certainly not to an audience. He glared at Tiberius. “Keep your mouth shut,” he growled. “My behavior is none of your concern.”
Tiberius was trying not to grin. He was sitting next to Maximus but stood up and moved away from him, fearful that he would be the recipient of a fist to the jaw. Maximus wouldn’t hesitate if provoked.
“There is nothing to be ashamed of,” Tiberius said, chewing his bread from the other side of the table where Jeniver and Gallus sat. “She is a beautiful, sweet woman, Max. Had you not met her first, I might have pursued her. In fact, if you are not interested, mayhap you will let me have her?”
It was the wrong thing to say. Maximus bolted up from the table, going after Tiberius with a vengeance. None of the knights moved to help Tiberius, mostly because they didn’t want to be in Maximus’ line of fire, but Gallus stood up and quickly put himself between his brothers as Maximus made a swipe for Tiberius’ neck.
“Enough, Max,” Gallus commanded softly. “No fighting with my wife present. And when did you become so sensitive? Go sit down and finish your meal.”
Maximus was red in the face. He had hold of Tiberius’ collar and wouldn’t let go. “You put Lady Courtly out of your mind, do you hear?” he snarled at his younger brother. “She is not for you.”
Tiberius was torn between being amused and defending himself. “Since when do you take me seriously?” he asked, trying to pry his brother’s hand off of his tunic. “Let go of my tunic. You are going to tear it.”
Maximus barred his teeth and tightened his grip but Gallus shoved at him, breaking his hold on Tiberius. As Tiberius made his way over to Jeniver and sat down beside her, knowing Maximus wouldn’t go after him if Jeniver was nearby, Gallus frowned at his middle brother.
“Go sit down and eat,” he told him. “He was just being as insufferable as usual. Why are you being so serious?”
Maximus didn’t say another word. He turned and left the common room, heading out to the livery through the back door. Tiberius and Gallus watched him go, as did Jeniver. She looked at Tiberius.
“You have struck something within him by speaking of Lady Courtly,” she said quietly. “I have never seen him behave that way before.”
Tiberius was coming to see that he probably should not have teased his brother on the matter of the lady because the truth was that Maximus had paid an inordinate amount of attention to her the night before. It had been rather astonishing to watch, as Maximus wasn’t known to pay attention to women on a conversational level. But Lady Courtly had his brother’s undivided attention.
“I did not think he would react so violently,” he admitted. “They were as thick as thieves last night. I have never seen my brother smile so much. If I had to guess, I would say the lady had thoroughly enchanted him.”
Jeniver, a sensitive and caring woman, began to feel badly for Maximus, perhaps the most reserved of the brothers. She was coming to think that Tiberius’ teasing had embarrassed him.
“Mayhap I should go and speak with him,” she said, climbing off the bench and bracing herself against Tiberius’ shoulder as she moved. “Mayhap he needs a woman to speak to and not his judgmental brothers.”
Gallus was standing behind his wife, taking her arm to help her away from the table. At four months pregnant, she was moving rather stiffly and gingerly, as her belly was growing and she was just starting to become the slightest bit uncomfortable with her changing body.
“You had better let him calm himself first,” he told her. “Sit down, sweetheart, and eat your meal.”
Jeniver shook her head, moving for the door that led out to the livery yard beyond the inn. Already, she could smell the strong scents of horses and hay upon the cold, early morning breeze.
“He must not be left to stew about this,” she said. “If he truly feels something for the lady, then it was wrong to tease him about it. I will see if I can ease the man.”
Jeniver heard her husband’s weak protest as he called to her but she ignored him. Something told her that Maximus did, indeed, need someone to talk to who wasn’t going to tease him about his feelings if, in fact, he felt something for de Lara’s daughter. Jeniver had a good relationship with Maximus and she loved him dearly, as a brother. He was a good man with a good heart that he kept buried deep beneath that warring exterior. As she wandered across the livery yard, shielding her eyes from the early morning glare, she caught sight of him just inside the stable.
Maximus was bent over his black and white stallion, inspecting the right front foreleg. Jeniver came up behind him, quietly, watching the man as he tended his horse.
“Max,” she said softly. “Are you well? I am sure Tiberius did not intend to be cruel. You know how he is. He likes to tease.”
Maximus looked up from his horse to see his lovely sister-in-law standing a few feet away. Jeniver was truly a wise and gentle soul, a lady that Maximus’ mother loved dearly. Honey had accepted Jeniver from the beginning of her relationship with Gallus, and that was something that made Maximus respect his brother’s wife greatly. Lady Honey’s respect was not given lightly. Maximus smiled thinly at her, without humor.
“Aye, he does,” he said. “Someday it is going to get him into trouble. And in answer to your question, I am well. You needn’t worry about me.”
Jeniver studied the very big de Shera brother. “I do not worry,” she said. “But I would like to hear about Lady Courtly without Tiberius making jest of everything you say. Gallus told me how you two met. How very brave it was of you to save her life from a burning building. Truly, Max, that was an amazing effort.”
Maximus sighed faintly, leaning on his horse and averting his gaze. Jeniver was one of the very few people he could let his guard down with and he could feel his control slipping, wanting to confide in someone about what he was feeling. He just didn’t really know how.
“I just happened to be there,” he said. “Anyone in my position would have done the same.”
Jeniver smiled gently at the very modest warrior. “I am sure she and her father are very grateful.”
Maximus nodded. “They are,” he said. He hesitated a moment before continuing. “I will admit, I was quite astonished to know that she cooked the evening meal last night. She said she did not want her father to be embarrassed in front of his guests. She did it because it needed to be done. Most women would have lamented the fact that they had no cook and simply let everyone go hungry, but she did not.”
Jeniver could see the soft reflection in Maximus’ eyes as he spoke of de Lara’s daughter. “And you admire that?”
He nodded. “I do.”
Jeniver’s smile grew. “Is she pretty, too?”
He looked at her, then, prepared to give a vague answer but he found that he couldn’t. In all honesty, he simply couldn’t diminish a woman who, in his opinion, was quite special. She was pretty, indeed. All that and more.
“Aye,” he replied. “She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. She is excellent at conversation as well. Evidently, de Lara schooled both of his daughters in military matters and there was much that she and I could discuss. At least, a little bit. She seemed to want to speak of things like flowers and art, mostly.”
Jeniver was quite intrigued by the way Maximus was speaking of Lady Courtly and she could see that Tiberius was right. Maximus, the consummate warrior, was indeed enchanted by the woman. It warmed her heart to see it.
“I think that is marvelous,” she said sincerely. “She sounds like a wonderful woman. I would like to meet her.”
Maximus shrugged and turned back to his horse, slapping the beast affectionately on the
withers. “Mayhap you will,” he said. Then, he eyed her a moment before breaking down in awkward snorts of laughter. “I will admit to you, and only to you, that I would like to see her again, too.”
Jeniver laughed softly and went to him, leaning up against his horse. “We will have to find an excuse to visit her,” she said. “Mayhap I should call upon her, as Gallus’ wife, and you can ride escort. Would you like that?”
He wouldn’t look at her, grinning like a fool. “Mayhap,” he said. “I… I was thinking of sending her some fabric and other things that ladies might like. All of her possessions were burned in the fire, you know. She hasn’t anything left to wear. She said that she does not even have a comb to use.”
Jeniver was dismayed. “Is this true?” she gasped. “Then we must go to town immediately and buy her some material. I will take it to her as a gift from the House of de Shera. It should come from me, you know, at least until you are formally courting her. Then you can provide her with all of the gifts you wish.”
Maximus looked at her, feigning shock, although he wasn’t doing a very good job. “Who said I am going to court her?”
Jeniver could see that he was very interested in the idea in spite of his protests. “Would you have someone else court her, then?” she asked in a threatening manner. “Ty, mayhap? He would willingly do it.”
Maximus’ eyes narrowed. “I would kill him if he did,” he said, watching a knowing smile play on Jeniver’s lips. He shook his head, knowing that she now understood how he felt about Lady Courtly. He had given himself away with the death threat against his brother. Therefore, he signed in resignation. “Very well, you little vixen. You may bring her the gifts and I will ride escort. But do you feel well enough to do it?”
Jeniver nodded firmly. “Of course,” she said. “I feel much better today, thanks to the licorice root and chamomile you brought me. You are a very sweet and thoughtful man, Max. Do not let Ty or anyone else make you feel ashamed because of it.”
Maximus was back to looking at his feet, away from her knowing and praising gaze. “I am not ashamed.”
“But you were ready to throttle your brother when he teased you about it.”
Maximus frowned. “That is because Lady Courtly is not to be trifled with,” he said, growing frustrated. “She is not an average woman, not in the least. I will not let Ty make sport of her.”
Jeniver patted his big arm comfortingly. “I believe you,” she said. “Shall we go into town and buy her a few things? I will take them to her with my compliments.”
Maximus was still looking at the ground, now kicking absently at it. It was a few moments before he answered. “Aye,” he said, casting Jeniver a sideways glance. “I would like to see her again today. It seems as if she is all I can think about. I could not even sleep last night because every time I closed my eyes, she was there. Truthfully, Jeni, I have never felt anything like this in my entire life. It is frightening and wonderful at the same time.”
Jeniver was thrilled by his admission. “Then I wish you the very best of luck in your pursuit of Lady Courtly,” she said. “I will do all I can to ensure there is another Lady de Shera. It gets rather lonely at times with no womenfolk to talk to. I miss your mother’s company very much to that regard.”
Maximus sobered. “I miss her very much as well,” he said. “After de Montfort’s meeting in two days, we are leaving immediately for home. Although I very much want to see to my mother’s health, now it seems as if I am reluctant to leave Oxford because Lady Courtly is here. I do not want to go away from her because I am afraid I will never see her again. It is a strange dilemma, indeed.”
Jeniver didn’t seem to take it too seriously. “Mayhap when we leave for Isenhall, Lady Courtly can go with me,” she said. “Mayhap I will speak to her father and tell him that I am in great need of a lady-in-waiting. I am a countess, after all, with only menfolk about me. That is reason enough to ask for her to come.”
Maximus was overwhelmed with the thought. “You would do that?”
Jeniver nodded firmly. “Indeed, I would, if it will please you.”
Maximus stared at her a moment, trying to imagine returning to Isenhall with Lady Courtly as company. He was nearly overcome with the joy and excitement the mere thought seemed to provoke.
“It would,” he finally confessed. “You have no idea how much it would. But if she comes with us, then I should speak to her father about courting her. I… I do believe I would like to marry a woman such as Lady Courtly. I never imagined I would have a marriage that was anything other than a convenience, but when I see you and Gallus together, I realize that I hope for such happiness, too. Mayhap Lady Courtly would bring me such joy. It would be a miraculous thing, indeed.”
Jeniver smiled at the man who seemed to have deeper thoughts than she believed him capable of. Was it true that, perhaps, there was a bit of a dreamer in Maximus de Shera? It seemed impossible from his usually warring manner but from his words, now it was seemingly probable. She squeezed his arm encouragingly.
“I hope so, truly,” she said softly, sincerely. “It is wonderful to wake up every morning next to the person you love most. I pray you know that feeling, Max. I truly do. Meanwhile, do not let Tiberius upset you so. I believe that if he truly knew the depths of your feelings on the matter of Lady Courtly that he would not be so quick to taunt.”
Maximus grunted unhappy. “I hope so,” he said. “I do not wish to kill my own brother, but if he continues along his path, it may come to that.”
Jeniver laughed softly. “Let us pray it does not,” she said. “I will make sure he understands that there is to be no mention of Lady Courtly from his lips. I am sure he will see reason.”
Maximus cast her a long glance. “You will not tell him what told you?” he asked hesitantly. “I… I do not wish for him to know what I am feeling, at least not yet. I will tell him in time.”
Jeniver shook her head firmly. “I will not breathe a word of it,” she said. “But may I tell Gallus? He will want to know. He will not taunt you. Moreover, he will want to know why I am going into town to buy gifts for a woman I have never met.”
Maximus was forced to agree. “Then you must tell him,” he agreed. “He will not be able to go with us because de Montfort has sent for him this morning. Did he tell you?”
“He did.”
“I do not want Tiberius going with us, either.”
Jeniver laughed softly. “As you say,” she said. “He can go with Gallus to meet with de Montfort.”
“De Montfort called for Gallus only. Tiberius can remain here for all I care. Whatever he does, I do not want him going with us.”
“I will make sure he does not.”
Satisfied, Maximus turned back to his horse, slapping the big neck affectionately. “Let me tend to my horse first and then we shall gather gifts when I am finished. Will you be ready in an hour?”
Jeniver was already moving from the stable. “I am ready now,” she said. “But tend your horse. I will tell Gallus where we are going.”
Maximus watched Jeniver as she moved halfway across the yard before coming to a halt. Slowly, thoughtfully, she turned back in his direction.
“Max,” she said pensively, as if she were stewing on a great idea. “What if I were to invite Lady Courtly to come shopping with me rather than taking gifts to her? Your time with her would probably be better spent. How much will you really be able to speak with her if we take gifts to her home and her father is around? What if we deliver the gifts and he asks us to leave immediately? You will not be able to spend any time with her at all.”
Maximus cocked his head curiously. “What makes you think her father will not let me speak to her?” he asked. “I spent a good deal of time speaking to her last evening.”
Jeniver shrugged. “But if we bring her with us to town, then your time with her would be… uninterrupted, I would think,” she said, rather slyly. “You may even take her shopping, alone, while I go about my business. You could n
ot do that if her father was around. I am simply suggesting that you might like some time alone with her.”
Maximus liked her idea very much. “And you would be correct,” he said. “Very well, then. We shall go to Kennington and invite her to go to town with us and shop for her needs.”
With a clever grin, Jeniver turned back for the inn, and Maximus watched her until she disappeared inside. Then, he turned back to his horse, bending over to feel for the swollen tendon he felt last night. All the while, his thoughts were lingering on the anticipation of shopping with Lady Courtly. He didn’t tell Jeniver about the rose oil. He didn’t know why. Perhaps because it was the first gift he had ever given a woman and it seemed like such a deeply personal thing, just between the two of them. He wanted to keep that memory private for the moment, something to savor.
As he headed back into the inn to make a poultice for his horse’s swollen leg, he imagined all of the grand things he would purchase for Lady Courtly. He was eager to see her expression when he bought them for her, lavishing gifts upon a woman who had lost everything. He hoped that de Lara wouldn’t be insulted by the gifts but he told himself that de Lara’s angst didn’t matter. He planned to ask for permission to court Courtly and he was sure Kellen would have no reason to deny him. He had, after all, saved the woman’s life and Kellen had declared that they were all in Maximus’ debt. Perhaps it was time for the debt to be paid.
As he thought on the joys of seeing Courtly again, he could not have imagined a very different scene happening that moment at Kennington. Had he known, he would have stopped what he was doing and raced for the manor.
He didn’t know he was about to lose Courtly before he ever truly had a chance to gain her.
“But, Papa… I do not understand,” Courtly pleaded. “Why are you sending us home? What have we done?”
It was after sunrise following the evening with Maximus de Shera as their guest. The morning was bright if not cold, and somewhere during the night rain had fallen, leaving the bailey a soupy mess of mud. De Lara’s men were milling about, starting cooking fires to warm over the remains of last night’s pork stew, but along with those men going about their duties, there were about ten of them forming a traveling party near Kennington’s iron gate.
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