“Yes, thank you, Sir Gavin.” Colette strolled up to them, not sure what exactly she was doing but needing to get Gavin’s face out of the landlady’s ample bosom.
“Yes, indeed, I thank you greatly! If I can ever give you a good turn, do let me know.” The landlady released Gavin and gave him a wink before moving back into the kitchen.
“You have a new friend,” said Colette dryly.
“Aye, a little friendly suffocation,” answered Gavin catching his breath.
Colette could not squelch a smile.
“Ye should get some sleep. I’m so tired, I hardly know what I’m about,” said Gavin with a drowsy smile.
Colette found his heavy-lidded expression and half grin made her a bit weak in the knees. She wanted to believe it was nothing more than her own fatigue.
He stepped closer to her and spoke in a voice none but she could hear. “I want for naught but a warm bed, but I warrant I should ride down to Bordeaux now, since it’s night, and make sure our path is safe for the morrow. If all goes well, we shall leave wi’ the tide.” Though he spoke of nothing but their plans for travel, a quiver of something dangerous came alive within her.
“How very kind and thoughtful you are,” said Colette in a soft voice, meant only for him.
“Would ye care to thank me as another did?” asked Gavin, an impish glint in his eye.
Colette gasped at the suggestion, though she had the sudden compulsion to laugh at his audacity. “Thank you for sparing me any concern for your fatigue. I see you are quite energetic, enough for more adventures tonight. Bonne chance.” She turned and led her ladies up the stairs but gave herself away by turning back to steal another glance at Gavin.
He was watching her.
Considering the number of people taking refuge in the inn, only one room was left available. Gavin arranged for places in the stable and the common room for himself and the guards. Colette, her maids, Pippa, and the baby would be forced to share the room. Colette could see at once that they would have to sleep in quarters closer than they would have liked.
Colette settled in among the pallets of her ladies-in-waiting, trying to get comfortable in a small, hard bed. Gavin may have chastised her for trying to take her featherbed with her, but anyone who had slept on a featherbed would understand its value.
Colette had finally drifted off to sleep when a sharp rap at the door woke them all. Marie Philippe, who was lying closest to the door and had grumbled about the cold draft, rose and put an ear to the door. “Who is it?”
“Sir Gavin to speak with Lady Marie Colette.”
A quiver of excitement hummed through Colette’s body in a most disconcerting manner. Colette wished that she would cease this inappropriate response anytime he was near. It was most disagreeable and somehow she was sure it was his fault.
Marie Philippe turned to her with wide eyes, whispering, “We cannot let him in, m’lady. He’s a man!”
“Very much so,” whispered Marie Jeannette, followed by tittering of the others.
Colette rolled her eyes. Who would have thought women old enough to be her mother would be so smitten with Sir Gavin? Of course, her own heart picked up its beat at the sound of his voice, so apparently the malady was contagious.
“If he is knocking on the door at this hour, then he has something of import to tell us. Find me a dressing gown and I will speak to him,” said Colette, trying to sound impartial.
Gavin was told to wait a moment and her ladies all got up from their pallets and made a bit of a commotion as they quickly dressed her in something they deemed appropriate. Her hair was already in her sleeping wimple but they insisted on her wearing another headdress and ornate dressing gown. Colette was only concerned that they be done and quick about it, for she was certain Gavin would not knock unless there was some trouble that could not wait till morning. Though she had eaten well that night, a gnawing grew in the pit of her stomach.
Finally, the door was opened and her maids stood in two lines before her, presenting her formally, while Pippa held the baby to the side. Gavin looked a bit taken aback at such a formal presentation but glanced up and down the hall, gave a slight shrug, and entered the room, closing the door behind him.
“Forgive my imposition into yer private quarters, m’lady. I fear I have tidings that cannot wait till morn.”
Marie Colette raised her chin, determined to take whatever news he should tell her with a poise and reserve that would make her mother proud. “Thank you for your consideration, Sir Gavin. Please do tell me what tidings you bring.”
“Bordeaux has been taken by the English. The ship that was waiting for us in the harbor has also been taken. I fear we will not be able to travel to Scotland by that route.”
Her ladies gave a collective gasp. She held out a hand to silence them. “This is indeed unfortunate. How do you suggest we make our way to Scotland now?”
“I took it upon myself to try to find another ship. We are fortunate in that the landlady here has a brother who is a captain of a merchant ship. He is to set sail tomorrow on a mission o’ trade with Scotland. Wi’ yer permission, I will arrange for us to travel on that ship.”
“Very well done, Sir Gavin. I am glad that you have found alternate accommodations for us. Please do make these arrangements,” said Colette, relieved Gavin had been able to so quickly find alternative means of travel.
“Unfortunately,” continued Gavin, shifting a bit and glancing at her ladies and back to Colette, “the St. Olga is a smaller vessel and accommodations will be quite cramped. When I spoke to the captain, he said only two small cabins could be secured. I fear ye and yer ladies woud’na all fit into them.”
“What do you suggest? How are we to travel?” asked Colette.
“The men can sleep on deck or in the hold below. I fear that some of yer maids will have to sleep in that manner as well or can take turns sleeping in the cabin.”
This pronouncement brought even more gasps and cries from her ladies. “My father was the Lord Chamberlain of the duc de Bergerac. I shall not sleep in the hold with seafaring men!” gasped Marie Claude.
“Nor I!” exclaimed Marie Jeannette.
Marie Colette held up her hand once more to silence her maids. A mutiny was on her hands. She glared at Gavin but he continued giving his bad news.
“And one more thing. Unfortunately, the English have heard reports of a wealthy heiress traveling these parts in a large party intent to go to Scotland. It is well we did not announce our presence. Many here have English leanings, and I fear if anyone realizes ye were the lady they sought, ye woud’na be allowed to escape. The landlady here has been most helpful, but her brother has allied himself wi’ the English, and I fear she also has English leanings. Forgive me for taking liberties, m’lady, but I felt it best they considered ye betrothed to someone local.”
Marie Colette grew suspicious. “What did you tell them, Sir Knight?”
Gavin shifted again on his feet, glanced down and then back up at the ceiling, avoiding her eye. “I told them ye were a young widow, traveling wi’ her cousins and her baby, and promised in marriage to…” Gavin’s voice failed him.
Marie Colette stared at him. “And who, pray tell, is my affianced husband?”
Gavin gave a little cough and turned a slight shade of red. He stared at the ceiling. “Dinna quite think it through before I spoke, ye ken. Had to say something.”
“Yes, I quite understand. Who is my new husband?”
He brushed his hair back with a sweep of his hand and shrugged apologetically. “No’ many options, ye ken.”
Colette waited.
“It’s me.”
Sixteen
Gavin knew his admission that he had told the landlady and her brother he was to wed Lady Colette may have come to her as something of a shock. However, he was unprepared for the magnitude of her reaction. She we
nt utterly white. She stepped forward until he was forced to open the door and step outside the room to make way for her. Without breaking eye contact and without saying a word, she slowly shut the door in his face.
Gavin sighed and sought his own bed. Unfortunately, his uncomfortable sleeping arrangement in the stable was shared by a playful goat. It was a long night. The next morning, he had hoofprints on his face and a goat-sized bite out of the end of his plaid. His new friend taunted him with a goatish grin. He was not amused.
Gavin strode into the inn and took the stairs two at a time. He was anxious to see Marie Colette and gauge her reaction to the situation after she had gotten a night’s sleep. Hopefully she had fared better without a goat.
He slowed as he approached her door, and though it was poor manners, he could not help but overhear raised voices coming from the cracked door of their room.
“I beg you would reconsider,” said Lady Colette with an anxious tinge he did not like to hear in her voice.
“There is naught we can do under the circumstances,” retorted the voice of Marie Claude. “It gives us no pleasure to come to this unfortunate conclusion, but you give us no choice.”
“Surely something can be arranged,” appeased Colette.
“I, for one, will have no more to do with this ill-fated adventure,” came the sharp voice of Marie Agnes. “You have become quite headstrong in the past few days. It has been most disappointing.”
Gavin knocked on the door and strolled in without waiting for a reply. “For my part, I have been rather impressed with Lady Colette o’ late.” Gavin winked at Colette when he said it. Cheeky he knew, but she gave him a faint smile, indicating his words were not unappreciated. “Good morn to ye all. What seems to be the trouble today?”
Marie Claude turned to him with disdain. “My good ladies and I have given your words last night great thought. It is with immense sorrow that we fear we shall not be able to accompany our great lady on her journey most arduous.” The lady held herself with a haughty rigor, daring him to voice complaint.
“Ye’re telling me that ye’re going to abandon yer lady at the hour o’ her greatest need?” If they thought Gavin was going to put this into polite terms, they were very much mistaken. He tried to catch Colette’s eye, but she turned away.
The ladies-in-waiting gasped as if he had struck each and every one of them. If he had been a different sort of man, he might have done just that.
“Never would we abandon our lady in the hour of need,” cried Marie Claude, her nostrils flaring. “It is most unfortunate, most unfortunate indeed, that we are prevented from being able to follow our lady because her ship has been taken and there are no accommodations for us in this new boat you have found. Had you been able to secure a ship that would accommodate us, we would never have been brought to this most distressing position.”
So it was his fault, was it? Gavin was having none of it. “Mayhap if any one o’ ye had half the backbone that Lady Marie Colette does, ye woud’na feel the need to turn tail and run back home as cowards. But if ye want to go, then go. If that is all yer loyalty means to ye, then ye’re no’ worth the bother ye cause to take ye with us.” He enjoyed the looks of shock and horror on their faces.
“How dare you?” seethed Marie Agnes.
“I speak as I find,” said Gavin placidly, reining in his irritation at these fickle ladies who would abandon their mistress. His grasp of protocol was shaky at best, but he did know the lady could not travel alone without some sort of feminine companion. What were they going to do now?
“Well! I believe there can be nothing more to say,” declared Marie Claude. She turned to Lady Colette’s sad face, her lips trembling for a moment. Marie Claude pressed her lips together and the moment passed. “I wish you a safe journey and a blessed life, my child.” She turned to leave, followed by the other ladies.
Colette looked from one lady to the next, but all were resolute save the wide, hesitant eyes of Marie Philippe. “Marie Philippe,” whispered Colette. “Please, do not go.”
Marie Philippe looked from Colette to Marie Claude and back, her face twisting in anguish. “I am sorry, my dear. I must go with them.” She followed the other ladies out of the room but then ran back and gave Colette a warm embrace. “I am sorry, my little love. Peace be with you.” She turned and hastened after the other ladies.
“And also with you,” replied Colette duly in response.
Gavin did not know what to say. Colette appeared smaller, more vulnerable without the constant presence of her ladies. “I am sorry. Can I do anything for ye?” asked Gavin feebly.
“No, I wish for a moment alone, if you please,” said Colette in a tired voice.
Possibly sensing the unhappy atmosphere of the room, the baby began to cry, and Pippa took the opportunity to leave with the babe.
“As you wish.” Gavin did not know what else to do, so he followed the ladies and arranged for their safe return. Of course they could not travel back alone, so he spoke with Captain Perrine to send half of the soldiers back with them to ensure their safety. It also lessened their presence, which, considering their desire to go unnoticed, was helpful. A small voice within him said he should first ask Colette before making such arrangements, but he felt he needed to take things in hand.
When all was completed, and the maids and their guards had left, Gavin returned to speak to Colette. Poor lass, how was he to comfort her now? He knocked on the door and it was opened by Pippa, holding the baby. He was a little surprised, for he feared Pippa might have left entirely, but she had returned and he hoped had been some comfort.
Marie Colette was sitting in a chair by a narrow window, a shaft of a golden sunlight forming a bright rectangle on the floor by her feet. She wore a gown of flowing blue silk and a crisp white wimple covered her head. She did not turn when he entered the room but continued to stare out the window, her chest slowly rising and falling, as if it was all she could do to focus on her breathing.
Gavin stood silently, wondering if he should say something first or wait for her to acknowledge him. She gazed out the window with a look of such beautiful sadness that he wished to take her once more in his arms. Yet with the audience of Pippa, he remained apart. He had no right to embrace her, but his desire could not be ignored.
Colette turned to Pippa and with a small nod dismissed the girl and the babe. Pippa left, shutting the door behind them. Gavin knew under no circumstances should he be alone with Lady Colette, particularly in a public inn, and her willingness to meet him in such a manner spoke to the desperation of the situation.
“I’m sorry, m’lady,” said Gavin softly. “They were no’ worthy o’ ye.” He was surprised at how much he felt those words.
“I could not expect them to stay under such conditions, though I had not anticipated their loss.” She leaned forward and the shaft of sunlight caught her face, illuminating her smooth complexion. The exquisite sorrow of her expression caught his breath.
“Ye’re more charitable than I, for I believe ’tis their duty to stay with ye, and no’ run at the smallest hint of inconvenience. Ye’re well rid o’ them.”
Colette turned to him, the spark in her eye reignited. “It is uncharitable for you to say so, Sir Knight.” Her words may have sounded harsh, but the small smile about her lips told him she was not unappreciative of his defense.
“I speak only the truth as I see it, m’lady. Ye deserve better.” At his pronouncement, he was rewarded with a small smile, which warmed his insides in a ridiculous manner. He liked to see the spark back in her eye. If irritating her was the price to do it, he was her man.
“I should not like to quarrel, so I shall be forced to agree with you. However, this does create a situation for me most tenuous. I must continue on to meet my husband, but it would be unseemly in the extreme to arrive without my maids by my side.”
“Aye, that is a problem.” Ga
vin sighed.
“And as I have had much time to think on your words from last night, it occurs to me that there is another difficulty,” admitted Colette. “I told the landlady we were not betrothed.”
“Och, what did you do that for?” Gavin hit his forehead with the palm of his hand.
“Why would I tell her otherwise?” She raised an eyebrow. Much to his irritation, it only enhanced her beauty. “I had no idea you would come up with such a preposterous plan.”
“Have ye a better plan, m’lady?” he challenged, purposely baiting her to see the light in her eyes rekindle.
“Me? Is it not you who are supposed to find a safe passage to Scotland?” Her eyes narrowed and he greatly preferred it to the defeat he had seen in her smoky, green eyes only a moment before. He would rather see her fight, even with him, than be sad.
“’Tis hardly my responsibility to keep yer maids by yer side. They are naught but petty, selfish, spineless fools who abandon ye at the first sign o’ trouble,” he said, knowing it would anger her further.
“Traveling to Scotland with no more dignity than a pig lashed to the deck is not to be tolerated. My ladies had but little choice,” defended Colette, standing defiantly. At least now she was fighting back.
“It could no’ be helped.” He gestured with his hand like swatting a fly. “I saw them safely off on their journey back home.”
Colette’s eyes widened. “They have left?”
“Aye.” Gavin knew he should tell her about the guards too, but his tongue grew heavy in his mouth.
“I thought they would come to say a final farewell,” she said softly, placing a delicate hand on her chest.
Gavin’s anger burned against the maids who had abandoned their mistress. “They are unworthy o’ ye. I sent them home with some of the guards to ensure their safe passage.”
“My guards?” Her eyes narrowed.
“Aye.” He swallowed hard. If his plan was to anger her, this would surely do it. “The ladies coud’na travel wi’out some protection.”
The Highlander's Bride Page 12