by Kris Tualla
Gustavo lived in a much smaller house than hers, but it was beautifully appointed. Situated on higher ground and further from the sea, from the upper floor he had a lovely view of the water beyond the red Barcelona rooftops.
Supper was always delicious, the wine he served consistently excellent, and conversation flowed easily between the two of them.
And when Gustavo kissed her goodbye, she felt like a candle melting in his arms. Even now, the memory of his thickly-lashed grey eyes and engaging smile warmed her nether parts.
Whenever she thought of Jakob, the first word that came to her mind was intense. When she thought of Gustavo, however, the word temperate seemed to fit. Quite the opposite response. The two men could not be more different.
She had not seen Jakob since their conversation about the amount of money due for the ships. The idea that he was avoiding her did raise its ugly head, but then common sense bashed it back down. Simply put, unless they were courting, she and the Nordic knight had no shared business. And while Gustavo was most definitely courting her, Jakob most definitely was not.
Avery sighed and snuggled under her bedcovers, not yet ready to face another rainy winter day.
She had made a visit to the knights’ palazzo two days ago to speak with Maria about selling her furniture, but sadly the men were out hunting at the time.
Avery tasked Maria with making enquiries about a reputable agent and then bringing Avery her recommendations. Avery didn’t trust Esteban to bring her an agent who would give her the best price—and not split an inflated commission with her unscrupulous majordomo. The last pocket she needed to help fill at this time was Esteban’s.
She had also entrusted Antonio with the sale of the horses and carriage, after asking Señor Esparza, majordomo at the knight’s leased house, what he thought were fair prices. Her plans were moving forward without a hitch at the moment.
At least my economic ones.
Her romantic ones were in a mess.
Avery tossed aside the covers and donned the robe which lay crumbled across the foot of her bed where she tossed it yester eve. She went to her outer chamber door and rang a brass bell in the hallway, summoning breakfast. She refused to feel guilty that the church bells had already chimed the tenth hour. It was not as though anything was pressing for her time at the moment.
When the tray arrived, Avery gave a little cry of joy when she spied the Tudor seal on a thick letter. She snatched it up and carried it to the window where dim light seeped through the clouds. When she read Catherine’s opening words, however, tears blurred her vision.
My dearest friend ~
How deeply I long for your sweetest comfort these last dark days. The news I must write to you concerns tragedies of two kinds, and I do not know how I will survive their merciless combination.
The first is the loss of another daughter. My confinement, yet again, did not bring forth life, but only grief. I cannot express the depths of my sorrow in words, and I have spent these last tearful days alone in my chamber, wishing you were by my side to carry me through this dark valley.
She never drew a breath, this little girl. The midwives say that they do not know why. I am most certainly cursed for some unknown transgression, and shall never bear my husband a son. Especially not now.
This is the second tragedy, my dearest Averia. My husband has taken a mistress, one of the maids of honor, the one named Elizabeth Blount. Do you remember her? She was the one so enamored of Sir Hansen, though that knight never paid her any heed.
After I learned of Henry’s infatuation with the girl, I never again felt my baby stir in my womb. It was as if his infidelity against me had killed her. And now I grieve both her inability to live, and my husband’s inability to be faithful.
Do write to me soon, Averia. I pray every day that your circumstances in Barcelona are settled and that you are contented with your life there, even though I would give anything to have you returned to me.
With greatest affection ~
C
Avery sat beside her breakfast tray; all desire to eat even the smallest bite had dissipated with each of Catherine’s words. The letter rested in her lap, her dripping tears leaving wet spots on the ink.
With Jakob gone, Henry’s dalliance with Bessie had lost its disguise. The king, in his lust, was clearly not careful enough to protect Catherine from discovering the truth. And now she had lost yet another baby.
At the least, Jakob’s involvement was not revealed, Avery thought selfishly. Because that meant Catherine would not believe Avery knew of the adultery. Or, that Avery had lied to her about it.
Jakob. Avery blotted her tears from the letter with her napkin. I have to tell him.
Today.
*****
Jakob read the letter in silence, noticing the spots where the ink had started to spread. Avery’s tears, he would guess, as she was still shedding them.
He looked up from the missive. “I am so sorry, Avery.”
She nodded a little. “It is not your fault that you could not remain at court any longer.”
Jakob refolded the thick paper. “I cannot feel guilty about my actions there. It is clear that, by doing Henry’s bidding, I was protecting the queen.”
Avery nodded, still slumped in the chair which she had tumbled into upon her arrival at his chamber door.
“Would you care to join me for dinner?” he asked gently.
Her wet expression was guarded. “What about Percy?”
“He’s… somewhere. Else.” Jakob waved a hand. “Probably visiting one of the many ladies who have caught his eye.”
Avery flashed a crooked smile. “Still the same Percy, I see.”
Jakob gestured at his non-existent collar of the Order. “And the ornamentation draws them like flies to a honey tree.”
He reached out his hand. “Please come and join me, Avery, even if you do not care to eat, for I am famished.”
She took his hand and stood, accepting the letter from him, and tucking it inside her skirt’s pocket. Jakob wrapped her arm in his and escorted her to the dining room.
Once they were settled and service had begun, Jakob asked, “What has occupied your time of late?”
“Well…” she dipped her spoon into the fish soup and lifted it slowly. “I gave Antonio the task of selling the large carriage and two horses, after consulting with Señor Esparza regarding a fair price.”
That surprised him. “You came here? When?”
“You and Percy were hunting.” Avery sipped the soup. “This is delicious.”
“Juan is a good cook.”
Avery nodded her agreement. “I actually came here that day to talk to Maria about finding an agent to buy my furniture. I do not trust Esteban, and would expect him to fill his own pockets with a commission on the sale if he chose the man.”
Jakob smiled. Avery was a wise woman. “That was excellent thinking. Was Maria helpful?”
“I do not know yet. I shall speak with her before I leave today.”
Jakob had already finished his soup and was waiting for Avery to finish hers. “What else has filled your days?”
She looked at him, her dark eyes finally brightening and her mouth curling with amusement. “I have a suitor.”
Jakob’s chest tightened. “What does this mean?”
Avery rolled her eyes. “It means that there is a man interested in my hand.”
“In marriage?” Jakob was stunned—he had not considered this as a possibility when he threw down his verbal gauntlet weeks ago.
“No, he simply wants my hand. He has no interest in the rest of me.” Avery looked at him like he was the supreme fool in a room of fools. “Yes, in marriage.”
Jakob’s mind jangled with questions. “Who is he?”
Avery set her spoon down and folded her hands in her lap. “Gustavo Salazar, the man who was supposed to build the ships with Paolo, before Esteban shoved him aside.”
Jakob concentrated on pulling information from his mem
ory. “And you met him some weeks ago. At the supper of Xavier Medina, Earl of Valencia.”
Avery gave a slow nod. “I am impressed. You have been paying attention.”
“What else does Salazar want from you?” Jakob knew the question was rude, but he wanted Avery to be honest. Making her angry was one way to assure that.
Her eyes narrowed. “Gustavo was planning to redeem the ships himself. But once he met me, he decided to include me in his plans.”
Jakob snorted. “Because he was smitten.”
Avery jumped to her feet like a startled cat, practically hissing her words. “What are you saying? That such a thing as this is not possible?”
“Not at all, Avery. I confess to being quite enamored of your beauty from our very first encounter.” Jakob leaned across the table. “But I did not want anything from you.”
“And you believe that is why he has proposed.” She crossed her arms over her chest, black fire lighting her eyes. “To use me to acquire the ships.”
Jakob rose slowly to his feet. “Avery, you are every bit as wise as you are beautiful. Certainly you must believe this is a possibility.”
“Of course it’s a possibility!” Her obsidian irises glittered and sparked. “Do you not believe that I can discern the truth?”
Jakob hesitated, uncertain of what to say. During her years at court, Avery earned the nickname Ice Maiden because of her refusal to enter into any romantic dalliances.
Except with me.
The reason, as it turned out, was because she was still married to Paolo.
But not anymore.
The longer he was silent, the angrier she appeared. He must say something to avoid a full-blown explosion. “Forgive me, Avery, but your courting skills have gone long unused.”
Her jaw dropped. Then her shoulders followed. “Whatever do you mean by that?”
He kept his tone calm, and his voice low. “All through the years when you were pursued at court, you refused everyone, and for good reason. You were never required to discern the true purpose for any man’s expressed interest.”
Avery sank back onto her chair, her folded arms still shielding her heart. “I did not need to. All any of them wanted was a physical affaire.”
“Are you certain of that?”
She blinked, and her gaze dropped to the tabletop. “I—yes.”
“You do not sound certain,” Jakob ventured.
Avery glared at him again. “What do you know of it?”
“I know this.” Jakob leaned forward, his elbows flanking his empty soup bowl. “If I was trying to salvage a plan like the trade ships, then marrying the widow of a signer on the contract would be the first step.”
Avery rolled her eyes away from his gaze, her lips pressed into a thin line.
“And if she was as beautiful and desirable as you are, Avery, then performing such a duty is doubly enticing.”
She twisted her neck to face him again. A furious blush crept up her pale neck and colored her cheeks. “If I am so beautiful and desirable as you claim, then his affections might well be quite sincere, would you not agree?”
Jakob sucked a breath. His own strategy had just shot back at him, fatally wounding his argument.
“Yes,” he admitted.
Avery sagged like a slackened sail. “You do?”
Jakob clenched his jaw, considering down which path he should lead this discussion: toward Avery’s best interest, or his own selfish desires.
In the end, his deep love for Avery demanded that he do what was best for her. “Gustavo may well be sincere in his affections. I only meant to warn you of other motives.”
“You did not need to warn me, Jakob,” she murmured. “I was aware.”
“I should have realized that. You are no fool, Avery.” Jakob forced a smile and extended his hand across the table. “And so we are still friends?”
Avery swallowed and Jakob watched her throat ripple. She laid a pale hand in his, but did not return his smile. “Friends.”
Jakob wrapped his fingers around hers and squeezed gently, stroking his thumb over her skin. “I cannot help myself, Avery. My need to protect you is as strong in my heart as protecting myself.”
Her eyes met his. “I am a grown woman, Jakob. And a widow. I am not Uma.”
The mention of his long-dead bride sent a jolt through Jakob’s frame. Avery’s words, however painful to hear, were nonetheless the truth. “No, you are not. And that is why I love you.”
Avery looked away, her brow puckering. “I did not yet agree.”
Relief sent him a different sort of jolt. “You did not yet agree?”
Avery still did not meet his eyes. “Gustavo says that he is aware that too little time has passed since Paolo’s death for me to make such a decision.”
The idea that, in reality, too little time had passed for Gustavo to discern whether or not his plan was feasible skittered through Jakob’s thoughts. He dare not express that aloud at this fragile moment.
Instead, he said, “He has the original contract for the ships.”
Avery looked at him then, clearly confused by his sudden shift of subject. “Shall I ask to see it again? So that we may know for certain the contracted price for the ships?”
Jakob nodded. “That would be helpful, do you not agree?”
“Yes.” Avery pushed her chair away from the table. “I am sorry, but it seems that I am not hungry after all.”
Jakob scrambled for a reason to make Avery stay at the palazzo. “Will you speak with Maria, then, while I finish my meal?” he suggested “Then come back and tell me what she suggests. Perhaps I can help.”
She cast him a skeptical look. “Yes. I shall do exactly that.”
Jakob stood as Avery exited the room before dropping back into his chair. The servant scurried in and Jakob asked for the rest of his meal to be served at once. When the food was placed before him, he ate quickly, needing to fill the demanding void in his core before Avery returned.
*****
He loves me?
Avery stomped down the main staircase to Maria’s world on the ground floor, flummoxed by Jakob’s words. He claimed to be enamored of her beauty, called her as wise as she was beautiful, and said she was desirable enough that any man would want her.
Then he called her ‘friend.’ Why did he no longer want her if, as he stated, he still loves her?
“Lady Averia, it is good to see you.”
Maria’s warm greeting pulled Avery’s attention from the puzzling Nordic knight. “Thank you, Maria.”
Maria invited Avery into her little apartment. “Would you care for anything?”
Avery shook her head. “No, thank you. I had some soup with Sir Hansen.”
If Maria thought that was an odd response, she did not show it. “Please make yourself comfortable.”
Avery sat on one of the carved wooden chairs, waiting until Maria was settled before she asked, “Have you any news for me?”
“Yes, my lady. Señor Esparza and I discussed several options before we agreed on the best agent for your situation.” Maria reached into her pocket and pulled out a small, stiff card. “His name is Lorenzo Mechi, and this is the address.”
Avery reached for the card. “May I borrow pen and paper? I would like to send him a message without Esteban knowing.”
“Of course.” Maria stood. “Come to my desk, my lady.”
Avery followed the maid to a little wooden desk and sat on Maria’s stool. She penned the note to Señor Mechi, asking him to come to her palazzo at one o’clock on the day after tomorrow, promising him a houseful of furniture to sell.
When she finished, she folded the paper and handed it to Maria. “Will you see this delivered today?”
“Straight away, Lady Avery. Is there anything else I might help you with?”
Avery hesitated, but curiosity pushed the query through her lips before she thought better of it. “What did you mean when you said Sir Hansen does not know what he wants?”
/> Maria chuckled. “Because that man refuses to claim what he wants, he cannot yet decide what to settle for.”
Avery straightened. “What is he refusing to claim?”
Maria crossed the apartment to the door, before turning to address Avery once more.
“Do you truly not know?” She grinned and winked. “I shall see to this delivery immediately.”
*****
Avery climbed the stairs to the main level of the knight’s palazzo with much less enthusiasm than when she descended. She had no idea what she would say to Jakob when she was once again in his presence, but she could not leave his house without saying goodbye, at the least.
A servant met her at the door of the dining room and directed her to the drawing room, explaining that Sir Hansen had finished his dinner and was waiting for her there.
When Avery was ushered into the room, she was disappointed to see Percival there as well, effectively forestalling any attempt to have an intimate discussion with Jakob.
“Lady Avery!” Percy set down his glass and strode across the room to kiss her hand. “Jakob told me you were here. I am so glad to have the chance to greet you.”
“Thank you, Sir Percival.” Avery shifted her gaze to Jakob who watched her from across the room. “Did he inform you as to why I have come?”
Percy pressed a fist to his heart, and his green eyes saddened. “Yes, my lady. Poor Queen Catherine. My most fervent prayers shall be with her this eventide.”
Avery squeezed Percy’s hand with the one he still held. “I wish I was with her.”
“I know you do. And I wish you could be with her, as well.”
Jakob walked toward her. “Has Maria been of assistance?”
Avery nodded, shifting her attention to the Norseman. “She consulted with Señor Esparza and presented me with their recommendation for an agent. I have already written him to come to my house the day after tomorrow.”
Jakob addressed Percy. “And because of a fortuitous social connection, the lady will soon be able to examine the original contracts for the ships once again, and this time she shall take note of the costs.”