Ellice gazed steadily at her niece, her lips twitching with a shade of a snarl. She was very good at snarling when provoked, something that was both intimidating and frightening. But instead of snapping off a bitter retort, she abruptly turned for the door, muttering to herself as she moved.
“He will not do this again,” she hissed. “Not again. I will not let him do this again.”
With that, she was gone, leaving Courtly and Isadora looking rather perplexed by her abrupt departure. But the mumbling had Courtly on edge and she stood up, going to the door and watching as her aunt disappeared through the doorway that led out into the ward. She could still hear the woman muttering.
“What is wrong with Auntie?” Isadora wanted to know.
Courtly shook her head, puzzled. “I do not know,” she said. “But mayhap I should follow her and find out.”
Leaving Isadora still upon the bed, Courtly followed her aunt’s trail, pursuing the woman out of the building and into the ward of Kennington. The day was deepening and the sun had risen, casting its golden rays across the land. The mud, which had been so heavy in the early morning, was starting to dry up a little. Smoke, heavy from the cooking fires, blanketed the complex. As Courtly looked around for her aunt, she began to hear yelling. Following the sounds, she came to the northwest corner of the two-storied building, noting her aunt and father several feet away. Ellice was clearly livid as she spoke to her brother.
“Will you do this again, Kellen?” Ellice was saying. “First with me and now with your own daughter? Will you be the one to drive men away from her so that she grows up embittered and lonely? You cannot do this to her.”
Kellen’s back was to Courtly as he angrily waved his sister off. “You speak of things long past,” he said. “You are speaking of things that happened twenty years ago.”
Ellice was nearly shrieking. “Twenty years, aye!” she cried. “But to me, it was yesterday. It was yesterday when you sent my love away and he never came back. Don’t you realize what that did to me and to my life? I had to hear that he married another and I wanted to die from the sorrow I felt. And now you will do the same thing to your own daughter? I cannot allow it. You are a selfish, cruel man to want to keep the womenfolk in your family alone and unattached and utterly dependent upon you. Still, I am dependent upon you and ever will be. I hate you for it!”
Kellen shook his head, trying to move away from her. “I will not discuss this with you.”
Ellice followed. “If you do not, I will follow you around and speak of terrible and private things until you listen to me. Do you want your men to hear how you chased off every suitor I ever had until no one came? Do you want them to hear how you controlled me and used money to either reward or punish me, so long as I did what you wanted?”
Kellen whirled on her, bellowing. “You are chattel,” he roared. “You are my responsibility and I did what I felt best for you. I will do it for my daughters as well and you will not question me, you ungrateful cow.”
Ellice had that snarling expression upon her lips again as she watched her brother yell at her but, at this point, Courtly stopped listening. She’d heard far too much already. It was shocking to hear how her father had treated his sister, how he had chased away the man she loved. Now, so much was clear as to why Ellice behaved the way she did. If what she said was true, and Kellen’s answers seemed to support it, then Ellice’s manner was a direct result of Kellen’s control over every aspect of her life, even suitors. It was little wonder why Ellice was the way she was. Now, it was all starting to make some sense. And that thought scared Courtly to death.
I do not want to be like my aunt, she thought to herself as she scurried back for the door that would lead back inside the structure. Is it really true? Did Papa chase off all of Auntie’s marital prospects? But even as she thought it, she knew it was true because her father behaved the same way with her. Old patterns repeating themselves, now with his own daughters. But if Courtly had anything to say about it, the pattern would not be the same. She intended to destroy it for her sake as well as for Isadora’s sake. She couldn’t let the man deliberately turn them into spinsters. The mere thought was sickening.
As she headed back to the house and to her sister, she heard commotion at the gate but she didn’t pay any attention. Soldiers were calling to one another and somewhere in the middle of it she heard St. Héver’s distinctive bellow. But she entered the building after that and heard no more, moving into the small bedchamber where Isadora was pulling on her stockings and shoes. The girl looked up from her right foot when her sister entered the room.
“Where did you go?” Isadora asked. “What is Auntie doing?”
Courtly was lost in thought, mulling over what she had just heard and the implications of it. She looked at Isadora, shock and confusion on her face.
“She is talking to Papa,” she said. “Oh, Issie, you would not believe what they are speaking of. Auntie said… she said that Papa chased away all of her suitors and that is why she is so unhappy and nasty. She said she is lonely and bitter and that Papa is the cause.”
Isadora’s brow furrowed. “Papa chased men away from her, too?”
Courtly nodded. “That is what she said,” she replied. “He is doing the same thing to me and will do the same thing to you. I do not want to end up like Auntie, old and alone and mean.”
Isadora was still a bit too young to fully grasp what Courtly was saying. Suitors and men had no real meaning in her world. But she knew that someday, they would mean a great deal.
“What will you do?” she asked, concerned.
Courtly shook her head, trying not to become despondent. “I do not know yet,” she said, running her hand over her hair, which was mussed from sleep and also from the fact that she had no comb. She began to run her fingers through it, trying to smooth it down. “But I know that I will not become a spinster. Why does he do it, Is? Why does he chase men away? He knows that I want to marry someday. Why is no man good enough?”
Isadora didn’t have an answer for her. She put her other shoe on and stood up, going to her sister and running her hands over Courtly’s hair. She liked brushing her sister’s hair, and braiding it, so she took over the duties as her sister stewed about their father’s predilection towards running off suitors. It was of much greater concern to Courtly than to Isadora, especially since there was now a knight that Courtly was interested in. She could sense her sister’s sadness and disappointment.
They fell silent as Courtly brooded and Isadora brushed her sister’s hair with her fingers. She was able to smooth it enough so that it looked moderately combed and then she braided it into an elaborate braid. Having nothing to secure it with, she ended up tearing a strip of linen off the end of the coverlet and using the piece to tie off her sister’s hair. Having no clean clothing, soap or water to wash with, it was the best they could do in order to groom themselves. As Isadora finished with the braid, there was a knock on the chamber door.
Isadora scooted over to the panel and opened it. One of their aunt’s servants was standing in the darkened corridor outside, an older woman, and she looked directly at Courtly.
“M’lady,” she said. “Lady Ellice asks you to come to the ward.”
Courtly sighed heavily. She was so depressed that she didn’t even question the servant’s instructions. She simply stood up and left the room, following the woman out into the ward.
Courtly could feel the chill as she stepped outside but she had left the coverlet wrap back in the bedchamber and she pondered returning for it. However, it occurred to her that there were a great many unfamiliar people in the ward and her focus was diverted to the crowd. It took her a moment to realize that there were soldiers in the bailey bearing colors of black and yellow. She had noticed those colors on one of the knights who had accompanied Sir Maximus on the previous evening and her heart suddenly leapt into her throat. She could hardly breathe. Was it possible that Sir Maximus had returned? Suddenly giddy with excitement, yet with so
me confusion, she made her way towards the group.
As she drew closer, she could see that her father was standing next to a carriage, speaking with a beautiful, young woman inside it. Her aunt was standing several feet away, watching the entire circumstance suspiciously, but Courtly headed in the woman’s direction. It was her aunt who had sent for her, after all. She wanted to know why.
“Auntie?” she said as she approached. “What is happening?”
Ellice, hearing her niece’s voice, whirled around and reached out, grasping the woman by the wrist and pulling her close. That was an unusual move for Ellice who usually kept everyone at arm’s length. Courtly was hit with the smell of rotten, moldering leaves as she drew near her aunt. The woman smelled of compost.
“Your Sir Maximus has returned and he has brought reinforcements,” Ellice hissed at her. “See the woman in the carriage? That is the Earl of Coventry’s wife. She is asking for you.”
Shocked, Courtly looked at the carriage. It was very fine, painted in colors of yellow and black, and the woman inside was quite elegant and lovely. She had very dark hair and a porcelain-like face, now speaking very politely to Kellen. Courtly couldn’t hear the words but she could see that the lady was smiling at Kellen, obviously engaging him in pleasant conversation. Courtly had no idea what to make of the situation.
“But why is she here?” Courtly asked. “Where is Sir Maximus?”
Ellice shook her head. “I do not know him on sight but I heard the lady mention him,” she said quietly. Then, she gave Courtly a shove towards the Coventry carriage. “Go, now. Show yourself. The countess wishes to speak with you!”
Courtly stumbled as her aunt pushed but she caught herself and moved towards the carriage as instructed. She was fixed on the lovely woman speaking to her father, quite curious about her appearance here at Kennington. But she was eager to see Sir Maximus again and her eyes darted about, trying to find him in the group of Coventry men, but they were all dressed in armor and tunics that made them all look alike.
Her hunt for Sir Maximus abruptly ended when she finally locked eyes with the Countess of Coventry and Kellen, seeing the countess’ shift in focus, turned to see that his daughter was nearly standing next to him.
Startled by Courtly’s unexpected appearance, Kellen’s initial reaction was one of anger. He almost ordered her away but realized that he could not, not in front of all of these people. In truth, he had been preparing to tell Lady de Shera that his daughter was unavailable when Courtly appeared. Therefore, he did the only thing he could do. He hastened to make introductions.
“Lady de Shera,” he said, sounding displeased. “This is my daughter, Lady Courtly. It is she who you have been inquiring about.”
Kellen would look back on that moment as the day that changed his life forever.
CHAPTER SIX
In the muddy, cold, and bright bailey of Kennington, Jeniver studied Courtly intently, very curious about the woman who had captured Maximus’ heart.
Lady Courtly was about the same size and shape as she was, with bright, blue eyes and long, dusky lashes. Her hair was a lovely shade of blond that had been swept into a braid, complimenting her sweet, oval face. In truth, Jeniver was not disappointed in what she saw. She could easily understand Maximus’ attraction to the luminous lady.
“Greetings, my lady,” Jeniver said. “I am honored to meet you. As I was telling your father, my husband’s brother, Maximus, told us of your harrowing adventure yesterday and also of the wonderful feast he attended last night. He is most impressed with your father’s hospitality and also by your culinary skills.”
The countess had a sweet, honeyed voice, and Courtly curtsied smoothly. “I am the one who is honored, Lady de Shera,” she said. “Sir Maximus surely saved my life and the life of my sister. Providing him with a meal was the least we could do to thank him for his efforts.”
Jeniver laughed softly. “And he was very thankful for it,” she said. “We are staying at The One-Eyed Raven in town and the food there has not been particularly good, unfortunately. I think he was very grateful for an excellent meal by your hand.”
Courtly smiled because Jeniver was. Already, the woman had a way of making her feel at ease. She didn’t act like any countess Courtly had ever met. Lady de Shera was friendly and warm, and given that Courtly spent nearly all of her time with either her father or sister, she didn’t have much opportunity to make new friends. Immediately, she felt drawn to her.
“As I said, we were honored to provide it, my lady,” she said. “I am very glad Sir Maximus enjoyed it.”
Jeniver nodded. “Indeed,” she said. “Wherever did you learn to cook?”
“I fostered for a time at Prudhoe Castle, my lady. Lady d’Umfraville learned the culinary arts in France and taught us.”
Jeniver watched Courtly as she spoke. She was well-spoken and polite. She could see how the young woman had entranced Maximus. She knew for a fact that her brother-in-law was behind her, grouped among the de Shera men, waiting very impatiently for Jeniver to make her move and ask for Lady Courtly’s company on a shopping excursion. The time for small talk and meaningless chatter was over. It was time to move to the point of their visit before the situation became awkward.
“Lady d’Umfraville taught you very well,” Jeniver said. Then, she eyed both Kellen and Courtly as she spoke. “In fact, that is why I have come. Lord de Lara, I am alone in Oxford save my husband and his brothers, with no lady to attend me. It has come to my attention that your daughter is cultured and knowledgeable, and I wonder if I could beg you to allow me to take Lady Courtly with me into town. I must do some shopping and I very much need a lady by my side. For my position, after all, it is unseemly that I do not have any ladies-in-waiting. I pray upon your good graces that you will allow me the company of your daughter for the duration of my stay in Oxford.”
Kellen looked at Jeniver, shocked and speechless by the request. He knew the request was one of honor. For the wife of an earl to ask for the service of a daughter was honorable, indeed, but Kellen wasn’t sure he could agree for two very good reasons – the first being that he did not like his children out of his sight where he could not keep a watchful eye over them. That was the main reason he had recalled Courtly from Prudhoe Castle, in fact. True, he wanted her home, but it was mostly so he could watch over her and keep his daughters under the same roof. His roof.
But the second reason, of course, was that Maximus de Shera was Lady de Shera’s brother-in law. If Courtly was around Lady de Shera, then Maximus would be there, too. Nay, he could not allow that, not in the least. He struggled to refuse without insulting the countess.
“That is a most gracious offer, Lady de Shera,” he said, stumbling. “But… you see, I have a younger daughter and Courtly must tend her. I surely cannot let her go or I will have no one to tend my younger child.”
“I will look after her.”
They all turned around to see Ellice standing a few feet away. It was she who had offered. Kellen scowled at his sister.
“You?” he asked. “You? You do not know anything about tending children, Ellice.”
Ellice’s expression upon her brother was one of abject hatred. “And that is your fault, is it not?” she volleyed, with Lady de Shera listening. As Kellen struggled not to explode at her, Ellice walked up beside her niece and looked to Lady de Shera. “My niece would be an excellent companion, my lady. There is no reason why you cannot take her right now, in fact. I will look after the younger girl.”
Kellen was beside himself with outrage but he dare not vent his anger in front of the countess. As it was, he was straddling a very fine line of courtesy versus insult. He knew Lady de Shera was watching him, awaiting his answer, but he was having a very difficult time giving one.
“This is all so sudden,” he finally said, backing away from the carriage so he would have more room to think and to breathe. He couldn’t do either with Lady de Shera’s attention on him. “My daughters’ stay in Oxford h
as not been a pleasant one. You heard of the fire yesterday, no doubt, and all of their possessions were lost. I was preparing to send them both back to Trelystan Castle, this morning in fact. They will be much safer at home.”
He was speaking quickly, as if he were scrambling for a reason to deny Lady de Shera’s request, and Jeniver was coming to sense something more than mere reluctance in the man. Her request for the company of Lady Courtly had rattled him deeply and she didn’t understand why. Surely any father would have been happy for his daughter to be taken into the house of a countess as her lady, but it was clear de Lara didn’t think that way. There was something very odd with the man, indeed.
“You do not have to decide at this moment, Lord de Lara,” she said, trying to salvage the situation somehow, “but at least let me take her to town with me and shop. I require her company and her opinion on many things. Will you please do this for me? My husband will be very pleased if you do.”
She purposely brought up her husband to force de Lara’s hand. Gallus de Shera was not only the Earl of Coventry, but he was also the right hand of Simon de Montfort. To have connections to such a man during this dark and turbulent time would be a prideful thing, indeed. Jeniver was also, not so subtly, telling Lord de Lara that Gallus would be quite displeased if the man denied her request. Therefore, Kellen had no choice and he knew it. His jaw began to tick, struggling not to become angry over the situation and over Lady de Shera’s control. He didn’t like a woman, any woman, to have control over his decisions.
“Very well,” he said, smiling thinly. “You may take her to shop but I would have her returned home before nightfall. I will insist, my lady.”
Courtly, who had been watching the exchange carefully, was so relieved and excited when he gave permission that she nearly shouted, but she managed to keep control. If her father saw that she was too happy, he might do his best to go back on his word. Therefore, she remained demure and polite as a de Shera knight opened the door to the cab and Courtly quickly climbed in. She looked to see if it was Maximus who had opened the door but it was not. It was a very young knight with brilliant, blue eyes.
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