It just felt good to hold him.
“There’s a tavern in town,” he said quietly as they drew closer to the tent. “I was thinking about securing a room there.”
She looked at him. “Why?” she asked. “You have a tent and a bed, do you not?”
He looked at her. “Do you?”
“Nay.”
“The room would be for you.”
She thought that was a rather sweet gesture. “I would like that.”
“I thought so,” he said. “Speak to your father while I go into town and see about a room for you.”
Corisande thought that was a smashingly good idea. She thought about suggesting bringing Gaia but thought better of it. Her lazy sister could sleep in the wagon. Perhaps she and Cole could spend a few quiet moments together if she had a room all her own.
With that thought on her mind, they drew near the de Bourne tent and Ares suddenly appeared. Before Corisande realized what was happening, he reached out and took her hand off Cole’s arm. In fact, he separated them quite obviously.
“Inside, Cori,” he said, speaking to her but keeping his eyes on Cole. “Father has something to say to you.”
He was posturing as if he wanted to throw a punch at Cole. There was an expression of hostility on his face and Cole simply backed away, turning to leave without another word. Corisande thought her brother had been exceptionally rude, glaring at him before stepping into the tent where her father and brothers were.
It was warm in the tent because of a brazier, but it smelled of dampness because of the tent being wet when packed away for travel. Mold grew in the seams, scrubbed away by servants, but the smell still lingered. Her father was seated next to the brass brazier, sharing some wine with her brothers.
Corisande looked at them curiously.
“What do you want?” she asked. “I am helping the cooks prepare the meal for the men but Gaia is sulking in the wagon and she is completely useless. Really, Papa, you should not have forced her to come. She is miserable and when the fighting starts, I fear how she will react.”
Alastor lifted his eyebrows in resignation. “She is a de Bourne and much is expected of her,” he said. “I’m only sorry I sent her away to foster at Prudhoe, although you went to the same place and you did not acquire the bad traits that Gaia has. She is a pretty lass, and a smart one, but she’s as empty-headed as a piglet. Finding a husband for her will be a challenge. But for you…”
He trailed off, looking at her as he sipped his wine, and her brow furrowed.
“What about me?” she asked.
Alastor looked away as he set his wine down on a nearby table. “I was telling your brothers that Cole has asked permission to marry you,” he said. “I have asked them what they think of him and his request.”
Corisande wasn’t surprised that her father had spoken to her brothers about it, but she was miffed. This wasn’t a group decision as far as she was concerned.
“This is not their choice, Papa,” she said. “It is yours. Cole is a fine man and I would be honored to be his wife.”
“He’s already betrothed,” Anteaus blurted out. He seemed agitated, an unusual state for the usually sedate brother. “Essien told me that he’s betrothed to Audrie de Longley.”
Corisande went on the defensive. “Essien misspoke,” she said flatly. “If you had asked Cole, he would have told you the truth. Did you know that he was married before? His wife and child died of a fever two years ago. He has been completely honest with me about everything, including Audrie de Longley. He never asked to court her, but he has visited her and her brother at Northwood. Any betrothal is simply expectations from the de Longley family – there has never been a formal contract.”
Anteaus frowned as Alastor spoke up. “He should have told me that from the beginning,” he said. “It would have been the honorable thing to do.”
Corisande threw up her hands. “He barely had a minute of your time before The Marshal’s army arrived,” she said, exasperated. “He did not have the time to tell you that.”
Alastor conceded the point. “Mayhap,” he said. “Our conversation was barely started before it was over. But these expectations you speak of with Audrie de Longley concern me. I do not want to be viewed as having taken a prospective husband away from an earl’s daughter.”
Corisande looked at him, trying not to let her emotions get the better of her. “He was never hers to begin with, Papa,” she said. “And he will make that clear to them as soon as he is able. As soon as the Scots and the Northmen settle their troubles. He will not shirk that duty, Papa. He is an honorable man in every way and… and I love him. I want to marry him, Papa. Please do not deny us.”
Her lower lip was quivering by the time she was finished and Alastor, having a soft spot for his daughter, put up a hand.
“Do not fret so,” he said. “I have no intention of denying him, for the general consensus is that Cole is a good man and your brothers approve of him. But he must settle the issue with Audrie de Longley before I will give him my permission.”
Hope filled Corisande. “But you will give it?”
“I will.”
With a shriek of delight, Corisande ran at her father to embrace the man, nearly tipping his chair over in the process. She was so happy that she hugged Anteaus and Atlas and finally Ares, who still didn’t look convinced. She grinned at him.
“Be truthful,” she said, pinching his chin. “You do like Cole. I know you do.”
Reluctantly, Ares nodded. “I do,” he said. “He will make you a fine husband. But you are too good for him, Cori. He does not deserve you.”
She laughed. “Spoken like a true brother,” she said. Then, she turned excitedly to her father. “Papa, Cole is going to secure a room in town for me so I am not sleeping in the wagon bed. He thought it would be more comfortable for me. I… I thought I would take Gaia with me so we can both sleep in a warm bed for tonight. May we?”
The last part was totally a lie, but she added her sister into the mix so her father might more readily agree. It wasn’t as if she were going to sneak off into town with the man who would soon be her husband if Gaia was along as a chaperone.
As she hoped, Alastor nodded.
“I do not see why you cannot,” he said. “Which tavern?”
She shook her head. “I do not know,” she said. “But I will send word. And I will be back with the army well before dawn.”
“See that you are,” he said. “We will depart well before sunrise for Berwick, although I’m fairly certain they know of our approach. Any army worth their weight in gold would have scouts combing the area, so I think it is safe to say that we will be met. That being said, your instructions will be to go with the other surgeons and provisions wagons and remain far to the rear of the battle.”
Corisande nodded. “I know,” she said. “I have been here before. But tomorrow… all of you will be very careful, won’t you? You are my family and I love you. I do not want anything to happen to any of you.”
She was looking to her brothers as she spoke, seasoned knights, scarred and filled with the experience of dozens of battles. But it only took one to be fatal and they all knew it.
Especially Corisande. As thrilled as she was about Cole, it was such a sweet moment on the precipice of something brutal and deadly. Her brothers had seen battle, but so had she and she knew how fragile life was. The human body did not react well to being violated by swords and spears.
She didn’t want to lose a beloved brother to something so tragic.
“You needn’t worry,” Ares said, giving her a weak smile. “We have been through this before. It is the Scots you should worry over.”
“I do not care about the Scots. I care about you.”
Ares went to her, kissing her on the cheek before fixing her in the eyes. “And I worry about you,” he said. “And Cole. My eyes will be on him from now on. If he makes a misstep, he will have to answer to me.”
The focus of the conversation s
hifted back to Cole and Corisande, giving her brother a wry expression.
“Do not be nasty to him,” she said. “He has done nothing to deserve it. You were rude to him a few moments ago and that was not necessary.”
Ares thrust his chin up defiantly at her and turned away as Anteaus took his place. He looked at his sister closely. In fact, she was two years than he was, her having seen twenty years and three and him having seen twenty years and one. But he didn’t feel like simply a brother at the moment.
He felt like a protective one.
“I know the de Longley family,” he said quietly. “I like them; they are good people. I do not want to see them hurt by Cole, nor do I want to see you hurt by him.”
“I know, Tay.”
“You must make sure he makes it clear about Audrie. There must not be any hard feelings.”
Corisande nodded patiently, patting him on the cheek. “I know, my darling,” she said. “I promise he will make it right. He is a man of honor and he will make it clear to them. Everything will be well; you’ll see.”
Anteaus didn’t seem too sure about that but, to his credit, he didn’t say anything further. As he stepped away, Atlas came to stand in front of her.
The rather emotionless, apathetic de Bourne brother was looking at her appraisingly. Corisande lifted her eyebrows expectantly.
“Well?” she said. “Did you have something to say to me?”
Atlas shrugged. “Cole is passable,” he said. “He’ll do.”
Corisande began to laugh. “God’s Bones,” she said sarcastically. “That is high praise coming from you, Atlas. What glowing words of adulation.”
Atlas fought off a grin as he went to find his cup of wine. With all of the brothers having spoken their minds, Corisande turned to her father.
“May I go now?” she asked. “I want to make sure everything is ready for tomorrow before I go to the tavern.”
Alastor waved her off. “Go,” he said. “And, Cori?”
“Aye, Papa?”
“Tomorrow, you will force Gaia to help you when the battle begins,” he said. “Do not let her shirk her duties. Tending the wounded will do wonders for her character.”
Corisande nodded, wondering if what he said was true. She wasn’t entirely sure Gaia had any character but, at the moment, her sister was the last thing she wanted to think of. She wanted to think about Cole and the evening to come.
She’d have to deal with Gaia soon enough.
“I will try,” she said, turning for the tent opening. “And I will see all of you on the morrow.”
“Wait,” Ares said. “I will escort you.”
Corisande let her eldest brother take her by the arm and lead her out of the tent. They turned in the direction of the surgeon’s wagon, across the muddy meadow that she’d traversed with Cole. She had a feeling Ares had more to say about the situation with Cole, out of earshot of his father and brothers, so she eyed the man as the crossed the moonlit grass.
“Well?” she said softly. “What is it?”
Ares grunted at his perceptive sister. There wasn’t much he could keep from her, one way or the other.
“Are you sure this is what you want, Cori?” he asked. “With Cole, I mean. He is a de Velt and there are those who will always look at that family with distain and fear.”
Corisande looked up at him. “Do you?”
Ares shook his head. “Nay,” he said. “I understand Jax de Velt. I understand why he did what he did and I do not judge him for it. I’ve no intention of holding one man to another’s sensibilities, but not everyone thinks the way I do. Be aware that bearing the name de Velt may cause some… obstacles.”
Corisande could sense that he was genuinely trying to be helpful. “Not that the name de Bourne and being descended from the Bloodaxe haven’t been obstacles enough, eh?” she said, giving him a smirk. “I appreciate your concern, Ares, you know I do. I respect your opinion in all things. But Cole is a decent and honorable man, and I am very fortunate that he wishes to marry me. I believe we will have a good life together, no matter what his name may mean to some people.”
Ares could see that she wouldn’t be discouraged. Not that he expected she would be, but he had to make sure she understood. Therefore, he simply smiled at her.
“I hope so,” he said. “And if you thought I was rude to Cole, I will apologize to him. But until you two are legal wed, it is my duty, as your beloved older brother, to ensure you are kept safe from an amorous suitor.”
She laughed softly. “So you do not think I can smack him on the nose if he becomes too bold?”
“I would hope you would kick him somewhere else instead.”
Her laughter grew. “He is rather big,” she said. “I might have to kick terribly hard and I do not want to ruin our chances of having children.”
Ares rolled his eyes. “You should not speak on such things, you sassy wench,” he said. “God’s Bones, you are unrestrained.”
She sneered at him. “You started it.”
“I did.”
He started to laugh because she was. They were just passing by some de Lohr tents when a figure appeared, walking in their direction. Peter de Lohr came into view, smiling at the pair beneath the moonlight, but his gaze eventually moved to Corisande.
“I thought I heard chatter back here,” he said. “Good eve to you, my lady.”
Corisande looked up at the blond, handsome young knight with the bright blue eyes. “And to you, my lord,” she said. “I am sorry if our conversation disturbed you.”
He shook his head. “It did not,” he said. “But confidentially, I am bored to tears sitting with my father and uncle.”
“Then go entertain yourself elsewhere,” Ares said. “You are bright and inventive, de Lohr. Think of something.”
Peter sighed sadly. “Alas, they will not let me out of their sight,” he said. “All they want to speak on are battle stories I have heard a thousand times. They are old men and have no idea how to have a good time.”
“Just what good time did you have in mind?”
Neither Corisande nor Ares had asked the question. It came from Cole as he suddenly appeared from behind a de Bourne tent. He headed towards them, like a panther stalking prey. Only he wasn’t stalking Corisande or Ares, but the rather oblivious Peter.
The man had no idea just how close he was to a de Velt beating.
“Greetings, Cole,” Corisande said. “Ares was escorting me back to the cooking area.”
Cole smiled faintly at her, but his attention swiftly turned to Peter, who had no idea why Cole was looking at him as if he wanted to throttle him.
“Good eve, Cole,” he said, puzzled. “I was just telling Lady Corisande that sitting with my father and uncle has me bored to tears. I was going to hang myself simply for something to do.”
“Nay,” Cole rumbled, taking a step towards him. “Let me hang you.”
“Peter,” Ares said as he let go of Corisande and put himself between Cole and Peter. “I shall take pity on your boredom. My brothers and I were about to start a game of chance, so you can join us. Bring the de Lohr millions with you. I want your money and I want it tonight.”
He began to drag Peter away, who literally had no idea why he was being manhandled or why Cole looked as if he wanted to kill him until Ares explained the situation to him later, for his own safety. As Cole stood there and watched him go, he felt a gentle hand on his arm.
“He was perfectly polite,” she said, sensing why Cole was up in arms. “You truly have nothing to worry about.”
Cole still wouldn’t look at her, watching Ares and Peter disappear into the de Bourne tent. “You are correct – I do not,” he said, turning to face her. “But he does. I must have a talk with Peter to ensure he does not enter another man’s territory.”
Corisande fought off a grin. “Am I your territory?”
He lifted an eyebrow. “If he takes another step in your direction, he is going to find out the hard way.”
<
br /> She couldn’t hold back the laughter anymore. Wrapping her hands around his big forearm, she began to pull him towards the surgeon’s wagon.
“You have nothing to worry about,” she assured him again before changing the subject. “My father wanted to tell me that he will give permission for our marriage provided you settle the situation with Audrie de Longley. We happen to have my brothers’ approvals as well. Therefore, we are practically betrothed.”
As she had hoped, her diversion worked. Cole looked down his nose at her, a smile playing on his lips. “Then this is already the best day of my life.”
“Truly?”
“Truly.”
She smiled up at him before laying her cheek against his arm affectionately. “Mine, too,” she said. “My father also says that I can sleep in town tonight. But I told him a little lie.”
“What lie?”
“That I was going to bring Gaia with me,” she said. “Let me be clear – I am not going to bring her. But I told him that so he would not think I was sleeping alone.”
Cole almost said what he was thinking, but he refrained. You will not be sleeping alone. But he didn’t mean it in the lewd sense, that he’d only rented a room for her simply to take advantage of her. He didn’t mean that at all. But he wasn’t going to leave her alone in a town surrounded by over seven thousand men. He intended to stay with her and watch her sleep simply to make sure she was safe.
Truth be told, it was the night before battle.
He wanted to spend what might be his last remaining moments with her.
“I see,” he said after a moment. “Then collect your bag, or whatever you wish to bring, and make your excuses to your sister. While the men are eating boiled pig, you shall dine on the finest the tavern has to offer and sleep in the most comfortable bed I could procure. My future wife shall have only the best.”
She smiled at his determination to take great care of her. In truth, she liked it very much. “There’s one more thing,” she said.
The Dark Spawn (Battle Lords of de Velt Book 5) Page 23