Aura (12 page)

"Lady Felicity, the Lady Aura."
Aura smiled and before Felicity had time to say anything, remarked.  "I have heard of you from a friend of the Lord Edwin."
The woman opened her mouth in surprise but got no chance to ask her about the conversation as Aura was led off to a couple of gentlemen further in the room.
”The Lords Alfred and Durban."
The two men looked at her in interest and she sent them a frosty glare.  Vernon bent to whisper in her ear.  "That is not the way to catch a husband Aura."
She just hissed back.  "So.  Who wants a man under foot anyway?"
Vernon laughed and led her to another couple of men.  "The Lords Alex, whom you already have met.  And Allen, who you have not."
Aura tossed Alex a slightly roguish smile and whispered over her shoulder, as she was being led away.  "You secret is safe with me, and I will even help you catch her if you want.  It should be a piece of cake."
Alex smiled back in surprise then blushed as he caught her meaning, as Aura stole a quick meaningful glance at Felicity, to see if she was watching.  She was.  To keep her interest, Aura winked at him and teased.  "See you later."
"The Ladies Alicia and Amy."  Vernon turned to Aura and, noting the exchange going on between her and Alex, he frowned.  He caught her sleeve to catch her attention.  "Aura, the Ladies Alicia and Amy."  Lord Alex lived too far away for Vernon's purposes.
Aura was received with all the frosty politeness she had expected from these women, for they had seemed to be very close friends of the Lady Felicity.
Vernon, noting their reaction to Aura, took her over to another couple standing off to the side by themselves.  "The Lord Tonquin and the Lady Dianne."
Aura gave then her friendliest smile, and spoke in greeting.  "I see congratulations are in order for you two."
The woman blushed and looked up at the man while he asked.  "Congratulations for what?"
"Why, for your upcoming betrothal and marriage.  It is obvious that you are both very much in love."  Aura answered sounding as if it should be a foregone conclusion.
"We have made no final plans, nor has anything been mentioned or discussed on the matter."  The Lord Tonquin wasn’t sure whether to take affront to her statement, or accept it as no more than just observation.  His decision was made as Aura leaned over towards him and whispered.
"You waste valuable time, if you do not offer for her soon perhaps another man will."
The Lord Tonquin put a possessive arm about the lady Dianne’s shoulders, and she sent Aura a shy, thankful smile.  Aura smiled back at the couple and Vernon drew her away to meet yet more people.
"My wife you already know but I would really like you to meet the Lady Signi."
"Lady Signi!"  Aura exclaimed then explained her surprise.  "It was the first name I heard after realizing I was lost.”
"Really?"  Signi's pleasant voice inquired curiously.  "In which manner was it brought to your attention?"
"I was hiding, yet within earshot of a private conversation.  They mentioned you are one of the most beautiful women in the country.  I must say I have to agree.  One man in particular mentioned something about approaching your brother to offer for your hand.  He said your brother was the Lord Thorn."
"Thorn receives so many offers for me that are not to my liking that he is beginning to think I will never settle.  I think the same of him.  Edwin seems to be the only one content to do so.  Tell me, when did this conversation take place?"
"I admit, it was some time ago, but perhaps you know the man and perhaps by now he is one of your rejected suitors.  He was large, blond, with blue eyes.  He had a scar off the side of his right cheek which gave him a roguish look."
"I think I know the man, and no, he has made no offers for my hand."  Signi blushed a deep red and lowered her lashes.  "He is said to be as big a rogue as he looks."
"Undoubtedly he has a degree of experience.  If his speech to his friend means anything, I would say his implied promiscuous nature is more rumor than reality.  Men may boast about their conquests in public, but in private and to their friends, they usually tell the truth.  He has not the heart of a rogue or a rake."
Signi smiled at her in gratitude then leaned over to speak in private, as Vernon left them to their own devices.  Signi, he determined, would take care of Aura.
"I heard you put Felicity in her place a few times during the meal, and might I commend you?  She makes a nuisance of herself every time Thorn comes to court, and he is due any day now.  Especially since his lands are secure once more."
"Lord Alex has plans for her, perhaps we could give him a helping hand?"  Aura suggested with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
"Alex?  Alex and Felicity?"  Signi looked thoughtful for a moment then smiled.  "I would have never thought of them as a couple.  Where did you get this idea, or was it something you heard?"
"Like I said Signi, men will talk, and especially to their closest friends.  Being a woman I find I am sometimes overlooked and am privy to many intimate conversations."
"Well I have a bit of news for you as well.  Vernon has plans to marry you off to one of the men here tonight."  Signi informed her.
"I had guessed as much, but I am not about to give the matter credence.  There are six men here.  Three are seriously committed, two I have managed to put off, and that leaves the Lord Allen, whom I doubt is all that interested."
"Oh I think he could be interested, if the way he is watching you is any indication."
 
"Well he can cool his heels, I have other plans.  I am going home somehow and I do not need a man for that.  There is nothing I want more than to be free to live my own life."  Aura replied.
"Wishful thinking Aura; for if you notice, Vernon already prepares the match."  Signi warned her.
Aura looked at the Lord Allen pensively for a while, then asked:  "Who was Allen interested in before I came along?"
"The Lady Arabella, and she is a beauty."
"Very interesting.  So where is this prize?"  Aura inquired.
Signi giggled in amusement as she answered.  "Not invited of course."
"Well, perhaps it is time we found a way to let her back into the charmed circle.  How does she feel about him?"  Aura didn’t want to force another woman into the position she was in herself.  For some reason that didn’t seem fair, but she would if she had to. 
"Arabella has no mind to call her own.  She will go where is told and do whatever is expected of her.  All she needs is a man to lead her.  Allen fits the role to perfection, Vernon finds her intolerably dull.  He also favors her for Thorn, who thinks she would be perfect if all a man wanted from a wife was someone to decorate his home.  Thorn is looking for something I think he will never find."  Signi spoke fondly of her brother.
"So what does your illustrious brother want anyway?"  Aura asked.
"In general?  The usual things all men want.  Someone to share his life, love him and bear his children.  Someone he can love in return.  More important he seeks a soul mate.  Of course if she happens to be pretty he would not complain I am sure.  He agrees with Vernon that Arabella is addlepated."
"She probably is, but if that is what the Lord Allen wants, then that is what he should have.  After all it is his choice.  Maybe he is no better."
"Aura! That is a terrible thing to say."  Signi couldn’t help but giggle.
"But true?"  Aura asked in wide-eyed innocence.
Signi laughed and nodded her agreement.  A few moments later the Lady Felicity joined them with an insincere apology.
"I was unjustly cruel to you this evening Aura.  I would like you to know I regret my behavior."
Of course she regretted it.  Aura was getting along very well with Signi, who was Thorn's sister.  Then again, she was also under Vernon's sponsorship.  If she, Felicity, could not bring Thorn in line on her own, perhaps she could find another way through Aura.
"I understand Felicity, and that is quite alright.  You should choose your enemies more carefully.  Indiscriminate hostilities can rebound."
Felicity had no idea what Aura was talking about, or what she meant, but she nodded her head nonetheless, as if she agreed then coyly asked.  "Do you remember who you heard speaking of me?"
"Well, as I recall, the Lord Alex was one."  Aura confided.
"And the other?"  Felicity asked.
"The Lord Edwin."
"And the Lord Thorn?"  Felicity asked wistfully.
"I am sorry Felicity, but I have never met the Lord Thorn so I wouldn’t know him if he speaks of you."  Aura admitted.
"I see."  Her eyes lowered as Signi spoke up.
"I doubt if Thorn is all that interested Felicity and I do not mean to be cruel by telling you so.  It is a well-known fact that what my brother wants he takes.  It will be the same when it comes to choosing a wife.  You will see I am right when it happens."  Signi passed on a little well meaning, albeit, unwanted advice.
"I know.  I think I have known right from the start."  Felicity admitted with a deep sigh, "I had to try anyway."
"We know, and we understand Felicity, but it is just not meant to be."  Signi then struck a spark in her interest by remarking.  "I think Vernon seeks to match the Lord Alex to the Lady Aura.  It will be interesting to see who has the stronger will, Vernon or Alex.  Of course, if Alex has no reason to believe you might return his feeling, he probably will fall in with Vernon's plans.  Aura, I am sure would consider herself lucky to be his wife.  Not only is he quite well stationed but he is a very good-looking man.  Yes," she mused, "it looks like it could be an interesting summer."
It was a speech meant to make the Lord Alex irresistible to Felicity, and as Aura watched, Felicity’s eyes flickered from Alex to Signi then back to Alex again.  Aura smiled a small secret message to Signi then she excused herself from the duo.  Shortly after, she left.

Lady Signi had noticed Aura slip
almost virtually unseen out of the room and understood her reasons or at least she thought she did.  Aura had looked and acted as if she was very tired and considering that she had just arrived after a long ride this very day, she could well understand.  She was of the opinion that Aura could use a friend.  Vernon believed that she needed a husband and a protector, which she also agreed with.  Why the girl would soon be too old for any man to consider her as his wife.
It was unfortunate that Aura herself did not seem to share their opinion.  She gave Signi the impression that she was going to be a challenge.  Yet, there was something vulnerable about the girl and Signi was more than half afraid that Vernon might force her to marry the wrong man, out of sheer desperation.
Soon after she got up the next morning, Signi met the maid assigned to Aura as she headed towards Aura's room.
"Has the Lady Aura risen yet?"
"The Lady Aura has been up for hours Lady Signi. One of the children had a nasty fall earlier and she heard his screams from her balcony.  She went to tend to the injury, and is now surrounded by a crowd of the local children."  The girl gave a wide, pleased grin.
"Thank you Lydia."  Signi replied courteously.  She had always found that treating the servants in a friendly manner often got her extra information or favors.
"You will find her in the very center of the village."  Lydia directed her.
Signi nodded then went off to find Aura.
Aura was indeed surrounded by most of the children in the village as she held the injured lad on her knee.  She was busy getting the other children to join along in a singsong.  The children looked as if they were enjoying themselves in a way they had never done before.  As Signi looked about she noticed several adults watching the group as well.  Everyone seemed to be drawn to the lighthearted gathering and all seemed pleased by the pure sweet voice that wafted over the crowd.
Signi looked a little further afield to see just how far reaching her influence was and her eyes fell on the figure of her oldest brother.
"Thorn!"  Signi whispered and with quick silent moves, she made her way over to his side.  He had been totally involved with watching Aura, which Signi found very interesting.  She had never seen such a look on her brother's face, almost as if he had never seen a woman before, and the hunger in his eyes could almost be felt.  Signi's mind clicked into action as she noted all this and she smiled in glee.
Thorn.  Her brother.  He would be a perfect match for Aura, and here he was, watching the lady like a cat stalking a mouse.  Something told her that this was going to be very interesting.
"Glad you could make it Thorn."  Signi greeted her brother as she walked up to the side of his charger.
Thorn acknowledged her presence with a nod, while he settled his horse with subtle pressures of his knees, to make sure he remained calm.  During all that his eyes never once left Aura.  "Vernon has a new toy I see."  He noted with a grim twist of his lips.
"That is a matter of opinion.  She is a toy he has great plans for."  Signi spoke to both wet her brother’s interest as well as gauge it.  "The plans, however, have nothing to do with himself."
"So what has he in mind for her then?"  Thorn's mind digested all Signi implanted, while still studying his quarry.
"He would like to keep her close at hand, so he seeks to match her with the Lord Allen."  Signi informed him.
"She will never wed the Lord Allen."  Thorn dismissed the possibility.
Signi noted the flint like glint in Thorn's eyes as he spoke and she was hard pressed not to smile.  So he was touchy about the girl was he?  Signi's mind danced at the prospects this tidbit of information brought to mind and she added, for his information.
"She says the same thing.  So, to get out of the proposed match, she has talked me into introducing her to Arabella, who she seeks to match to Lord Allen."
"Sounds feasible.  Lord Allen has an eye for beauty.  But that will not stop Vernon from matching her to another of his favorites."  Thorn spoke from experience.
"She is aware of that.  So she seeks to match the Lord Alex to the Lady Felicity.  It is much to Alex's approval."
"Good, and I especially wish her the best of luck.  That would take Felicity off of my back."  Thorn was especially pleased with that idea, though he didn’t show it.
"Are you on your way to see Vernon by any chance Thorn?"  Signi let the question slip innocently.
"I was, but now I am not so sure.  You know how I hate to fit into court entertainments.  I will be with my troops if you wish to visit, out in the North field."  Thorn could almost taste the intrigue.  He wanted nothing to do with it and could almost feel sorry for the young girl who was the center of Vernon’s attention.
"You are wrong in your assumption that Vernon might even consider matching you with her Thorn.  He wants her here, where he can keep an eye on her.  You live too far away and you prefer life on your own land to that of life at court."
Thorn smiled as he replied.  "So I do."
At that remark Signi thought to plant another seed in his head, to see later if it took root.  "The way you were looking at the lady a while ago, I could have sworn you were interested in her for yourself."
"No," Thorn denied a little too quickly to convince his sister.  "I was just watching her because she reminds me of a girl I met a while back.”
It was a lame excuse in Signi's estimation and she smiled as she noted.  "That girl must have made quite an impression to have you remember her this long.  I think it would be quite exciting to find that she was that same person."
"It is unlikely.  That person is probably dead by now.  I doubt whether she was prepared to live the life she was about to face."  Though, he thought to himself, she did seem resourceful enough.  It was a dangerous thought and he pushed it aside.  It was much easier for him to deal with the thought that she was dead, that way he was not tempted to ride up to this woman, pull her onto his horse before him and ride away.
"Did you love her Thorn?"  Signi asked, digging further as she dredged up further memories.
It was too close to the truth for him to face fully at the moment, everything before him was too new yet and the facts too old.
To cover his thoughts he spoke with a trace of his usual arrogance and disregard for females in general.  "She was a woman and could have been mine if I would have wished.  For some reason, I refrained from taking her.  That is all there is to it sister, so I would suggest you leave it at that."  Thorn then turned his horse around and rode towards his camp.
Signi watched her brother ride off with a pleased, pensive smile.  Something told her that things were not quite the way her brother had told her.  Could it be that Aura actually was the mystery girl in his past?  She wondered how they had met and what had happened, for Aura had definitely made an impression on her here-to-fore invulnerable brother.  She skipped happily and walked on, wondering as she did just what type of effect Thorn had managed to have on Aura.  It was time, she decided, to set ALL plans into action, and she headed out to find Arabella.
As luck would have it Arabella was easy to find and not too far away, as she was amongst the crowd watching Aura.  Signi saw her and made a beeline straight for her.
"Arabella, just who I was looking for.  The Lady Aura and I were planning a bit of a surprise tonight and would like you to join us.  Would you like to join our party?"  Signi invited.
"I would love to, but are you sure the Lady Aura meant me?  I do not even know her."  Arabella was unsure whether to agree or to protest.  She had never been put in such a position before.  Most women never invited her to any of their functions.  They tended to avoid her and she often found herself alone.
"Of course Aura meant you.  It was she who suggested you specifically.  Well, we will expect you at Vernon's tonight.  I believe you know the way and the routine."
Arabella nodded with obvious enthusiasm then made an exclamation of disappointment when Aura got up and left.  She would have liked to got to know more about the mysterious lady.  Signi seemed to know her well enough and appeared to be more than happy to introduce them.  It seemed as if Aura had other plans.  She wondered what Aura would say if she followed her with the idea of introducing herself to her.  She quickly decided it was a poor idea.  She didn’t want to insinuate herself into a friendship that might never exist, it might harm her chances for later.  She would wait.
Aura went to her room, where she changed into her riding clothes.  She then went to the stables to get her horse, and rode off to her bathing spot.  Wolf was already there, waiting for her with great impatience.  She watched as he ran around in excitement.  He was beside himself, jumping on her to lick her face in greeting and knocking her over.  He wiggled as he whined, then ran back and forth between her and the river.  She feared he was starting to get a little wild and she decided it was time to take him home with her.  He would not be so alone at her side.  Nor, in fact, would she.  Wolf ran around confident that they were alone and Aura no longer cared if they were anymore or not.  When their play time was over Wolf was only too happy to trot along at her side as she rode into the town and anyone who came across them immediately got out of the way.  A wolf was a dangerous animal.
When she got back to her room, she changed and went down for the evening meal.  Wolf went with her.  No one challenged the decision.  Vernon thought the incident amusing and for that reason alone, Chatelaine allowed it.  She had to admit it had amused her as well.  Her guests, although appearing shocked for some time, also thought it was a great lark, as the wolf proved to be quite a show off.
Signi and Aura's campaign to match the people about them, to benefit themselves, was a total success and at the end of two weeks, before Vernon's victory banquet, the girls were smiling at each other in smug satisfaction.  Lord Alex, with support from Aura, talked the Lady Felicity into giving up her childish fantasies about the Lord Thorn, whom Aura had yet to meet, and into accepting his proposal.  Signi managed to convince the Lord Allen that his desires towards the Lady Arabella should not be denied.
Aura was more than pleased with their results, as she had no more suitors to dodge, despite the swelling numbers about Vernon's palace.  Vernon's warlords were beginning to congregate in anticipation of the upcoming celebration.  Aura felt freer than she had since she had met her host.  She came and went as she felt the urge, spending her afternoons with her wolf, swimming and sunning herself and left the others to their own devices.
Signi, whenever she got the chance, went off to spend some time with her brothers.  Edwin, more often that not, was off with some of the younger warlords like himself, but Thorn proved to be a very ardent listener.  He was both impressed and amused by the tales his sister brought to him about her new friend.  Yet, he was reluctant to break his self-imposed exile, despite knowing that he was bound to do so sooner or later.  He told himself that he stayed in his camp because he wanted to remain out of Vernon's matchmaking reach.  In truth, he was finding the memory of the girl he had known at the cave, pressing on him.  There were too many things about her that still haunted him, the feel of her lips under his and her body pressed up against him, to name but a few.  Still he held the reigns firm on his control.  Signi saw through it all and she still brought him news, all the while withholding two pertinent pieces of information, the woman’s name and any mention of her pet.
It was not long before Vernon figured out how he had been outmaneuvered and in his anger he vowed to even the score.  He felt that he had been made to look the fool and he did not like it.  He announced the time of the festival then decided that he would throw caution to the wind, and offer the Lady Aura to whoever would accept her.  Then, he smugly thought to himself, he would see if she still thought herself so smart crossing him.
Signi, as she watched Vernon's mood swings, sensed something was amiss.  She turned to her brother with her suspicions.  Thorn, upon hearing Signi’s concerns, decided it was past time to make his presence known and went to see Vernon.  He would soon find out what was going through their leader’s mind.
"So you finally arrive to join your troops Thorn?"  Vernon greeted his old friend with open arms.  Nobody had told him that the Lord Thorn had been camped on his very doorstep for the last two weeks.  He escorted him into one of his private rooms where they could speak in relative comfort.  "That must have been some persistent raider to keep you away so long."  It had been a while since they had spent any amount of time together and he was happy to see his favorite warlord.
"All in your service my Duke."  Thorn teased back.
"You got him?"  Vernon was serious for a moment as he asked.
"I got him," Thorn replied with equal firmness then changed the subject.  "Signi tells me there have been a rash of marriages and engagements this year.  You must have been busier than ever."
"Yes, well, I must admit they are all not to my liking."  Vernon relayed with a frown.  "There have been other hands which have been at play here."
"You have any idea who that might be?"  Thorn probed with a smile.
"It could only be one person, the Lady Aura.  I would have had her wed to one of the men at court, but she would have none of it."  Vernon sounded his annoyance.
"Perhaps she did not suit the men you chose for her?"  Thorn replied carelessly.
"More likely she wanted nothing to do with them and I know through many sources that it was she who had masterminded several of the newest unions.  Just so that she could remain single."