Claire Delacroix (77 page)

“You are missing your knight,” Edana declared with a sympathetic pat on Alys’s shoulder on Thursday afternoon. “And I cannot blame you …”

“Burke is not my knight!”

Edana slanted a glance toward Alys, no doubt noting the heat in her words. “ ’Tis not the way he tells the tale.”

“Burke is mistaken.”

“He does not strike me as a man who is oft mistaken. And truly, Kerwyn says he talks of naught but you …”

“Kerwyn?” Alys asked, grateful for a chance to change the subject. “And what do you know of what Kerwyn says?”

Edana flushed and spun to face Alys. “Is he not the most wondrously mysterious man that ever you have seen?” she enthused. “Those dark eyes seem to hold a thousand mysteries, and truly, he himself declares that he can tell a horse’s secret name with but a glance.” She inhaled deeply and danced
around the chamber. “I should swoon from a single kiss, I know it well.”

Alys smiled despite herself. “Kisses? But a week ago you did not even know the man was alive!”

“Aye, but that was
before.
Did you know that Kerwyn has been here at Kiltorren over two years? I saw him before, you may be certain of that, but was certain such a handsome man must be wed.” Edana smiled, her dimples making an appearance. “I have your knight to thank for the clarification.”

Alys rolled her eyes. “He is not my knight!”

“Nay?” Edana challenged. “Then why have you sadly dragged yourself about the keep since his departure?”

“He says himself that he seeks Malvina’s hand.”

“That is not what Brigid told me.”

Alys opened her mouth and closed it again. She frowned at the shuttered window. “ ’Tis the rain,” she said without enough conviction to convince the younger girl.

“Ha! It has never troubled you before.”

“ ’Tis the lack of labor. I do not know what to do with myself.”

“Nonsense! I should welcome a relief from labor.” Edana leaned closer. “Do you know that sorry excuse of a girl they summoned from the village has no skill with my ladies at all? They will not permit her to milk them—she was kicked this morning and bawled like a child. If you hunger for labor, Alys, you are welcome to some of mine.” Edana surveyed Alys with a frown. “Tell me truly what ails you.”

Alys pleated the wool of the gold kirtle between her fingers as she tried to find another excuse, then realized it was beneath her very hand. “ ’Tis the kirtle,” she declared. “I tire of Malvina’s leavings.”

Edana pursed her lips. She squinted at Alys’s garb, then tilted her head in consideration.

“We could at least improve it,” she suggested. “Aye, it could be taken in to fit you better.” She bent and turned over the hem. “And there is enough cloth to let the hem down. Indeed, Alys, it might look as if the gown was your own. You are better with such needle tricks than I, but I would help.”

“What a wondrous idea!” Alys fetched her needle and thread, delighted at both the prospect of change and something to do.

Working together, the pair made the adjustments more quickly than Alys might have believed possible. Edana retrieved half a dozen short lengths of embroidery she had culled from Deirdre’s castoffs, and they managed to piece it all together to add the last increment necessary to the hem. In candlelight, the patching would not be visible.

“We shall make you a lady fair yet!” the maid jested, and Alys laughed. Edana hummed as she braided Alys’s hair with care.

No sooner was Alys dressed than Brigid appeared in the portal. She gasped with delight then fled for her own chamber. She returned to shyly offer a gossamer veil wrought of deep gold and a slim silver circlet.

“But, Brigid, this is yours.”

“You wear it,” Brigid said with a smile. She touched the veil and the kirtle with quick fingers. “Matches.” Then she touched her own, the deep blue of her kirtle accented by the pale blue of her own veiling. “I have mine.”

Alys thanked her cousin profusely, feeling like royalty as she donned the fine veil and fitted the circlet over the top. She had never worn such finery, and it made her feel both feminine and pampered. Alys did not care that Brigid’s hems and cuffs were lavish with embroidery wrought to the proper length, or that her cousin’s circlet was set with gems while hers was plain. Malvina’s garb, indeed, was yet more ornamented than Brigid’s.

’Twas enough for Alys to have her ankles hidden from the breezes, enough to wear a veil like any lady of any hall.

“If only your knight could see you thus,” Edana breathed. “He would sweep you up on his great steed and ride away into the night with you.”

Brigid smiled sadly. “But then Alys would be gone,” she whispered, her smile fading. Her lips trembled, her words faltered anew. “And no one would remain to l-l-love me.”

Both Alys and Edana stared at Brigid, stunned by her conclusion. A lone tear slipped down the younger girl’s cheek, and Alys stepped quickly across the room.

“Nay, Brigid, nay!” She pulled her cousin into a tight embrace. The way Brigid clung to her made Alys’s own tears rise at her cousin’s vulnerability. “I am not going anywhere,” she whispered against Brigid’s veil. “I would not leave you.”

“But Burke loves you. I-I-I will never have a knight to love me.”

“Of course you will.”

“Nay, Alys.” Brigid shook her head and her tears scattered across both women. “I am not c-c-clever enough to have a man. M-M-Malvina and Mother told me.”

“That is not true, Brigid.” Alys took a deep breath and loathed her aunt for so injuring this maiden. “You will be wed happily one day, I am certain. Did Burke not say that a man would love you?”

Brigid blinked and seemed encouraged. She looked at Alys again, wiping at her tears with her fingertips. “And you will not leave me alone?”

“Nay.” Alys smiled for Brigid. “Never.”

When Brigid flung herself into Alys’s arms with relief, Alys closed her eyes and leaned against her trembling cousin.

By all that was holy, she hoped that Burke had not given Brigid false hope.

Alys was startled to find the knight who loomed large in her thoughts loitering in the hall. She froze on the bottom step, certain how he would interpret the improvement in her appearance. It took no wits at all to see that Burke would believe Alys had adorned herself for him. He would be encouraged, he would woo her with his charm once more.

Alys was not convinced that she could withstand the man’s allure.

For she had missed him. She watched him covertly for a moment, letting her heart hammer at the sight of him, knowing he would turn an intoxicating smile upon her at any moment. Alys secretly admitted that she was not only glad to look her best for his return but that she had no desire to avoid him this night.

Burke glanced up in the heart of that realization and smiled at her with his usual sunny confidence. Alys’s heart leapt in a way that was quickly becoming familiar. Burke’s gaze danced over her, warm with appreciation, and his smile broadened. Alys found herself unable to take a breath when he left his companion to stride toward her.

Indeed, her pulse positively thundered.

“You look wondrous!” Before Alys could think of a response, Burke caught her hand, leaving a burning imprint of his lips upon her knuckles. He lifted her hand high and turned her, and Alys did not doubt ’twas by design she ended up standing dangerously close to him when he was done.

“Magnificent,” he whispered, his eyes glowing.

“Burke! You should not utter such nonsense.” Though Alys intended to chide him, her words fell more breathlessly than she might have preferred.

Burke smiled into her eyes. “The truth is never nonsense,” he murmured, then his smile faded. “Do you still doubt my word, Alys?”

Alys dropped her gaze, surprised when Burke chuckled softly.

“Then might I ask your aid this evening?” he asked. Alys peeked to find an intriguingly wicked gleam in Burke’s eyes. “Events might well persuade you of my true intent.”

Alys withdrew her fingers, immediately suspicious. “What do you scheme?”

Burke caught at his heart as if struck by a blow to the heart. “My lady, you wound me!”

Alys laughed, for she could have done naught else. “You would make all dance to your tune this night.”

“Only for the greater good.”

“So you say.”

“Alys, listen to me well.” Burke leaned closer and Alys could not step away from the gleam in his eyes. “I had to feign pursuit of Malvina to ensure that your guardians did not dispatch me from the gates before I could win your favor. But on this night I bring the man who will take that honor in my stead.” Burke indicated the man he had abandoned. “Here is the man for Malvina.”

Alys choked back her laughter at this unexpected claim. “You cannot have found a husband for her!”

“Indeed I have.” Burke’s eyes twinkled. “Though the man does not know his fate as yet.”

“Burke, you cannot be so mean!”

“They deserve each other,” he said grimly.

Alys had to look. She peered discreetly past Burke’s shoulder and studied the dark-blond stranger. He was shorter than Burke, younger, though garbed as a knight. He might have been considered handsome if his lips had not been so tight with impatience.

Indeed, he snarled at his squire as she watched, and Alys had to concede that he shared some trait with her cousin.

“Alys!” Burke chided, his voice low with humor. “Such uncharitable thoughts!”

“I said naught!”

“You did not have to. Your eyes, my lady, tell a thousand tales. I doubt you could tell a lie to save your life. ’Tis another thing I love about you.” While Alys tried to accept that, Burke leaned closer, the warm fan of his breath making her shiver. “Indeed, I share your thinking on this. They two seem to have much in common.”

Alys looked again, liking despite herself that Burke considered her part of his conspiracy. She enjoyed the intimacy of discussing this with him, of having his confidence, no less the sense that they worked together to an end.

The new arrival had the manner of a petulant, indulged child. His garb was fine, his toe tapped impatiently, his gaze roved the hall. He noticed Alys and surveyed her from head to toe as if she were no better than a whore.

Alys stepped back. Burke pivoted and glared so pointedly at the other knight that the man flushed. Alys felt a thrill at Burke’s protectiveness, even as she eased closer to him.

The arrival studied his toe once more.

“A man of ambition with naught to his name,” Burke said with a growl, his fine mood dismissed. Alys did not miss the proprietary way he grasped her elbow, nor did she argue over his touch. There was something about this new arrival she did not like or trust. “He will suit perfectly.”

“But, Burke, Aunt believes Malvina should wed
you,
and you yourself have pledged to be courting her.” Alys felt compelled to make note of the facts. “Neither will be readily persuaded to let you escape.”

“Nay?” Burke arched one brow, his manner playful again. “Would you care to make a wager upon that, my lady fair?”

He looked so certain of himself that Alys longed to prove
him wrong. Even so, she could not stop her smile. “I am ignoring you this week,” she informed him.

Burke grinned. “Aye, I can tell.”

“You would have noted it, if you had not been away.”

“Ah, so you did miss me!”

Alys felt herself flush. She might have stalked away from his cursed confidence and charm, but Burke’s smile faded. “I missed you, my lady fair,” he murmured, sincerity shining in his eyes. “Will you grant me a kiss for my return?”

Alys looked away, knowing she flushed furiously at the very prospect. She was not faring well in her decision to avoid this man, nor in her determination to be indifferent to his compliments. Truth be told, in this moment she did not care.

Indeed, she wanted that kiss with a ferocity that shook her to the core.

“What is this wager of yours?”

Burke’s thumb began to slide across her hand in a slow caress, as if he would ease her into agreement before he even spoke. “That if Deirdre accepts this man for Malvina, you will meet me in private again.”

“I think the prospect most unlikely.”

“She will. Of this I have no doubt.”

Alys shook her head. “Nay, she would never cast your suit aside. Burke, you underestimate her will in this.”

Burke grinned wolfishly, his voice dropped low. “Then you, my lady fair, have naught to lose in taking my wager.”

There was a challenge in his tone that made Alys wary. The folded her arms across her chest, wondering what Burke knew that she did not. “And naught to win,” she challenged. “What shall you grant me if I win this wager?”

Burke chuckled. “Your heart’s desire,” he whispered wickedly. “Indeed, it might be the same as my own.”

’Twas with difficulty that Alys stifled the urge to swat him,
but Burke stepped quickly away is af he were not certain of what she would do.

There was some satisfaction to be had in that, at least.

“Well?” Burke demanded. “Have we a wager? Decide quickly, Alys!”

“Aye!” she declared with rare impulsiveness.

Burke’s grin flashed. “I assure you, my lady, that you will not regret your course,” he murmured, then stepped away.