The Crimson Castle (6 page)

The room was dark, the few candles having burned out long ago, but the
night was bright, the moonlight permeating the shutters, and he could still
make out Evelyn in the corner. She had fallen asleep, her head tilted to one
side, her lips slightly ajar and Gabriel almost smiled at the innocent picture
she made. And she was just that. For all her bold declarations, she was still
naïve to the ways of the world. Still clinging to hope that her life would
continue in the same blessed manner that it always had.

  He watched her, as she had watched him, and he reflected on that
night’s events. He had been surprised at her offering him aid. As far as she
was concerned, he was the devil incarnate to her. Her dogged insistence that he
do as he was told came as no surprise to him, however.  She was surely the
most stubborn woman he had ever come across and twice as argumentative. Evelyn
aggravated him beyond reason and he failed to understand why.  

Her eyes fluttered open as he watched her and he saw the confusion in
her eyes as she awoke from her slumber. She looked to him and, even
through
the dark of the
night,
Gabriel could see that she was discomfited with having being so exposed to his
scrutiny. With a stretch, she rose from her chair and, stepping towards him,
she gave him a tentative smile.

 “How are you feeling?”

Intending to make a mocking remark, he stopped himself, but not before she
caught the sardonic expression on his face and she stepped back slightly. He
cursed his foolish pride; he was genuinely grateful for her care and wished he
had better social graces.  Grabbing her hand, he stopped her from
retreating and she stared at their hands in surprise. Realising what he had
done, he dropped it.

“I thank you, my lady,” he said hoarsely, as she rubbed unknowingly at
the hand he had just touched. “I’m feeling much improved.”

“I am glad of it.”

His awkward touch forgotten, she moved forward once more and put a hand
to his head for the second time that night. Her caress had a torturous element
to it and part of him wanted to tear away from it whilst another wanted to
seize it and place passionate kisses to her palm. These thoughts seem to have
crept up on him and a realisation of just how strong his attraction was to her
struck him. He groaned and Evelyn looked at him with concern, imagining it to
be from pain.

“Can I get you a draught for the discomfort?”

He shook his head.
“Nay, just a drink if you will.”

“Of course.”

She handed him some ale and Gabriel couldn’t help but deliberately
brush his fingers tips across hers as he took it from her, further torturing
himself. He watched carefully for her reaction and he was sure he saw a darkening
of her cheeks in the hazy darkness, but he decided he was probably deceiving
himself.

She studied him as he sat up and drained the cup. “Why were you
attacked?”

He supressed the urge to groan at her curiosity and his jaw jerked in
anger at the memories of the confrontation.
“
‘Tis
of no consequence, my lady.”

“Two men nearly killed and an injury such as yours is of no
consequence?”

“’Twas a group of outlaws just looking to cause
mischief.”

“You would call that mischief?” She pointed to his wound.

 “They want vengeance,” he muttered.

“Vengeance for what?”

“Lady Evelyn, you must understand Lord
Tibald
has to punish wrong doings-“

“Tell me, what
did they want
vengeance for?”
she interrupted sharply, eyeing him with exasperation.

He gave a sigh, knowing she would not leave the subject alone, having
already discovered her stubborn nature.

“The leader, Lazarus, had a child who worked in the castle. They had
him feed them information, in particular about the lord’s movements. They
robbed
Tibald
twice on the road thanks to the boy’s
information.”

“And the boy was found out?”

Gabriel nodded sadly, dreading how she would react when he told her of
the boy’s fate.

“What of the child?”

“Evelyn, I don’t think-“

“What happened?” she persisted.

“He was hung.” Gabriel looked away, knowing the disappointment and
horror in her eyes would be directed at him.

“Could you not have done something?”

Shaking his head, he gave an inward groan. How like her to believe that
one person could put the world to rights. Did she forget he was just a man? Or
did she believe he performed his duties with such relish that he would take
pleasure in seeing a child hung?

“How can you have allowed that to happen?”

“Allowed? Evelyn, can you not see I have little say in these matters? Some
of us do not have the benefit of highborn birth; we cannot command others to do
as we say.”

She fell silent for a moment, avoiding his gaze while biting at her
lip.

“Nay, you are right. Forgive my foolishness.”

He softened at this, the apology unexpected. “I know you think of me as
the devil incarnate, Evelyn, but even I have no taste for killing children,” he
spoke gently but he was still chagrined by her accusations.

She did not deny his allegation, shifting uncomfortably under his
intense gaze. There was a gulf of silence between them until she turned
abruptly, her cheeks heated by shame.

“I will bid you good night, Sir. You have need of rest.”

Gabriel tried to hide his disappointment, a frown coming across his
face at his puerile thoughts, and Evelyn, upon seeing this, made quickly to the
door.

“I will return in the morrow,” she paused, “to check on the wound.” She
added this hastily as if to make sure he understood she was merely performing a
duty and had no interest in spending time in his company.

As an understanding of the folly of his feelings for her descended upon
him, he laid down, not bothering to respond, and flung an arm across his eyes.
She hastened out of the room in a bustle of skirts and he heard the door shut,
none to softly, behind her. He had upset her, he was sure, but he had found
himself unable to look at her, the attraction seeming to intensify with her
every move, her every touch. Her feelings of abhorrence for him were abundantly
clear and he wondered how it was possible to cause her offence if she thought
so little of him.

Sleep proved elusive for a second time that night, the thought of her
return robbing him of his rest and it was with a weary head and an irritable
disposition that he greeted her the next day.

Gabriel was quick to recover, for which Evelyn was grateful. He needed
little attending now but
Tibald
was difficult to deal
with, his frustrations at Gabriel being unable to fulfil all his duties being
released upon Evelyn and his servants.

The impending visit from some nobles signalled the start of
preparations for a great feast. Evelyn struggled to summon up any enthusiasm
for it. Evelyn loathed large social gatherings such as these, seemingly only
used as an opportunity for the men to get unreasonably inebriated and to boast
of their conquests. She knew few of the noble ladies attending, having done her
best to avoid previous gatherings, although some of them were coming from
neighbouring lands. The admiration she received as well as her outspoken nature,
tended not to endear her towards females of her standing.

As the castle slowly came to life in anticipation of the event, Gabriel
was increasingly busy in spite of some stern words from Evelyn reminding him
not to strain himself after such an injury. His response was one of cool
indifference and Evelyn found herself avoiding his company once more,
bewildered by the rapid change in his attitude towards her. She felt that just
as soon as she had broken through his stony exterior, he would throw up another
wall and her incessant inquisitiveness began to wane.

But then just as she felt she could give up devoting her thoughts to
him, he would surprise her. A smile, a laugh, a kind gesture, and she would be
enthralled again until his cold expression shuttered down once more and she
would attempt to convince herself that he was not worth her thoughts. 

The day of the feast came as more visiting peers joined them, the
stifling atmosphere of the castle seeming to intensify, not through the
increase of bodies filling it but through the scrutiny she could feel directed
at herself. The amused glances of
Tibald
and his
companions put her on edge and, as she stood in the courtyard, vying for
respite, a hand came upon her shoulder and she turned to see Gabriel.

“Pay them no heed, my lady.”

His skewed smile elicited one from
herself
before she could prevent it. “You mistake me,
Sir,
I
care not for their gossiping.”

Gabriel’s look told her he knew otherwise but before he could say as
much, a shout from
Tibald
drew him away from her with
a roll of his eyes.

“Pray pardon me, my lady. I shall
see you this night.”

***

Evelyn did indeed see him that night for he was the first thing her
eyes were drawn to. Gone was his worn leather surcoat, replaced with a simple
dark blue tunic that served to strengthen the azure of his eyes. His stubble
remained and his hair seemed as unruly as ever but he stood proud, his striking
appearance marking him out from the other men and his dark looks causing them
to pale in comparison.

He flicked a look to her and paused as she stepped into the Great Hall.
A flutter made itself know in her stomach as she thought she detected a glint
of interest in his eyes, but a scowl came across his face and it was gone
before she could be sure.

The feast was to be a lavish affair – a display of
Tibald’s
wealth. Three trestle tables stood, one upon the dais and two running down
either length of it, benches awaiting their guests. Beautifully embroidered
white linen cloths covered them and pewter plates sat at intervals while the
silver plates were reserved for the buffet table from which the servants would
serve from. The salt cellar, sat upon the great table, was a large vessel
crafted into the shape of a ship and placed in front of
Tibald’s
chair. The room was lit with great cupped oil lamps, the soft light
both flattering
and concealing, creating a beautifully
distorted setting for the splendour.

Evelyn sat to
Tibald’s
right and Gabriel sat to his left as the servants proffered the ewers in which
to wash their hands. The scent of fresh herbs hung in the air, the rushes
having been swept and replaced a few days beforehand. The courses were
exquisitely cooked, a sumptuous mix of cooked meats, fishes, jellies and
custards, all beautifully spiced, but Evelyn had little appetite while sharing
the lord’s platter, his quietly malignant manner creating a well of anxiety
within her. As the servants cleared away the remains, Evelyn breathed a sigh of
relief, quickly moving away from the table as the floor was cleared for dancing.

***

Gabriel couldn’t help but steal a glance at Evelyn as she joined some
of the other women, who were conversing gaily. He watched with amusement as she
struggled to keep the look of boredom from her face.  Radiant in green
silk, she outshone every other woman in attendance, capturing his attention as
soon as he set eyes upon her. Her hair hung loose, curling just above the dip
of her back, a delicate gilded circlet setting off the gold of her hair.

When she had locked eyes with him he had forgotten himself, sensations
fluttering through his gut, and then, at the sound of his master’s voice, he
had remembered the madness behind his fascination.  He was well aware of
his inconsistent attitude towards her, forever trying to retain a remote
manner, but he failed consistently, drawn in by the lure of her voice, her
smile, a fleeting touch.

As he continued to watch her he knew without hesitation he was yet
again lost.

***

Standing with a
gaggle of women, Evelyn attempted a look of interest but the tedium of the night
was steadily wearing thin. Her interest piqued, however, when she heard the
mention of Sir Gabriel’s name. An older woman, Lady Isabel, who seemed to be
the most interesting and outspoken of the group, turned to her.

“Do you not think him handsome, Lady Evelyn? You are most fortunate to
be able to spend so much time in his company.”

She looked to where he was stood, just behind
Tibald
,
who was laughing raucously while surrounded by a group of noble men and
knights. In contrast to his master, but no different from usual, he was
scowling. He noticed her scrutiny and her eyes darted away, a blush creeping
into her cheeks at being caught. She conceded he was indeed one of the most
handsome men she had ever been acquainted with.

Gabriel did not follow fashions and she suspected his slightly too long
hair and
stubbled
jaw were merely a look of
convenience, but they added to his distinct look, distinguishing him from his
companions. His strong profile and broad shoulders gave him the appearance of a
warrior and Evelyn knew very well that there was a body to match underneath his
clothing.

“I dare say he is,” she admitted to Isabel. “
‘Tis
just a shame he knows not how to smile,” she added with laugh.

“Oh, I would put up with that scowl all day long to be bedded by him!”

The group of ladies burst into giggles and Evelyn’s cheeks flamed even
further at the thought. Whilst these ladies were married and experienced in
these matters, Evelyn was completely out of her depth.

A younger girl interjected, “
‘Tis
a surprise he
has not been snapped up sooner.”