He raised his eyebrows slightly. “Ah. Well, Nicolas might be another matter. He may have to be convinced.”
“He does not know. Skye is afraid to tell him.”
He nodded faintly, turning for the stairs and taking her elbow. “Mayhap I should speak with him.”
“Aye, mayhap you should,” she insisted, relieved he wasn’t angry with her for spilling their “news”. Even if he was, he had not admonished her.
The hall was still in full swing, Gaston’s knights loud and boisterous with their games and songs. He kissed her hand and left her at the door, entering the room while Remington frantically beckoned her sisters to join her.
*
It was tobe Remington’s last day at Mt. Holyoak before traveling to London. Gaston had told the priest they would leave in two days to allow him time to make preparations for his trainees, and further to allow Remington to take care of any final details.
Oleg followed her through the castle, listening to her rattle off instructions. She most likely would not be returned by September, when the sheep would be shorn, and she made sure that Oleg understood to proceed without her. Grain stores needed replenishing and the fact that the providence had had a good season promised to fill the stores to capacity. No one would go hungry in Boroughbridge, or the neighboring towns of Helperby and Brafferton. With winter on the approach, food was of a primary concern.
She and Gaston had exchanged heated words this morning. Unsure of how long they would be in London, Remington wanted him to convince Antonius and Nicolas to marry her sisters before she left. To think of her sisters unwed and pregnant left her feeling hollow with pity, and she felt it Gaston’s duty, as their liege, to convince the knights to do the right thing. Gaston replied, patiently, that he could not force his men into matrimony before they were ready.
Angrily, Remington had turned her back on him and left to go about her duties. Even as she went over the kitchen stock with Oleg, she was still angry with him. Aye, she knew she was being somewhat unreasonable, but she couldn’t fathom the knight’s reluctance to do the right thing. But the most maddening thing was when Gaston had told her frankly the whole situation between her sisters and their prospective husbands was none of her business.
None of her business!The words still riled her, even as Oleg went over the inventory of stored vegetables. Remington ordered a vegetable soup for the nooning meal from his tally and left him to sort out the rest of the kitchen supplies. Eudora was packing for her and she wanted to check up on the woman.
She passed into the grand hall and came face to face with Dane and another young page, laden down with stock for the kitchens. Her first reaction was to hug him, and she could see the light in his eyes as well, but just as quickly she averted her gaze and walked past him. Dane, with a sad face, passed into the kitchens behind the other boy.
Her anger at Gaston and her sadness for her son brought tears to her eyes as she made her way down the corridor. She was leaving on the morrow and not even allowed to say good-bye to her son. Her sisters were pregnant and unwed, and she was faced with an uncertain future. When did her life become so miserable?
As soon as she reached the narrow stairs, Gaston and Antonius entered the castle and nearly ran her over. She looked up to snap at them, but then noticed that they were in full battle armor.
“What’s wrong?” she demanded warily, forgetting she was mad at him.
“Brimley is under siege!” he said. “It would seem that Lord Botmore heard of Brimley’s meeting with me and decided topay him a visit. Brimley told Botmore that he was planning to support the crown and Botmore went wild. His troops were already inside the keep and from what I understand have managed to fairly wreak havoc. I must go and do what I can.”
“Botmore!” she hissed. “He destroyed Crayke?”
“I do not know. But I intend to find out and make restitution to Brimley.”
The day that had started out bad had just gotten worse. She sank down on the steps and shook her head. “Gaston, Derek was betrothed to Catherine Brimley, Lord Brimley’s youngest daughter. Botmore was so proud of the alliance. I cannot understand why he would do this.”
Gaston jerked his head at Antonius, who discreetly vacated. He gazed down on Remington’s puzzled, sad face.
“Nor I, angel,” he said softly. “Except to say that Botmore is seeking revenge on me and he knows it would be foolish to attack Mt. Holyoak with all of the troops I have here. Suffice it to say he intends to cause me a great deal of trouble.”
She gazed up at him, her anger completely gone. How could she be angry at that beautiful, masculine face? “So you go to fight again?”
He smiled wryly, sitting heavily on the stair next to her. With all of his armor, he nearly squashed her into the wall. “I am afraid so. But I am leaving Arik behind, to guard you.”
“Arik?” she was surprised. “Why would you leave your second in command behind to baby sit?”
He looked at her, his gaze tender as it lingered on her face. “Nothing is more important than you,” he said softly. “I would stay behind if I could, but I must lead my troops. Besides, if this is a ruse, then I want Arik in charge of the fortress.”
“But I thought you said Lord Botmore would not attack Mt. Holyoak?” she said, concerned.
“He would not do it while I was within the walls because he knows it would be futile. But he may try while I am off on some dandy pretense. I am not at all sure that this is not some sort of ploy to lure me away from my keep.”
Her face went white. “My God, Gaston, could Botmore be luring you into an ambush?”
“Nay, I do not believe so,” he assured her. “The messenger who brought the news was one of Brimley’s men. But Botmore could have planned it this way to remove me from Mt. Holyoak while an army of Yorkists await at a distance to regain my seat.”
Not only was she depressed, she was now completely frightened at that thought. Slowly, she wound her arms around his massive left arm and lay her cheek on his cold, hard armor. As she was thinking of something encouraging to say, tears suddenly found their way from her eyes and onto his armor.
