He laughed softly. “Anywhere you wish, sweetheart.”
“I hear they have spectacles of fighting in Rome and women who pierce their ears and paint their faces.”
“You can find that anywhere.”
“Really?” she was genuinely surprised. “Have you seen this in other places?”
His grin broadened. “I cannot tell you what I have seen in other places because you are a delicate lady and such things are unseemly. Suffice it to say that the world is full of debauchery.”
She formed an “O” with her lips, thinking on all of the wild things she’d not been privy to living her rather sheltered existence in Cartingdon. Tate snorted at her expression and turned back to the window.
“I was thinking something else,” he ventured as a gust of wind blew snow into his face.
“What was that?”
“Well,” he wiped snowflakes from his eyes. “I have a good deal of wealth and many holdings. It is difficult to maintain and difficult to keep track of, considering I am hardly in one place long enough to settle my accounts. I am thinking that you would be the perfect person to manage my estates.”
She looked surprised. “Me?”
“Of course. You made Cartingdon what it is. I would have you do the same for my holdings. In fact, if you can do for me what you did for your father, I would say that our children will be extremely wealthy prospects to future mates.”
The potential of managing Tate’s holdings did not displease her. In fact, she found it rather exciting. “I would be honored,” she replied. “But are you sure you want your wife managing your estates?”
“You and no other. You are the only person I would trust.”
She dawdled in the ash, thinking. “We could build an empire supporting the people and the land.” She looked up at him. “Tell me more about Whitehaven. I am interested in the castle that overlooks the sea.”
He shifted on his big legs. “It sits on a cliff overlooking the ocean. I have only been there a few times; it is a rather large place and the gulls from the sea are constantly swarming over it. It holds about four hundred troops at any given time.”
She smiled. “I asked about the castle, not its military might. How does it survive? Does it breed sheep?”
He shook his head. “Cattle,” he replied. “Black and white herds; hundreds of them. The peasants make their living off of the cattle.”
Her eyebrows lifted. “Truly?” she cocked her head thoughtfully. “I do not know much about cattle but I see that I shall have to learn. I think I might like to live at Whitehaven. I would like to live by the sea.”
He just smiled at her, returning his attention to the snow storm outside. Suddenly, his smile vanished; his eyes narrowed as he spied something beyond the window, the expression on his face hardening in a flash. Toby still had her head lowered, paying attention to her drawings, and did not see his body tense or his countenance darken. When he suddenly moved away from the window and grasped her arm, she was startled.
“What is wrong?” she half-demanded, half-pleaded. “What are…?”
He put a finger to his lips. “Come with me. Hurry.”
She dropped her stick and scurried with him to the chamber door. By the time he hit the landing outside, Kenneth was bolting up the stairs.
“Incoming riders,” Kenneth said before Tate could say a word. “Looks like several.”
Tate thrust Toby at Kenneth. “Take her,” he commanded. “Get her out of the keep. There is nowhere to hide in here and I do not want her boxed in.”
Kenneth took Toby’s arm without another word, helping her quickly navigate the deadly stairs. Tate was right behind them.
“Where are you going?” Kenneth asked.
“To get Edward,” Tate replied, his gaze lingering on his wife, a strangely pained expression in his eyes. “Kenneth will take good care of you, sweetheart. I must see to the king.”
Toby nodded quickly. “I know,” she shoved at him. “Go, hurry. You must get Edward.”
He grasped her hand and kissed it swiftly, disappearing into the dark hall. Kenneth had hold of Toby’s elbow, gently but firmly pulling her towards the entry.
“Come with me, Lady de Lara,” he said, unslinging his crossbow as he opened the heavy oak panel. “Let us see if we cannot find a safe hiding place for you.”
