Can ye spare me a glance from those eyes?
My Tilly, sweet Tilly, be my lover so dear,
I’m a-wantin’ a slap of those thighs!”
Almost every man in the hall had joined in by the second line, so by the time the song was finished, it was being sung by everyone. When it was over, the hall burst out in bawdy laughter as some of the men began the next chorus. Up on the balcony,Val turned to Vesper, who was looking at him with very wide eyes.
“That is an example of the songs I know,” Val told her. “I pray you do not think me too crass.”
Vesper stared at him a moment longer before slapping a hand over her mouth to stifle the giggles. “I have heard the soldiers at Eynsford sing that tune,” she admitted. “I simply did not know the name of the song.Tilly Nodden, is it? That is a naughty song.”
Val snorted. “More than you know,” he said. “There are more verses that are even worse. Now, will you sing something lovely or do I have my men sing that terrible song all night long?”
Vesper grinned at him, knowing he had her cornered. She couldn’t refuse. “Can I at least finish my meal before you make me sing?” she asked. “I am rather famished and I’ve not yet eaten my fill.”
Val was appalled at his behavior. “Of course,” he said, reaching out to snatch her hand again and pulling her away from the instrument. “Forgive me, my lady. I was only thinking of myself. And my ears.”
Vesper easily forgave him. “It is no trouble,” she said. “And… and you may call me Vesper when we are not in front of my father. I would be honored if you would.”
Val’s featured softened into something quite warm. “’Tis I who am honored, my lady,” he said with soft sincerity. “Permit me to escort you back to the feast where you can eat as much as you wish. I will make no more demands upon you.”
Vesper shook her head as they began to take the steps down to the main level. “I do not mind singing for you, truly, but I would like to eat first. When I am satisfied, I shall sing as long as you wish.”
“That could be a very long time.”
“It cannot be too long because I must return home on the morrow.”
Val knew that but to hear it from her lips… well, he didn’t like that one bit. He found that he wanted to spend more time with this enchanting woman. “Then mayhap you and your father will come back again, very soon, to visit. I enjoy his company very much.”
“But you have hardly spoken to him.”
He cast her a rather coy glance. “If I said I enjoy your company very much, it might be too forward. I do not wish to chance that. So let me say that I enjoy your father’s company tremendously and I wish for him to return as soon as possible.”
Vesper knew he was speaking of her even as he used her father as the example. She gave him a coy glance of her own.
“I am sure he would like that very much.”
“Would he truly?”
“Indeed.”
They had come to the bottom of the stairs. With a broad smile, meant only for Vesper, Val escorted her back over to the table where she could finish the remains of her meal.
It was one of the more memorable evenings he’d ever had.
CHAPTER FIVE
It was verylate and McCloud was so full of pork and beans and bread that he was close to bursting. It was well after midnight when he returned to his borrowed chamber, where the fire was low and the tiny room was warm and cozy. He’d taken his shoes off and fallen into bed, lacking the strength to remove anything else. He’d had such a perfectly wonderful evening of food and conversation that all he wanted to do was sleep. He was nearly there when a soft knock on the chamber door roused him.
“What?” he growled, exhausted.
“Papa! Open the door!”
Hearing Vesper’s voice, McCloud struggled up from his bed in the darkness and staggered across the chamber, throwing the bolt. He yanked the door open just as Vesper burst in, hitting him with the panel and nearly sending him into the hearth. He caught himself on the wall and, scowling at his child, stumbled back to bed and threw himself on the mattress.
“What do you want?” he demanded, grumpy. “Be quick. I must sleep.”
Vesper was tired, too, but she also had something of vital importance to speak to her father about. Much like her father,she’d just returned from the feasting hall but instead of going to bed, her father’s behavior was weighing heavily on her mind. She could not sleep until she spoke to him about it.
