It was sunrise in the small hall of Selborne after a night of song and feasting. Val was awake because he normally slept very lightly and was up well before dawn. But in this case, it was because his guests were leaving and he didn’t want to miss bidding them farewell. In fact, this wasn’t the end as far as he was concerned. He wasn’t ready to let Vesper slip away.
“He was being very kind to you, Mother,” he said, sipping at warmed, watered wine as the servants brought forth his mother’s fresh bread. “I would think you would simply enjoy it. How often does an attentive man sit at our table and lavish praise upon you?”
Margaretha grunted but Val couldn’t tell if it was in agreement or disapproval. “He still seemed quite envious of Selborne.”
Val sighed heavily. “And why shouldn’t he? It is a magnificent fortress.”
“I do not like the way he salivated over it.”
“What does it matter if he did?”
“It was thewayhe did it, Val. You did not see him.”
It was too early in the morning for his mother’s usual rot and Val quickly reached his limit. His thoughts were on the coming day, and the departure of McCloud and Vesper. He had little patience for his mother’s nonsense.
“Mother, I do not know where your suspicions come from but I want you to cease,” he said pointedly. “I find it deeply offensive that you do not trust my judgement in people enough to know that I would not associate with an unsavory character. Every time you voice your suspicions about McCloud, you are effectively slandering me and I am tired of it. God only knows what has made you so bitter at this point in your life that you must find fault with everything around you; if it is not me you are condemning because I have not yet married, then you are condemning a man who was a great friend to me in France. You have absolutely no cause to do that. Are you truly such an unpleasant person to be around?”
Margaretha looked at her son with some astonishment. “If being truthful is being unpleasant, then I suppose I am.”
Val shook his head and stood up from the table. “You arenotbeing truthful,” he said. “You are being a shrew. Stop finding fault with everything around you because if you continue on this path, then I may choose not to spend so much time around you. I grow weary of your negativity and am nearly at my limits of tolerating it, so if you want me to stay around, I would suggest you change your attitude.”
With that, he turned away from the table, making his way out of the small hall just as Calum and Celesse were entering. Val waved Calum off when the man tried to follow him, leaving bothCalum and his wife confused at his departure. When they saw the expression on Margaretha’s face, however, some things were explained. Lady de Nerra looked as if she was verging on tears, keeping her head down as she barely acknowledged the pair at the table. An argument or two between Val and his mother was not an unusual occurrence, but usually not so early in the morning.
Outside the keep, the air was fresh and brisk, the sky above a crystal shade of blue as Val descended the steps into the bailey. They were heading into the winter season and the days would begin to get cooler now. Forcing his irritation at his mother aside, Val headed for the stables to pick out a pair of mounts for McCloud and Vesper to borrow. He had a particular horse in mind for McCloud, an old and scarred war horse who spent his time in the pastures these days, chasing fillies around. It would give McCloud a dignified mount. He also had several palfreys for Vesper’s use but he wanted to pick just the right one for her. Something pretty and soft, like she was.
The stable master knew just which horses Val wanted and, soon enough, the enormous and fat war horse was brought forth, his hide dusty from where he’d been rolling around in the dirt. As the grooms set about cleaning up the beast and saddling him, a lovely white palfrey was brought forth for Vesper. She wasn’t in season but the old war horse was very interested in her, which Val thought was rather funny. The old war horse would sniff and the filly would kick. It would make the ride home very interesting.
On impulse, he asked the grooms to bring out his horse as well. Durley wasn’t more than a day’s ride so Val thought to ride escort with McCloud and Vesper part of the way. At least he might be able to speak with Vesper more. Since he didn’t have any pressing duties at the moment, it would be time well spent.
He’d made up his mind last night after the feast had concluded and his guests had gone to bed that this would not be his last contact with Vesper d’Avignon. He’d toyed with the idea during the meal but as he lay alone in his darkened chamber, he’d come to the conclusion that, most definitely, this would not be the end of their association. There was something about the woman he didn’t want to let go of. As his own horse was brought out and tended, Val headed back to the keep to check on his guests.
But there was no need; as he headed across the bailey, he immediately spied McCloud and Vesper over near the great hall, presumably in search of a morning meal. Picking up his pace, he jogged across the dusty bailey, closing the gap. McCloud was the first to see him, raising his hand in greeting.
“Good morn, Val,” he said. “We were just looking for you and the servants said you were going about your duties. We were hoping to find you in the hall.”
Val’s attention was drawn to Vesper. Glowing in the early morning sun, she was wearing a mustard-yellow garment and her dark hair was pulled back away from her face, braided to keep it neat on her journey. Val swore he’d never seen such a beautiful woman in his life and his limbs seemed to go weak with joy. Everything felt like jelly but in a most wonderful way.
Smitten? Indeed, he was. He liked what he saw.
“My lady,” he greeted Vesper before he even said anything to McCloud, but considering the man had spoken to him, he figured he should at least try to speak to them both. “Did the servants give you food for your journey? I told them to make sure they gave it to you before you departed.”
McCloud nodded, lifting up a basket that was overflowing with cloth-wrapped items. “They did, indeed,” he said. “Thank you, Val. It was very kind of you to provide for our journey.”
Val’s gaze drifted back to Vesper no matter how hard he tried to keep it on McCloud. “It is my pleasure,” he said. “In fact, I have just been at the stables. They are saddling up horses for you to ride home. I thought I would ride part of the way with you. I did not have much time to speak with you last night, McCloud. There are a few things I wish to discuss with you.”
“Horses?” McCloud looked astonished. “Val, that is most generous, but we…we cannot take your horses from you.”
Val held up a hand. “A loan, I assure you,” he said. “Besides, if I am to accompany you, I do not intend to walk, so you may as well ride with me.”
McCloud seemed rather stumped by the suggestion of the loan of horses, but more so by the suggestion that Val would accompany them home. He didn’t want Val and his son to come into contact with each other. In fact, he didn’t want Val around his home at all. He was fearful of what might come to light. Although any evidence of Mat’s activities had long been burned, McCloud was still nervous. Val was a very smart man and he didn’t want any suspicions raised. Yet, he knew discouraging Val from riding with them would be suspicious in and of itself.
Therefore, McCloud knew he had to accept the man’s offer. The only positive aspect was that it would give Vesper more time to charm the man, so he supposed it was a good thing in the long term.
“Then we are very happy to have your company,” he said after a brief hesitation. He turned slightly, moving aside as the first of three horses was brought forth. But along with the horses, he caught sight of something near the keep. “Ah! Your mother, Val. I would like to bid the woman a farewell.”
Val turned to see his mother descending the steps from the keep. After their harsh words earlier, he was on his guard. He hoped she hadn’t followed him out to continue picking at him so he sent McCloud to intercept the woman. It was a calculatedmove, on many levels. His mother would be prevented from continuing their conversation and it would give McCloud one last chance to charm the woman.
“I am sure she would like to bid you farewell, also,” Val said, sounding sincere. “You made an impression on her last evening, McCloud. She was quite taken with your kind words.”
