Heartsick, but understanding that she was trying to stick to their bargain when he was fully prepared to ignore it, Val paid the innkeeper for his finest room and a meal. He stood in thecorridor while Vesper went inside her rented room and bolted the door. Only then did he feel comfortable enough to leave her there, although it was killing him.
He very much wanted to stay with her.
Dulled from the events of the day and thoroughly exhausted, Val quit the inn and went across the street to a livery where he had a birds-eye view of the inn and of Vesper’s chamber window. Although he could only see the faint glow of the taper, he was comforted by knowing she was behind the shutters. Even if she didn’t want him in the inn, near her, that didn’t mean he couldn’t watch out for her through the night.
And that was exactly what he did.
In a stall next to his war horse, Val spent the entire night watching Vesper’s window and the inn in general. No one went in or out without his knowledge. When dawn hinted over the eastern horizon, he saw Vesper and her six guards emerge from the inn and head to the livery to collect their horses. Val stayed out of sight while the escort gathered their beasts, helped Vesper mount her palfrey, and departed the city just as the sun began to rise in the east.
After that, Val left the livery astride his horse, leading the old war horse he’d loaned McCloud, and followed the escort at a good distance as far as the tiny settlement of West Meon where there was a fork in the road. As Vesper and her party continued east, Val headed north towards Selborne.
Once Vesper was out of his sight, Val realized, with a heavy heart, that he’d never felt so empty in his entire life.
He began to count the minutes until he would see her again.
Please, God… let me see her again!
CHAPTER TEN
Selborne Castle
“God’s Bones, Hugh.I’ve not seen you in ages. Where have you been?”
Hugh grinned at Margaretha de Nerra, a woman he genuinely liked. She was feisty and strong, everything a well-bred mother should be. But he had to admit that he felt sorry for Val sometimes the way his mother came down on him. But he was very patient with his mother and mostly taunted her in return, which had resulted in some truly hilarious conversations that Hugh had witnessed. Here at Selborne, he felt truly at home and truly in the presence of friends. He enjoyed it here.
But now, he was about to violate that trust.
“I have been with the king in France, Lady de Nerra,” he said, greeting the woman with a kiss to the hand. “We have only just returned. Henry is heading to Winchester, in fact, and plans to hunt through the new year. And you? How is it you become younger every time I see you?”
Margaretha cocked a dark eyebrow. “You have the silken tongue of a viper,” she said. “Do not flatter me. I shall beat the foolishness right out of you.”
Calum was standing beside his brother, as he had escorted the man from the gatehouse to the keep so Hugh could pay his respects to Lady de Nerra. Both he and Hugh laughed softly at Margaretha’s threat.
“It would be a pleasure to be beaten by such lovely hands, Lady de Nerra,” Hugh teased.
But Margaretha simply rolled her eyes. “I see you get your manners from my son, you beastly boy,” she said, mostly because that was how Val reacted to her threats. “Where have you been keeping yourself? Why have we not seen you?”
Hugh shrugged. “The king has kept me very busy,” he said. Then, he gestured to the group of knights by the gatehouse. “Being that it is the Christmas season, he has kept us busier than usual. We are on an errand for him, in fact. It is something I must speak with your son about. Is Val here?”
Margaretha shook her head. “He is not,” she replied. “But I expect him back shortly. Is it something I can help you with?”
“Nay, Lady de Nerra.”
“Then you shall enjoy the hospitality of Selborne until he returns.”
“Thank you, Lady de Nerra.”
Margaretha gestured towards the keep. “Will you come inside and refresh yourself?”
Hugh shook his head. “You are most gracious, but I must speak with my brother first. Will you excuse us?”
Well aware when it was time to conduct business and that she was not wanted, Margaretha gathered her heavy silk skirts and headed for the steps to the keep. “Calum, bring your brother inside when you are finished,” she commanded. “And where is your wife?”
Calum turned to her. “She is lying down in our cottage,” he replied. “She has not felt well this morning.”
Margaretha shifted course. “Then I shall see to her,” she said, heading off across the bailey. “I shall see you both later.”
The men let her go, watching her as she headed to the western wall where the cottages of the married knights were situated. Calum waited until she was out of earshot before returning to his brother.
