But it was enough for Douglas.
“Excellent,” he said. “I am telling you, quite plainly, to leave Mira alone. If you do not, then I will ensure you are sent away for good.”
With that, he let go of her wrist and pointed to the other side of the hall. Astoria got the message, holding the wrist that he’d gripped and limping away, an exaggerated gesture because Mira had kicked her. As she moved back to the area where she’d been tending the plate, the other girls there moved away from her likeshe carried the plague. Everyone had heard the scolding, and no one moved to comfort her because she had deserved it. They all knew it. Douglas watched her return to her task before turning his attention to Mira.
She was holding the chain with tears on her cheeks, and he sighed sadly, reaching up to wipe the moisture from her face.
“No need to weep, love,” he said softly. “I will have it fixed right away. It will be as good as new, I promise.”
Mira sniffled. “She was so nasty,” she said. “She asked me if it was a present for lifting my skirts to you.”
He grunted with regret. “I am sorry,” he said. “She is simply jealous. I’ve seen women like her before, and they always suffer greatly from their own foolishness. I would not worry over her any longer.”
Mira continued to sniffle as she nodded her head and Douglas reached down, taking both of her hands and kissing them sweetly. When she looked up at him, he smiled to be of some comfort before finally taking the chain from her.
“Let me have the pendant,” he said. “Where is it?”
Mira pointed to her waistline. “In my clothing, somewhere,” she said. “I will keep it safe if you simply get the chain fixed.”
“Very well,” he said. “I will go first thing in the morning.”
“Thank you.”
He winked at her. “You are welcome,” he said. “But I am sorry I have to do it.”
“Me too.”
“Will you be safe if I leave you now?”
He dipped his head in Astoria’s direction, and Mira nodded. “Of course,” she said, wiping away the last of her tears. “I have been dealing with that girl for a few years now. My trusty broom and I will keep her at bay.”
He grinned but was precluded from replying when Isabel came back into the hall, shouting to the girls because theydidn’t appear to be working. Douglas caught sight of the woman, tracking her as she headed across the hall.
“Go back to work,” he told Mira quietly. “I must speak to Lady Isabel.”
Mira suspected why. She didn’t stop him. She turned back to the hearth—but not before she saw Douglas intercept Isabel and begin a quiet but intense conversation. As she finished with the last of the hearth, she heard quite distinctly when Isabel went straight to Astoria and began to chastise her angrily. The sounds of Astoria weeping brought great relief.
Finally, the girl’s reign of terror would be over.
Or so Mira thought.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“Ihear youplay chess, Douglas.”
The question came from behind. Douglas was in the knights’ quarters, bent over a basin of water with soap all over his face. He splashed the warm water all over his head and neck and face, standing up with it dripping off him to see Eric in the doorway.
“Iplay chess?” he said, blowing water out of his mouth as he reached for a towel. “Lady Isabel plays chess like a master. I barely escaped with my life, if you must know.”
Eric chuckled, leaning against the doorjamb. He was already dressed and shaved, ready for tonight’s feast. Douglas was running late, quickly washing up before the evening began, because Lady Isabel insisted on clean men at her table.
“I know very well,” Eric said. “There have been several times when she has nearly taken everything from me in a heated game and stopped short of tossing my steaming carcass out into the bailey. Her competitive instinct is legendary.”
“I know that now,” Douglas said, drying off his face. “I shall not make the same mistake twice.”
“Pity,” Eric said. “She enjoyed the game. She only has me to play with, and I think she is bored with me.”
Douglas refrained from commenting on that. The first thing that came to mind wasthat is not what I’ve heard, but he didn’t say it. It was clear that there was something between Isabel and Eric simply based on body language, but as with everything else, if Eric wanted him to know, the man would tell him.
