Eric nodded his approval. “Mira is a good girl,” he said. “I have known her for years. She’s so lovely that she looks like an angel amongst the heathens.”
“I would agree with that. I noticed that about her, too.”
“I’m sure you did,” Eric said. He paused a moment before continuing. “I am not entirely sure I should mention this, as I do not wish to overstep, but I was here when she returned home and then came back again. She told you about her mother’s new husband?”
Douglas nodded. “She did,” he said. “She said the man’s daughter took exception to her, so the mother sent her back to Axminster.”
“That is true,” Eric said. “Lady Isabel was glad to have her back to help her with the young ladies, but I honestly cannot imagine anyone turning Mira away. She’s a sweet lass. All this is to say that I hope she is not a whim for you. If you are not entirely certain how you feel about her, then break it off now. She does not deserve to be toyed with.”
Douglas was studying him carefully. “You are protective of her.”
Eric shrugged. “She has no one else,” he said. “I suppose I’ve appointed myself her protector. A little, anyway. She does not know it and she would probably take a stick to me if she knew I felt that way, but I am asking you to be kind to her. She has a big heart and deserves to be happy.”
Douglas smiled faintly. “That is as generous an endorsement as I have ever heard, de Kerque,” he said. “I appreciate that you’ve assumed that role, though you were not asked. She did not tell me the two of you were close.”
Eric shook his head. “We are not,” he said. “But many years ago I had a little sister, and Mira reminds me of her greatly. Her name was Joanna and she was an angel. A sweet little thing.”
Douglas was listening closely. “Am I to understand she is no longer with us?”
“Nay,” Eric said softly. “Joanna drowned in the river near our home when she was about fifteen years of age. We’re not quite sure what happened, but it seems that she was on the riverbank and somehow slipped in. My mother never recovered from it. You see, my father died about the time Joanna was born, and I was the man of the family. I protected Joanna from the moment she was born. I have never forgiven myself that I was not there to protect her from the river, so when I met Mira, and she reminded me so much of my sister, I suppose I appointed myself her secret supporter.”
Douglas’ smile broadened and he went to Eric, putting a big hand on the man’s shoulder. “She could not have a better one,” he said. “Let me assure you that she is not a whim for me. She something a good deal more, actually. I promise that I will do you, and Joanna, proud.”
Eric smiled weakly. “That is all I ask,” he said. “But now that you’ve told me about Raymond de Honiton, I will be watching him as well. I hope that is agreeable with you.”
“Verily.”
“Good,” Eric said. Then he glanced over at the window to see that the sun was nearly all the way down. “We should go to the hall now. Lady Isabel will want us there to entertain her visitors.”
Douglas swept his arm in the direction of the door. “After you, my lord.”
It was a show of respect and Eric knew it. Feeling the least bit pleased, and also feeling some camaraderie with Douglas, he headed from the knights’ quarters with Douglas on his heels.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
There he was.
Astoria had been waiting for him. Dressed in her finest, as Lady Isabel had asked of all of her ladies, she was standing near the hall entry with Davina and Helen and Primrose. The four of them were greeting the men as they entered and directing them to tables. The rest of the ladies were at the dais, making sure cups of wine were full and generally seeing to the management of the hall. Lady Isabel would not allow them to wander amongst the soldiers’ tables, but they were allowed to be on the outskirts of the room and to dance with the men provided they kept a safe distance from them.
This evening, the rumor that Lord de Honiton’s son was in attendance had been flying from mouth to mouth. Ines and Marceline, Primrose and Theodora were all atwitter about it. It seemed that the loss of Douglas de Lohr was quickly forgotten with the idea of fresh meat in their midst, so they were all quite eager for a glimpse of Raymond de Honiton.
But Astoria saw him first.
And she would put her plan into action.
Now, it was more than simply getting even with Mira. It was more than punishing her for taking Douglas away. After Douglastold Lady Isabel about the broken necklace that afternoon, Astoria was going to get even with Douglas, too. It was clear that he’d been turned against her before she’d even had the chance to entice him, and that made him her enemy. The whole situation was veering out of her control and she was struggling to gain the upper hand on everything.
This was her chance.
Now, the very man who was going to unknowingly help her exact her petty revenge was in front of her. Without a word, she broke away from the group of young ladies and made her way to Raymond as he entered the hall. He stepped in, taking in the miasma of smoke and warmth and hum of conversation, and she blocked his path before dropping into a deep curtsy.
“My lord,” she said. “I hope that you would remember me. I was here when you were a page at Axminster. My name is Astoria de Luzie.”
Raymond was annoyed that the girl had nearly tripped him in her haste to introduce herself, and he looked at her impatiently.
“Nay, I do not remember you,” he said. “Where is my father?”
That was a stab to Astoria’s ego, but she pushed it aside. Instead, she pointed to the dais. “Over there,” she said. “He is with Lady Isabel and Sir Eric and Sir Douglas. He is also with Lady Mira. Surely you remember her.”
