“Don’t touch me,” she spat. “If you do that again, I shall scream and bring the entire hall running.”
He looked at her as he had no idea what she meant. “I was simply going to ask if you would sit with me,” he said. “I’m told you’ve not forgotten me. I’ve certainly not forgotten you. Mayhap I can convince my father to stay another day or two while we come to know each other once again.”
Mira’s heart was beating painfully against her ribs, her throat tight with fear. “That will not be necessary, my lord,” she said. “Please come with me.”
“Mira?” Raymond asked pleadingly. “Whatever is the matter? What have I done?”
She stopped to look at him. Knowing that Douglas was only a scream away fed her bravery.What have I done?As if he didn’t know. It was a question that brought rage because he sounded so innocent.
It inflamed her.
“How can you ask that question?” she said, her voice trembling. “I had hoped I was well rid of you, but here you are again. I’d hoped you would have at least matured during your years at Kenilworth, but still, you grab me when you should not. Mayhap you have learned nothing at all, so I will tell you plainly. I spent years being terrified of you.”
He looked at her as if shocked. “What?” he said, incredulous. “What did I do to frighten you?”
Mira looked at him as if he was daft. “Grab me,” she said. “Pinch me, fondle me, kiss me. You were horrid and incorrigible. I want you to go to the dais and sit down and leave me alone. We have no friendship to rekindle.”
He wasn’t as daft as he was pretending. He knew why she was behaving this way. A lazy smile spread over his lips. “I thought you’d forgotten all of that,” he said. “It was just child’s play.”
“Child’splay?”
“Of course,” he said. “I was a young man. Young and foolish. Can you not understand that?”
Mira didn’t believe for one moment that he’d changed. She could tell by looking at him that he was still the same Raymond. With nothing to say to him, she simply turned for the dais.
“If you will come with me, please,” she said, struggling not to tremble, “I am obligated to show you Axminster hospitality.”
She approached the head table, and Raymond remained where she left him for a brief moment before following. Mira avoided eye contact with him and made sure to stay severalfeet away as he sat down next to his father. A servant provided him with the special wine, and after that, Mira’s job was done. She moved back into the shadows to observe and manage. But Raymond kept his eye on her.
It wasn’t over as far as he was concerned.
None of it.
*
“Something terrible isgoing to happen tonight,” Helen said.
She and Davina were still by the entry door to catch any stragglers who entered. Lady Isabel liked order, and if any more de Honiton men entered, she wanted to ensure they were properly directed.
So far, however, the entry doors remained closed and the hall was quite full. A layer of blue smoke hung up near the ceiling even though the fireplace had a chimney, but there was a crack somewhere that let the smoke out. The food was beginning to come from the kitchens, with great hunks of boiled beef placed on the tables along with slabs of bread, butter, and bowls of beans and carrots. For the dais, the servants brought forth roasted birds that had their feathers restored to create the illusion of living creatures.
In all, it was a glorious display, befitting Isabel’s reputation.
Even at a moment’s notice, she could produce the finest feast in all the land. While she joined those at the dais and her ladies were relegated to a table just below the head table, Helen and Davina were still near the entry. Helen’s words echoed in Davina’s ears.
“Why would you say that?” Davina wanted to know. “What is going to happen?”
Helen was watching Astoria, who was where she wasn’t supposed to be—mingling with the soldiers. She had servantswith her, and together, they were handing out food and ensuring the men had enough to eat and drink, but Helen knew it was a ruse.
“Astoria,” she said simply. “She is up to something.”
Davina caught sight of her, too, speaking to some of the soldiers as she handed them food. “She is going to get her ears boxed by Lady Isabel,” she said. “She knows Isabel does not like us to mingle with the men.”
Helen shook her head. “It is more than that,” she said. “Did you see Raymond come in earlier?”
“Aye,” Davina said. “I saw Astoria speaking to her.”
Helen sighed heavily. “I heard what she said,” she muttered. “She told him that Mira still spoke fondly of him and would like to dance with him.”
