“You know well enough that you would,” she admitted.
“Are you Cathar?”The question came quietly, the words shocking Alienor even though she had expected them.
“How dare you ask me this?”she asked, hoping that he had seen no glimmer of her fear.Before she could continue, he held up one hand for her silence and Alienor was surprised to find herself obeying him.He had such presence for a mere goatherd, and she found herself too aware of him as he leaned toward her.
“I would never betray you,” he insisted in that low voice and Alienor fought against her instinctive urge to trust him.“But I am sworn to the protection of this house, and I would know if there is any potential threat to my lord.”
’Twas a reasonable request and Alienor knew it.Tears rose unbidden to her eyes and she shook her head.
“I would not bring any disgrace to my lord’s house,” she insisted, tangling her fingers together.“He has been too good to me for such ingratitude.”She flushed at the implication of her words.“’Twas a foolish mistake I made last evening and I wish that I could undo the deed.”She jumped with surprise when the goatherd’s warm hand closed over her fingers.
“In truth, your performance this morn has fair undone the damage,” he assured her.
Alienor’s gaze flew to his, relief growing when she saw the sincerity in their depths.“Verily?”
“I believe I alone observed your hasty departure.”
“Those are good tidings.”Alienor took a breath to steady herself.
But why had he noticed?
“I do not know your name,” she said instead
He pressed her hand gently before lifting the warmth of his away.“Alaric.”
“No more than that?”
He grinned the mischievous grin that she responded to so instinctively.“’Tis all.”He extended one hand to her.“Come, before you are missed.The stairs are steep.I would aid you in your descent.”Alienor accepted his assistance before she realized how much she had revealed to him.
Alaric.
As if he understood the reason for her sudden hesitation, he stopped on the stairs below her so that his gaze was level with her own.
“Your secret is safe with me, my lady.”
Alienor believed him.
“Soon the wedding guests will leave Montsalvat and you will be able to eat however you desire.”
“Truly?”she asked in surprise.
He nodded.“There are others here,” he confirmed quietly.
Alienor’s heart leapt.There were others of her creed here?
Was Alaric himself Cathar?
Before she could ask, he led her down the steep stairs and she had no choice but follow.The unicorn waited at the foot of the stairs, devouring some early growth.
“Aye, my lord?”Alaric bent and scooped up the unicorn’s cord, dropping to one knee with an attentive expression as though the beast actually spoke to him.“Indeed?”he asked of the creature with apparent surprise, and Alienor almost laughed aloud.
“Certainly I will ask the lady of her desire.”Alaric looked up at her with a twinkle in his eye and Alienor could not keep herself from smiling back at him.“My lord Dagobert suggests that he and I give you a tour of Montsalvat.Time it is, he says, that you learn about your home.”
“And a fine idea ’tis,” Alienor agreed.She was not fooled by Alaric’s charade but was unwilling to lose his friendly companionship.
Alaric grinned, then bent back down to the unicorn with a frown of concentration.He held up one finger for Alienor’s silence while he nodded thoughtfully.“As you wish, my lord,” he said to the creature, then bowed to Alienor.“Dagobert suggests we visit the kitchens first, in deference to his lady’s needs.”
Alienor fairly laughed aloud, wanting to swat him for teasing her so.
