And do as much this very day.
* * *
Ramsay leftFoudre tethered in a sheltered nook well to the north of Dunhaven keep where the horse was unlikely to be noticed. He retraced his steps to Dunhaven village just after dawn. He pretended to be a laborer returning home, seeking to break his fast. He learned quickly that Lawrence, Lord of Dunhaven, had fallen down the stairs and died the night before. The funeral would be two days hence and speculation was rife amongst the villagers as to when Lawrence’s sole son, Rufus, would claim the lordship. Would he await the sheriff or the king to invest him?
Ramsay would have wagered not. He expected that Lawrence had not even been cold before his signet ring had been moved to Rufus’ own hand.
The tidings put a chill in his belly and he dreaded Evangeline’s fate with new vigor. He had warned her but she had not truly heeded him—and now she might be in peril herself.
To his relief, there was considerable chatter about the beauty of the Lady Evangeline, along with speculation as to whether the pending nuptials would be delayed. Ramsay was wondering how he might see the lady himself when the seneschal marched out of the keep and called for attention.
“My lord Rufus, Lord of Dunhaven, rides to hunt this morning,” he called, his voice so loud that all could hear. Ramsay barely kept his brows from rising that Rufus had proven his suspicions correct so quickly. A hunt on a Sunday. “My lord would ensure that there is sufficient venison for his wedding feast, to honor his expected guests.” There was a murmur of approval amongst the gathered villagers at this scheme. “My lord insists his father would wish for all to proceed as planned.”
There were hearty nods to this sentiment.
“I seek a dozen beaters to run to hunt with my lord Rufus and his betrothed,” the seneschal said. That last word was all that was required to urge Ramsay to step forward.
“I seek employ!” he cried. “A day’s wage will see me closer to home.”
The seneschal cast an eye over him, demanded his name and destination, then nodded approval at the lie Ramsay told.
Ramsay had no notion whether he might have the opportunity to confer with Evangeline, but he wished to be as close as possible to the lady’s side.
If he had the chance, this time he would do more than grant her advice.
He might have tomakethe chance.
* * *
It wasrare for Evangeline to truly enjoy a day of hunting, and this one offered no exception. She was too occupied in watching Rufus and striving to guess his scheme to pay attention to the pursuit of game.
“I anticipated more enthusiasm from you, my lady,” Rufus said, riding alongside her late in the morning, and she knew her preoccupation had been noticed. Although she was not one to hide in the shadows, on this day, she would have been content to be ignored.
Particularly by this man.
Instead she smiled. “Forgive me, sir. It seems heartless to enjoy a day such as this so soon after your father’s demise.”
“Ah, but he loved the hunt. I can imagine him with us, bringing good fortune to the endeavor.”
“My mother also is fond of the hunt,” Evangeline said, feeling that she should make some effort.
“And she hunts with a hawk?”
Evangeline shook her head. “My mother favors her crossbow.”
Again, she realized she had startled her betrothed, for Rufus blinked. “A noblewoman hunting with a bow? I have never seen the like.”
“She is most skilled, to be sure.”
“And do you also favor this weapon?”
“Nay, not I,” Evangeline said with a smile, guessing that would reassure him. “I fear, sir, that I am not so unconventional as many of my family. I could never share my mother’s talent with a bow, though my younger sister, Mhairi, may exceed my mother’s skills.”
“Is that sister yet at Inverfyre?”
“Nay, she was the first of us to wed, but Mhairi always knew her own mind. She wed a warrior once in the service of Inverfyre, who now is Captain-at-Arms at Killairig. They have two sons and are most content.”
“How curious it must be to have siblings.”
