When she heard them, it was late afternoon.She looked up, scarcely daring to believe, then rose to her feet when there was a shout from the curtain wall.
“My lord Quinn returns!”cried a man and there was cheer from the villagers.
Melissande put away the ledgers, leaving Louis to secure them, then hurried to the bailey.The gates were open by the time she reached it, and a party rode through.She recognized Quinn’s destrier immediately, that beast stamping and snorting as he was reined in to a halt.Quinn doffed his helmet and tossed it to Michel, then grinned at her.“My lady!”he said and swung from the saddle, bowing before her with such powerful grace that her mouth went dry.
“My lord,” she said and curtseyed to him.“I am glad to see you returned.”
“Are you?”he murmured, his smile widening as she blushed a little.He caught her hand in his and pressed a kiss to her palm, then spun her to face the two men who rode with him.“I would introduce two more of my comrades from Palestine, Luc and Thierry Douglas.”
God in heaven, how many of them would there be?Despite her concerns, Melissande smiled and greeted the knights, glad beyond all that they each had only a single squire.
Four more horses, though.
Quinn bent down to whisper to her, the heat of his breath stirring her hair and disrupting her calculations.To her surprise, there was humor in his tone and she found herself glad when the weight of his hand landed on the back of her waist.“And as I have learned much from my lady already, I brought smoked eels from Tulley as well as more wine.”
Melissande’s lips parted as a cart came into view behind the knights and their steeds.It was pulled by a sturdy mare and laden with barrels.
“How did you afford it?”she whispered.
Quinn smiled.“My lord Tulley was inclined to grant me a gift, and I had the wits, thanks to you, to name something of use.”
“Why did he give you a gift?”she whispered, and he laughed.
“I see we share a view of Lord de Tulley and his intentions,” Quinn said.“Come, my lady, to the hall.I have tidings to share with the people of Annossy.”
What was this?
“But our guests...”
“Louis!”Quinn called and that man appeared immediately.The older man surrendered a key to Melissande as soon as he had bowed to Quinn.
“Welcome home, my lord.”
“And I am well met.Louis, could you see to the welfare of my guests?I fear, like all of my companions arriving from the East, they would give much for a hot bath.”
Gaultier folded his arms across his chest to watch, but Melissande turned away from him.She was keenly aware of the weight of his dagger, hidden beneath her skirts.
“Of course, my lord.I shall see the arrangements made immediately, my lord.”Louis bowed again, then whistled for the ostler, setting half the household to running.
Quinn looked down at the key, then met Melissande’s gaze.
“It is for the trunk that secures the ledgers,” she said, then realizing his import, offered the key to Quinn.
His smile was blindingly bright and the sight dazzled her.
His words startled her even more.“I would ask you to hold it in trust for me, my lady.Louis has told me that you have a great talent with the books and take pride in their clarity.”
“I do.”
“Then perhaps you might continue that labor, for sums are not my strength.”
Melissande was astonished again and could only nod agreement.Her fingers closed around the key and she felt gratitude for this responsibility.
“I hope that you will explain them to me, at your leisure.”
“Of course.”
“And now I bring tidings from Tulley,” Quinn said, raising his voice and addressing the villagers who had gathered in the bailey.“Lord de Tulley wishes the fields at Sayerne to be tilled this year, for he desires the grain of the harvest.Many of you will know that I do not hold the seal of my father’s holding and have no chance of gaining it before my lady and I have been wedded a year and been delivered of a son.”There was whispering at this, for not all had heard the details or been assured of their truth.Melissande wondered why Quinn confided this to the villagers.
