Kevin was relieved, too, but obviously not for the same reasons; he was to go to Dover to investigate Viscount Twyford’s murder when he knew very well who had committed it. Seeing what a kind man William was, he felt rather bad about what had happened, but how such a kind man could raise such a petulant heir was something of a mystery.
“Then I shall go to Dover once I have finished with the games,” Kevin replied. Then, he looked at Victor. “Will there be anything else, my lord?”
Victor shook his head. “Not at the moment,” he said. “I have taken over an inn on the edge of town called the Cock and Bull. Since we were not planning on traveling for any length of time, of course, I did not bring my travel tents with me. My men are bedding with Salisbury’s men. Escort the duchess to the inn where her nurse is waiting and then you will return here to Salisbury’s camp to prepare for your upcoming bout. There was one mass competition already today and there will be a second one this afternoon. You will be a part of it, so be prepared.”
Kevin nodded. “I will, my lord.”
Victor looked at William. “Mayhap I will purchase one of Salisbury’s joust horses,” he said, watching William shake his head. “And why not? You have two knights with you and I am sure both of them have at least two horses with them.”
William laughed. “I am not going to provide you with the instrument by which your knight shall triumph over me,” he said. “Go find a horse elsewhere. I will not sell you one of mine.”
Victor snorted humorously, noticing that Kevin and Annavieve were still standing politely by. He waved them off.
“Off with you, Hage,” he said. “I will expect you back shortly to prepare.”
Kevin nodded politely and turned for the exit, taking Annavieve by the arm as he moved. Quietly, he escorted her out of the tent, heading back for the wagon with all of her goods on it. When they were well away from Salisbury’s tent, he spoke.
“Are you well?” he asked softly.
Annavieve turned to look at him. “Very well,” she replied. “Why do you ask?”
He cast her a glance; he didn’t want to look at her too much, fearful that anyone watching them might be able to read the emotions on his face.
“About your mother,” he murmured. “We have never spoken of your mother so I do not know how you feel about Salisbury’s offer to send for her.”
Annavieve shrugged. “To be truthful, I am not sure how I feel,” she said. “Of course I have always wondered if I would meet her someday. When I was young, I prayed for her to come and take me away from Sempringham, but those prayers of a child are long gone. I am curious to meet her… and mayhap a bit anxious. I can hardly believe that it might be true.”
He gently squeezed her arm as he held her by the elbow. “She will be very proud having a duchess as a daughter,” he said.“Mayhap I will seek out the House of de Lohr myself and see what I can find out.”
Annavieve shook her head. “It seems as if the duke already has plans for you,” she said. “You do not want to upset him.”
By this time, they had reached the wagon and he helped Annavieve up onto the bench. “Nothing will be upset,” he assured her, climbing onto the bench beside her. “For now, let us find this inn and settle you. I am sure you would like to eat and rest.”
Annavieve held on to the wagon bench as he snapped the reins and the old mare began to move. “I am a little tired,” she admitted. “But I would like to watch the mass competition. Do you think the duke will allow it?”
He looked at her as they headed towards one of the main gates into town. “Have you ever seen one?”
She shook her head. “Nay.”
“They can be bloody and violent.”
She smiled. “I saw a bit of a mass competition today already,” she said. “I believe I can handle another, especially if I am not involved in it.”
He grinned. “Indeed you can,” he agreed. “Very well, then. I will come for you before it starts and escort you to the lists.”
Her gaze on him was warm and soft. Now that they were away from Victor and the rest of the men, she felt as if she could relax a bit and let her feelings show. She was coming to feel quite comfortable around Kevin now, especially since they acknowledged their feelings for one another. In fact, she was quite happy in general, much happier now than she had been that morning. Today, her entire world had changed.
“I am quite thrilled at the prospect of watching you win,” she said. “Youwillwin, will you not?”
“Of course I will.”
“What of that other knight who said he would cut you off at the knees?”
He frowned. “He will be lucky if he survives the first few minutes,” he said, threateningly. “I will go after de Wolfe first and pound him into the ground.”
He said it seriously but there was an element of humor in his tone. Annavieve laughed at him and he glanced over at her, thinking she had perhaps the most beautiful smile he had ever seen. Her laughter sounded like pure silver bells. She was filling up his heart and his vision, all of her, and he took a moment just to feel that measure of joy. It was something he had never felt in his life and, as of six years ago, never thought he ever would. But he was feeling it at this moment and loving it. The soft-centered heart was open again, the walls he’d once built lying in shambles around it.
Fact was, he didn’t even care.
