Kevin nodded. “It is true,” he said. “If any one of you call me, I will answer. I would not even ask why. I would simply come.”
“I know,” Sean said. “So, even though you are sequestered here on the Marches, do not think that you can get away from us. You cannot. But let us refocus on your issue with this Lady Juliandra– have you thought about whatyouwant to do about the situation? We have given you suggestions, but you may already have a solution.”
Kevin shrugged. “Bannon told me that I should tell the lady that her father unexpectedly passed away, making is sound as if he succumbed to a natural death while in my custody,” he said. “It would be another lie, of course, but it would explain his death and not make me the cause of it.”
“And she would not know that you lied to her in the first place.”
“Exactly.”
Sean looked at Alexander, who shrugged. “It is as good a plan as any,” Sean said. “But you should probably do it soon before someone discovers her father’s body in the vault and tells her.”
“Bannon and I have just discussed that very thing.”
“But it still does not solve the issue of your feelings for the lady.”
Kevin looked at his brother. After a moment, he smiled weakly. “Nay, it does not,” he said. “But I would like you to meet her. Mayhap then you can understand why I feel what I feel, and why I do not want her to know that I lied to her in the first place.”
Sean stood up from his chair, wearily. “Then let me meet this young woman,” he said. “I am eager to see what kind of taste you have in women.”
Kevin’s smile grew. “Excellent, of course.”
“We shall see,” Sean said. “Lead the way, little brother.”
Kevin took them back down the narrow stairs with the low beams, listening to them hiss and curse all the way down.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
She’s a beauty.
That was Sean’s first thought when he met the very lovely and gracious Juliandra ferch Gethin. She was in the great hall when they returned, serving the knights and carrying on what seemed to be a witty conversation with Gareth. Sean watched for a moment. He knew Gareth and the man wasn’t a great orator. He didn’t even like conversation.
But Juliandra seemed to have drawn it out of him.
She was exceedingly kind and attentive to Sean and Alexander upon introductions, and that carried over to Kevin, who couldn’t take his eyes from her. In that moment, Sean could see that his brother was far gone in his infatuation with the woman. He might even already be in love with her. There was something about the woman that made men respond to her, and Kevin most of all.
Now, Sean was coming to understand why Kevin said he was in trouble.
Aye… he understood completely.
They took their seats around the table as Juliandra had more food brought forth. She made sure every guest had exactly what he needed. Sean found himself watching her with great interest because observing people was his business. His good judgment of a man’s character is what had kept him alive during his years with John, so he watched the small things with Juliandra– mostly, how she dealt with English servants. She was polite but firm, and surprisingly respectful.
To him, that said a good deal about the woman and her character. He didn’t sense any airs about her. When the flurry of their arrival faded and the men settled down to the refreshments provided, Sean made a point of speaking to her.
“My brother tells me that your father is a merchant, my lady,” he said.
Juliandra looked up from pouring more pear cider into Bannon’s cup. “He is, my lord,” she said. “He and his father before him.”
“How did your grandfather come by such a profession?”
Juliandra set the pitcher down. “My grandfather was very pious even if my father is not,” she said. “He thought he might become a priest, but when the church announced the second crusade to Anatolia, he thought he should fight for the church instead. He spent three years with the Saxon armies but, in the end, he realized he was not a warrior. He did, however, have an eye for fine things and brought many exotic items back to Pool, where his family lived. And that is how he began as a merchant.”
Sean nodded. “The fields of battle are not for every man,” he said. “I was with Richard in Acre, as were many of my friends and colleagues, and I can say for certain that there is nothing more difficult. It takes a man with a strong stomach.”
Juliandra was interested. “You went to The Levant?”
“I did,” he said. He gestured to Alexander. “So did Sherry.”
Alexander, his mouth full of buttered bread, nodded. “The hardships were many, the rewards few.”
