“I must go,” he said. “I would speak to you, if you will be here later? Or do you return to the village?”
“Sir William!” He took a couple of steps away and waited for her reply.
She only shrugged and did not say.
“I will look for you, then.” And he was gone. He did lift his head and glance at her a few times, until she walked away.
Brienne returned to the family’s chambers then, ignoring the racing of her heart and the way she had responded to the sight of his strong body moving across the field. He was here, within these walls, so near and yet so impossibly far from her. Her father was watching her, or at least having her watched, and she did not wish to do anything to jeopardize her newfound position in the family. So she would not seek William out.
No matter that her heart wanted her to . . . or that her body could still feel his hands moving over her stomach and touching her.
She ate once more in her chambers and then waited for the sound of her father’s footsteps outside her door, but instead, he simply appeared there and beckoned her to follow. With her palms sweating and her mouth dry, she trailed him without hesitation that night.
William lookeddown every corridor and hallway the rest of the day and evening. Lord Hugh did not appear for supper, so Lady Margaret entertained him. They came from neighboring areas in France and they had many common topics that kept the conversation going. But every time another person entered the dining chamber that sat off the great hall, he would turn to look.
And not find her.
Mayhap she was not here? Mayhap she had been there only on an errand between Lord Hugh and her father? Remembering the garments she wore, he doubted that. The gown was unlike any he’d seen her wear before. It was of a costly fabric, and the belt around her hips was fine-tooled leather. Again, costly and finer than the daughter of the blacksmith would have.
More like the kind a wealthy man gave to his mistress.
The thought of a Brienne being taken to the bed of a man like Hugh turned his stomach. And it was not just Hugh’s reputation. It was . . . It was . . .
Her.
He drank the rest of the wine in his cup, trying to rid himself of such thoughts and suspicions. And a servant filled it once more. Against his own limits on drinking strong spirits, he finished that cup as well.
Lady Margaret babbled on, not realizing his attention had turned. Lady Adelaide had retired earlier, claiming a sour stomach. Finally, he pushed his cup away and nodded at her.
“It is selfish to keep you here paying attention to only me when you must have things to see to before retiring, Lady Margaret. May I,” he said, rising to his feet and holding out his arm, “escort you to your chambers?”
“Ah, ’tis later than I realized, Sir William,” she said, glancing around and signaling those who served there at the table. “No need to escort me. My maid waits outside for me.”
Before she could leave, he asked her a question, trying to phrase it in a way that would not offend. “I thought I saw the blacksmith’s daughter here earlier, my lady. Is she staying here now?”
The effect of his question was clear—the lady’s face went blank and empty except for the slightest clenching of her jaw.
“There is no blacksmith’s daughter in Yester Castle, Sir William.” He would have asked it again, differently, but she gave him no opportunity.
“Very well, my lady. My thanks for the meal and the company. Until the morn, then,” he said, bowing to her. After she left, he comprehended that whatever task had brought Brienne here, whether an errand for her father or something else, Lady Margaret was not pleased by it. Her tone spoke of being treated with disrespect and not liking it.
Still, an errand for her father did not explain the expensive gown and belt, for the blacksmith would not ask nor expect such things in exchange for his work. Once again, his gut tightened at the thought of how those gifts came to be.
Although he did not believe the lady lied, there was something odd in her gaze and her words. As he strolled along the corridors, eschewing help when servants offered, he took note of each doorway and chamber and the layout of each floor and also looked for any sign of Brienne. Once done with his task, which he had the others doing in the barracks, as well, he sought out his chambers.
The strange thing was, once there and once the keep’s occupants settled for the night, he could not stay awake as was his custom. He’d had wine, aye, and more than his usual amount, but not enough to make him this sleepy. William sat on the bed, trying to regain his balance, and next, he was sound asleep.
She followed where he led,through the silent corridors of the keep. Such an anxious, needy thing; he fought to keep from laughing at her outright. It had taken little more than a few soft smiles and a few hollow promises and she was his.
As her power would be.
Hugh worked with her for the next several hours, into the darkest part of the night while everyone in the castle slept deeply, and he began to understand the potential within her.
Unexpected.
Unharnessed.
Unlimited.
