Julian grunted. “They will blow right into this room and Mother along with them,” he said. “Leave her out of it.”
“I won’t.”
He knew she wouldn’t. Sharply, he sighed. “Then I will agree to go to the hall under one condition.”
“What?”
“That you not tell Lady Lista that you have told me all of this. Swear it to me, Addie.”
“I swear.”
He swept his hands at her. “Then go,” he said. “Out of my sight, you little goat. Get out or I shall tell Ash that you are in love with someone else and then you can explain that to him.”
Addington gasped. “You wouldn’t!”
His eyes narrowed and he hissed at her. “Go.”
Addington complied, but not before she stuck her tongue out at him. He threw a shoe at her, but she was too fast. The door slammed and the shoe hit the wall and clattered to the ground. As Julian went to pick up the shoe, the grin he’d been trying so hard to fight off broke through.
Addington was a lot of things, but a liar wasn’t among them. At least, not where it mattered. He knew his sister well enough to know that. What he did not believe, however, was her denial that she had perhaps prodded Lista into some sort of confession. Addington’s heart was in the right place but she was relentless in her pursuit of her goals. Effington and Addington together had been merciless, like the most merciless warlords he’d ever faced, and with Effington on the Welsh Marches with her husband, Addington was going it alone as thetour de forceof the House of de Velt.
Even to help her brother who couldn’t seem to help himself.
Marvelous.
Somehow, that word had new meaning to him now.
“I do notsee my mother and aunt anywhere,” Lista said as she took a seat at the end of the dais as Addington had indicated. “Do you know where they have gone?”
Addington shook her head as she sat down next to Lista. “I do not know,” she said. “I know they were here earlier. Would you like me to send someone to find them?”
Lista wasn’t sure. She was looking around for Amaury, too, but he was nowhere to be found, either. Lista knew that Amaurywas probably with them, as he was diligent about such things. She knew he wouldn’t let them wander alone.
But she was still nervous when they were out of her sight.
“I suppose not,” she said. “I am sure our knight is with them. If they do not return to the hall in a short while, then mayhap we can send someone out to find them.”
Addington smiled, pleased that Lista was choosing to remain in the great hall and not running after her errant mother and aunt. Now, if she could only get her stubborn, skittish brother into the hall as well, perhaps something could really happen. Servants came around with trenchers of pork, peas, beans, and bread that had been baked with honey and rosewater. Addington dug in with gusto, pointing as she chewed.
“That’s my brother, Cole, sitting with his wife, Corisande,” she said. “You met Cole earlier today, but I do not think you have met Cori. She’s terribly sweet.”
Lista took a bite of her food and quickly realized she was famished. She hadn’t eaten all day. “Nay, I have not met her yet,” she said. “Julian said he had a brother and three sisters.”
“Correct.”
“Where are your other sisters?”
Addington broke apart the bread. “My oldest sister, Allaston, is on the Welsh Marches with her husband,” she said. “Effington is also on the Welsh Marches, only to the south, towards Gloucester. Her husband is a garrison commander for the de Llion family.”
“Welsh?”
“Aye.”
“Have you ever been to the Welsh Marches?”
Addington shook her head. “Regretfully, I have not,” she said. “Have you?”
Lista shook her head. “Nay,” she said. “But I would like to go someday.”
