“I will see what I can do,” she said softly. “I know what it is to mourn the great love of your life. I know what it is to lose a son when… well, suffice it to say that I understand her sorrow. Mayhap I can help.”
There was something painful in the way she spoke about the loss of a love that had Lista taking a second look. Lady de Velt was beautiful and kind, with genuine warmth in her eyes, but as she spoke of a lost love… something dimmed in those brown eyes. Something that spoke of unbearable grief. But she quickly recovered, smiling at Lista when she realized the woman was looking at her.
Lista smiled back.
“I know my mother would love to see you again,” she said. “Truthfully, you will be a much better influence than my aunt. My mother needs the companionship and my aunt is a terrible influence. The excessive drink, the fungi, the potions…”
Kellington nodded in understanding. “Your aunt must be very lonely, too.”
“She is, but instead of doing something constructive or benevolent, she tries to destroy herself and my mother along with her.”
“And you try your best to prevent that from happening.”
Embarrassed, Lista nodded. “You must think that I complain terribly,” she said. “It seems that all I have done is tell you of our problems. I did not mean to, I swear it, but I thought you deserved an explanation as to why things are the way they are.”
Kellington patted her on the arm. “Not every family is perfect,” she said. “You do not need to explain. But I do hope things get better.”
“Thank you, my lady.”
The flash of armor caught her attention and she turned to see Julian and Ashton as they came riding up on their warhorses. Julian looked exactly the way he did when Lista had met himthe day before– enormous, built for war. He was a de Velt, after all, and even if she knew very little about the family itself, she knew enough to know that if there was a battle, they were in the middle of it.
That included Julian.
Lista was so involved in watching the man that she failed to see the carriage that had been brought forth from the stables. It was a small carriage with a small cab, with wooden sides fortified with strips of iron, a door on one side of it, and small windows that looked out from either side.
Kellington grasped Lista by the hand.
“Come, my lady,” she said. “I thought it might be more comfortable for you to ride in my carriage. It really is quite comfortable– there are two cushioned benches, enough for four women to ride quite happily together. It will also be much safer.”
She had reached the carriage by that time, pulling open the iron latch on the door and revealing an extremely comfortable cab inside. The walls were lined with brocade and there were two small, cushioned couches facing one another. Awed, Lista stuck her head in to get a good look at it.
“It’s beautiful,” she said. “I have never seen anything like it.”
Kellington grinned. “Get in,” she said. “I will bring your mother and aunt.”
Lista did. She climbed into the carriage and sat down on the couch facing forward. There was a small window next to her, enough for ventilation but not enough for anyone to climb inside should there be trouble. She sat down but as she did so, an enormous hand reached in and took the satchel she’d been carrying. Startled, she looked up to see Julian standing in the doorway.
“Where did you come from?” she said. “The last I saw, you were on your horse.”
She couldn’t see his face because his helm was on. “I still am,” he told her, heaving the satchel onto the top of the carriage, which contained a big, locked box that was bolted to the top of the cab. “You do not see me.”
He was jesting with her and Lista fought off a grin. “A pity,” she said. “I thought it was my friend, Julian, but I suppose I am mistaken. Mayhap you shall be my new friend instead.”
The helmed head turned to her. “No one but me shall be your new friend,” he said. “Remember that.”
“I thought you weren’t Julian?”
His helm was on but it wasn’t secured yet, so he bent over and pulled it off, revealing his handsome face set within his hauberk.
And his hair wasn’t covering his right eye.
“There,” he said. “Nowdo you recognize me?”
Lista started laughing. “I do,” she said. “I’ve not had the chance to bid you a good morn.”
He smiled, his dimples deep. “Good morn, my lady,” he said. “Are you feeling… better this morning?”
He meant after such a horrific night and Lista struggled to maintain her smile. “I do not know yet,” she said. “But I will tell you a secret.”
