Ashton peered closer.
“I wonder what that’s all about?” he muttered.
Addington was right beside him, watching the situation as well. “I told you that Louis was angry at Julian for assuming the worst when he saw Louis and Lista in the vineyard,” she said. “He said he’d had no intention of pursuing Lista because of Julian’s claim, but he went on to say that he should reconsider that stance. Ash… do you suppose that conversation has something to do with Lista?”
Ashton shook his head. “It is difficult to say,” he said. “It could be any number of things. But one thing is for certain– Julian has made it easy for de Rhos to pursue Lista if he wishes.”
“By speaking with her aunt?”
“Who will speak with her mother, more than likely.”
Addington shook her head sadly. “Poor Julian,” she said. “Louis is going to steal Lista from him.”
Ashton glanced at her before turning away from the window. “As I said earlier,” he said. “We must return to Pelinom and prevent Julian from ruining his life. If he is truly fond of Lady Lista, then he will see reason. If he doesn’t, then de Rhos will happily take his place.”
Addington could hardly disagree, watching the conversation below become more animated. It spurred her sense of urgency. “We must go now,” she said. “If we leave within the hour, will we make it home before evening?”
Ashton nodded. “Mayhap after the sun has set, but not long after,” he said. “Do you want to leave now?”
Addington’s gaze lingered on Louis and Lista’s strange aunt, who abruptly broke away and ran back inside.
She sighed faintly.
“I think we should,” she said. “For Julian’s sake. And Lista’s.”
Ashton wriggled his eyebrows in agreement as he turned to leave. He hadn’t taken two steps when he abruptly stopped.
“And another thing,” he said. “I shall speak to your mother when I am good and ready and not before. Youwillwait until Iam ready, Addington. No more flirting with Anteaus de Bourne or any other knight that captures your fancy because you think it makes me jealous.”
Her eyes twinkled as she looked at him. “Does it?”
“Of course it does!”
She giggled, biting her lip when she saw that he was mostly serious. “Then you must be ready faster, Ashton.”
His eyes narrowed. “You will not force me.”
“I am not forcing you into anything. I am simply stating a fact.”
He sighed sharply and glared at her, indicative of his displeasure, before heading off to prepare their horses for travel. Addington took a couple of steps, calling after him.
“I will not wait forever!”
He was nearly to the exit. “Aye, you will!” he shouted back at her.
He was gone, leaving Addington in gales of laughter.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
It hurt towalk, but Lista wasn’t going to let a twisted ankle keep her down.
Wrapped tightly by a servant, Lista favored the joint as she made her way down the stairs. Her destination was the great hall, mostly because she thought that might be where Addington was. She wanted to apologize to her for being so sharp and asking her to leave which, in hindsight, wasn’t what she wanted at all. The entire situation with Julian had her unnerved and upset and rather than make an enemy of Addington, she’d rather have her as a friend.
And an ally.
Limping when she came off the stairs, Lista was nearing the south entrance to the hall when she heard someone call her name. Pausing, she saw Flora coming up the stairs.
The woman was smiling.
