Roxane didn’t argue with her, mostly because she knew it wouldn’t do any good. Cathlina was stubborn and determined and Roxane was never strong enough to take a stand against her. She didn’t think the ride into town was a good idea but she had already voiced her objections. Now there was nothing to do but wait until her sister returned.
The wind was picking up as they moved into the stable yard. Bits of chaff blew about as Cathlina mounted her mare and adjusted her cloak, gathering the reins. Once she was settled, she turned to her sister.
“I should be back before the evening meal,” she said. “If Mother or Father is looking for me, tell them that you have not seen me. Swear it?”
“I swear it.”
“Good.”
“Can I have your clothing if you do not return?”
Cathlina made a face at her sister to let her know exactly what she thought of that question. Kicking her mare in the ribs, she trotted out of the bailey quite simply, losing herself in the peasants and farmers milling in and out of the open gates. Being the only castle within a several mile radius, many of the localscame here to do business with each other. It was easy to get lost in the masses of the small and crowded bailey.
Soon enough, Cathlina was on the road south towards Brampton.
CHAPTER THREE
“Iam goingto marry her,” Sebastian said firmly. “Did you see the way she looked at me? Shewantsme.”
Mathias was in the midst of shoeing a massive charger with a nasty temper. He was trying to concentrate as his brother, propped on the edge of a table, chewed loudly of his nooning meal, a large bird leg. Food flew about as Sebastian chomped and spoke.
“Could you see how attracted she was to me?” he asked enthusiastically. “Mark my words, I have found my future wife.”
Mathias avoided a thrown horse-head. “You never came even remotely close to her,” he said. “How can you know anything about her?”
Sebastian tore at the bird. “It was thewayshe looked at me.”
“Is that so?”
“It ’tis. It was the look of love.”
“How would you know? You have never seen such a look.”
Sebastian snorted, pieces of food falling from his lips. “I have indeed, my fine lad,” he informed him. “Every time I step foot in The Buck’s Head down the street, those women give me the look. They want me.”
He was deeply self-assured and Mathias couldn’t resist taking a swipe at his arrogance. “They will give anyone the look that they think will pay for the privilege,” he said.
Sebastian shrugged, unwilling to admit that only whores were throwing him expressions of passion. “Sometimes I do not have to pay them.”
Mathias fought off a grin at his brother’s damaged ego. Letting go of the horse’s hoof, he went back over to the fire and pumped it hard as the flames sparked and roared.
“I would guess that Lady Cathlina does not even know you are alive,” he said as he removed the red-hot shoe. “Besides, she is a de Lara. I told you that.”
Sebastian was back to snorting as his brother transferred the shoe to an anvil and began to hammer. “What would the great Earl of Carlisle say if one of his lovely relatives ended up married to me?” he wondered. “It would make us family.”
Mathias put the shoe into a barrel of rainwater, watching the steam hiss up into the air. “I am sure that would not excite him half as much as it would excite you,” he said, eyeing his brother. “De Lara would not want us in the family.”
“Why not?” Sebastian demanded. “You served with him and St. Héver and Pembury. You were all as thick as thieves.”
“I was Tate’s squire when he was a young knight,” Mathias muttered. “I am not sure that makes us blood brothers.”
“He loved you and you know it,” Sebastian pointed out. “Besides, there is only a few years difference between you two.”
“Seven years.”
“He still knighted you at nineteen,” Sebastian pointed out. “Two full years before most knights receive their spurs.”
“That is because there was a war going on. He needed my sword.”
