The queen mother’s eyes creased at the corners. ‘I understand we have the pleasure of your company overnight.’
‘Only if it is not too much trouble.’
Isabella looked to Becket. ‘We want the prince to feel at home here, so we welcome his family with equal enthusiasm.’
Eda wondered if he saw through the act.
‘The servants have made up your rooms. I shall escort you so that you might rest before dinner. I imagine you have had quite enough male company for one day.’ She smiled at the prince as she turned and exited the room, clearly expecting Eda to follow her.
Eda looked at Becket. ‘I suppose I shall see you at dinner, then.’
She could feel the tension coming from Roul as she stepped outside. His eyes moved over her vigorously, as though searching for stab wounds. She held his gaze until he relaxed a little, then hurried after the queen. Roul followed so closely, she half expected the toe of his boot to clip her heel.
‘I have not visited Peytone House before,’ the queen mother said, striking up a conversation. ‘Is it along the coastline?’
‘The manor is a little over half a mile from the water.’ Eda was no fool. She had done her research thoroughly. ‘And a few miles west of Castell Criccieth.’
Isabella nodded. ‘I visited Castell Criccieth some time ago. Back when there used to be sheep grazing in the nearby paddocks.’
‘We gave up trying to keep sheep on account of sea warriors. It is better not to tempt them to our shores.’
Isabella glanced sideways at her. ‘And where is your brother residing these days?’
Brother? There had been no mention of a brother, only a younger sister. Eda felt her palms heat as the queen mother waited for a response. It felt like a test, so she decided to stand by what she knew. ‘I am afraid you must be confused. I have no living brothers.’
‘Forgive me,’ Isabella replied. ‘I must be confused.’ She stopped out front of a door near the end of the corridor, turned, and gestured gracefully. ‘I do hope you will be comfortable.’ And to Roul, she said, ‘Your bedchamber is right next door, Sir Bradley.’
Roul nodded. ‘Thank you, Your Majesty.’
‘Do you require a lady’s maid for the evening?’ Isabella asked Eda.
‘I shall manage fine without one, but thank you.’
Isabella looked between them. ‘Rest up, and I shall see you both later.’
Roul bowed, and Eda curtsied. Only once the queen mother had rounded the corner of the corridor did Roul follow Eda into the room. He searched every inch of the small bedchamber, including Eda’s canvas bag that one of the servants had brought up. Satisfied, he turned his attention to her.
‘All right. Tell me everything.’
She sat on the edge of the bed, repeating every detail of the earlier conversation that she could remember. Afterwards, they sat in silence, processing the information.
‘Something happened between him and his mother,’ Eda said, rubbing her forehead. ‘Some betrayal he can’t move past.’
Roul did not respond.
‘I can see he cares,’ she continued. ‘There’s a desire to do the right thing buried beneath misplaced pride.’
Roul looked to the door. ‘We still have tonight to convince him that whatever it is, it can be fixed.’
‘No pressure.’ Eda looked around the bedchamber, suddenly aware of just how alone they were. It was improper for a lady of her standing to be alone with a knight in a bedchamber.
‘I don’t want to leave you alone, but I should probably go next door,’ Roul said, clearly having the same thought. ‘We wouldn’t want to start a scandal at court.’
She really did not want him to go. She wanted to lie down on the bed with him and feel the weight of his arm on her again.
A knock at the door chased the thought away. Roul took a large step back when she called, ‘Come in.’
A maid entered with a basin of water and a towel, glancing curiously at Roul before going to set it on the table.
