“I did,” she whispered when she could, letting him see the fullness of her heart. “I love you, Amaury de Montvieux,” she confessed, marvelling at the words even as she uttered them. “I love you as I never imagined I might love another, but if you risk your hide again as you did this day, I shall see that you regret it.”
His eyes flashed blue fire. “How so?”
“By living long by your side.”
“A perfect vengeance,” he declared, sealing his words with another kiss. “And I love you, my Isabella,” he said roughly. “Never doubt as much.”
His kiss was triumphant, stirring all the passion within her, and Isabella could only wind her arms around his neck and kiss him back.
It wasearly October when the company of masons appeared on the road that wound north from Montvieux. They came with carts and wagons, with horses and apprentices, with their tools and their tents.
Amaury was reviewing the allocation of the fields with Stefan and several of the villagers, resolving a dispute that had arisen in recent years. The discussion was amiable and they were close to a compromise when the masons came into view.
Amaury strode to the road himself, then smiled at the young knight accompanying them.
“Sebastian,” he said warmly, uncertain what to expect from his youngest brother. He was glad to see him returned, even if only for a moment, either way. Amaury shook Sebastian’s hand, leaving no doubt of his pleasure. “Welcome home.”
His brother nodded acknowledgement of that, but nodded toward the masons. “They are said to be the best company of masons, though they are not the cheapest,” he said. “I said that you would pay fairly.”
“Of course.”
Sebastian then introduced the leader of the masons. Amaury indicated the site and they proceeded there, the masons already conferring among themselves. He was aware of how Sebastian glanced around himself, undoubtedly noting the repairs made to the mill and the homes in the village. There was a wooden hall, as well, which offered more shelter as the nights became colder, though Amaury doubted he would readily convince Isabella to abandon the silk tent. They had three braziers in it each night, and truly, he could not complain about the privacy.
Many of the villagers from Marnis had moved to Montvieux and there were no plans to rebuild that destroyed keep. Isabella believed it to be cursed by greed and had not even wanted to seek the signet ring in the rubble after the fire. Luc and Thierry yet lingered at Montvieux, though they discussed the possibilityof returning to Scotland at intervals. Amaury had told them that they were always welcome and he knew he would miss them when they did ride north.
For this winter, the twins had undertaken the responsibility of maintaining order in Marnis village, where many still remained. If there were yet brigands in the vicinity, Amaury intended to eliminate their routs.
Roland appeared in that moment to join the discussion and Amaury noted how his younger brothers embraced with affection. There was an awkwardness between himself and Sebastian that he was uncertain how to disperse. His brother had been unkind about Isabella and Amaury could not forget that readily.
“I heard the tale of Marnis’ fall,” Sebastian said, as if his thoughts followed the same direction. “And of the treachery of Edmund.”
“Who was not named Edmund at all,” Roland supplied with a shrug.
“Aye. It is all gone now, though some of the villagers have come here,” Amaury said. “Their loyalty to Isabella demanded as much and we are glad of their skills.”
Sebastian nodded and the silence fell again.
“You have been spending coin,” Sebastian said then, indicating Roland’s fur-lined cloak and his new boots.
Amaury nodded. “Roland is Captain of the Guard at Montvieux,” he supplied. “The Count de Sant-André will arrive shortly and we will discuss a match between Roland and one of his daughters. It will be good to fortify the alliance between our holdings thus.”
Sebastian granted that brother an assessing glance. “You have fared well at Montvieux then,” he said and Roland nodded agreement.
“I cannot complain. Amaury is as fair as all remembered him to be.”
Amaury inclined his head in acknowledgement of that.
There was a silence, one that made Amaury wonder what Sebastian desired.
“And you look well,” he said. “You must have found satisfaction in your hunt for a post.”
Sebastian studied his boots. “It was a fine holding, to be sure, but I missed Montvieux.” He slanted a glance at Amaury. “I wanted to know how you fared here.”
“We are all well,” Amaury said.
“And you have the coin to pay the masons?”
“I do,” Amaury acknowledged as Isabella came into view. “Thanks to my lady wife, the contents of Father’s treasury were reclaimed.”
