De Noble’s tone went back to a pleasant cast. “Thank you, my lady,” he said. “We are most honored. May… may I escort you to the meal?”
Emllyn turned to look at Devlin, who looked mightily displeased. After a moment, however, he reluctantly nodded. Emllyn looked at him with great disappointment but obeyed.
“You may,” she said, making a face at Devlin as she did so. “I will be ready at the appropriate time.”
“Thank you, my lady.”
They could hear the man’s footfalls fade away. Emllyn looked at Devlin with disgust. “I do not want to touch the man,” she said petulantly. “Why did you tell me to allow him to escort me to the meal?”
Devlin was patient with her, rather amused at her tantrum. “Because it will keep his mind off of me and any thoughts of attraction between you and I,” he said. “A spurned suitor is not what you want tonight. You want a man who is not suspicious and therefore will more than likely let his guard down, allowing you more freedom of movement.”
She paused over by the wardrobe, fumbling with the stays on her dress. “You mean more freedom when I flee the keep tomorrow morning?”
“Exactly. Mayhap he will not be watching you so closely, making it easier for you to get away.”
It made sense. Pacified, Emllyn opened up the wardrobe to a gallery of borrowed dresses from Elyse; the woman had so many clothes that to loan several to Emllyn had been no hardship at all. Consequently, she had inherited a beautiful new wardrobe.
Devlin watched her as she began to rummage through the clothing, pulling out belts and surcoats and girdles. He had all of his clothes on but not his shoes. As he finished pulling on his worn peasant boots, Emllyn turned around holding up a pink satin surcoat in front of her.
“What do you think?” she asked. “Would you like to help me dress?”
He grinned as he went over to her, putting his hands on her shoulders and kissing her on the forehead.
“If I have anything to do with touching your body, even if it is to fasten a surcoat, the garment will more than likely come off than stay on,” he said, releasing her. “Surprise me with what you wear. I would have my breath taken away when I see you.”
It was a sweet thing to say and Emllyn smiled dreamily at him. “Are you leaving now?”
He nodded. “It is probably for the best,” he said. “I should not stay here any longer than I have. I will go find Victor and the others, and then see you at sup tonight.”
Emllyn curtsied deeply for him. “I am looking forward to it, my lord.”
Devlin’s response was to wrap her up in a crushing embrace and kiss her until she gasped. It was such a sweet kiss, one of great longing and passion. When he finally released her, it was with a wink. Then, he quietly opened the door, checked the dim corridor outside to make sure it was clear, before silently slipping into the shadows. Eefha rose from her seat by the door and dutifully shut the door behind him.
Heart swelling with love and adoration for the massive Irish knight, Emllyn went about dressing with great eagerness. Tonight, she would have the opportunity to look beautiful for him as she never had. Up until today, the man had only seen her in dirt and rags and borrowed clothing that did not fit her. Tonight, she would change all of that. The man had already fallen in love with her beauty; now, she would show him what it was like to shine. His unconditional love had made it possible.
She would make it an evening worth remembering.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Glenteige’s great hallhad been made into a massive place of warmth and food and great pungent smells. As Emllyn entered the hall on de Noble’s arm, her eyes were wide at the extraordinary setting.
The hall was built from the same fieldstone that the keep was constructed from, a very long room with an open fire pit in the center of it. Smoke escaped through a series of vents in the thatched roof, which had also been coated with mud to prevent the thatch from catching sparks.
Two long tables flanked either side of the fire pit, worn tables that had seen their fair share of feasting. One had a broken leg that was propped up by rocks. Even now, both tables were burdened with food, more food that Emllyn had seen in a very long time. Both tables held huge flanks of the buck that de Ferrer had killed and men helped themselves to the meat. The room was a busy, noisy place filled with the hungry and the drunk.
Dressed in a pale green silk surcoat with a beautiful white shift underneath that fit her figure to perfection, Emllyn had taken great care with her appearance. Her hair had been carefully brushed and braided, knotted into an intricate bun at the nape of her neck and anchored with big iron pins, and Elyse had even shared some of her cosmetics with her. She wore a dusting of ocher on her cheeks and beeswax mixed with the same ocher on her lips, giving her a lush and rosy glow. To finish off the look, Elyse’s maid had dusted her neck and shoulders with a fine powder mixed with gold dust. Literally, the woman was shining.
It was an effort that was not missed by de Noble when he came to collect her for the meal. He’d never seen anything so lovely, and it was a proud man who entered the hall with Emllyn on his arm. She was glorious. He took her around the feasting English and scavenging dogs to deposit her at one of the tables. The moment Emllyn sat, servants appeared with a trencher and drink. She didn’t even have to say a word as food was instantly being heaped onto her trencher.
Elyse was there with Connaught, both of them sitting conspicuously close in conversation until Emllyn sat down. Then, Elyse’s focus shifted to her friend.
“You look so beautiful!” Elyse gasped, visually inspecting her. “That dress never looked so good on me.”
Emllyn smiled as she collected her pewter cup of wine. “I am sure that is not true, but it is kind of you to say so,” she said, sipping her wine. “You look stunning, darling. Yellow becomes you.”
Elyse smiled demurely. “It is a gift from Christopher.”
Emllyn wasn’t surprised because the neckline of the garment was rather low and daring. “It is perfect,” she said. “He has wonderful taste.”
