There was that flattery again, making her feel bashful and giddy. “She is my sister,” she said simply. “I do not wish to see her come to harm.”
“Of course you don’t. Not many people are so considering, even of family members.”
Corisande didn’t know what to say to that, so she simply smiled and lowered her head. The sun was starting to rise, faint rays peeking in through the ventilation holes in the stable that faced east, and Cole managed to tear his gaze away from Corisande long enough to see that his horse had finished his meal and was in the process of tearing up the bucket his food had come in. He had it in his mouth, tossing it around.
Cole stood up and brushed off his breeches.
“Drago,arête,” he commanded quietly, tugging on the bucket until the horse released it. “Jij stoute jongen.”
Corisande was still sitting on the opposite side of the stall wall, unable to see what Cole was doing but grinning because he was talking to his horse as if it could understand him. “What language are you scolding your horse in?” she asked.
Cole laughed softly. “Dutch,” he said. “He was raised in Antwerp, so he only understands the language of his people.”
“What did you tell him?”
“That he is a naughty lad.”
“And he understands you?”
“Of course he does. We have great philosophical discussions, Drago and I.”
He could hear her laugh. Grinning at the horse, he petted the beast on the head affectionately as he tossed the bucket aside, only to notice Essien and Anteaus entering the stable. They were heading for their animals as more sunlight began to stream in through the ventilation holes.
Morning was upon them.
“Where is your brother?” Cole asked Essien. “Is he finished with Lord Alastor yet?”
Essien began to check over his spotted stallion. “Nay,” he replied. “But he should be here soon. By the way, I was just speaking to Anteaus and he was telling me that he fostered at Northwood. I am sure he knows many of the same people you know.”
Cole looked over at Anteaus, whose horse was next to Essien’s. Anteaus de Bourne was young and handsome, but muscular to the point of being bulky. He remembered briefly what Corisande had said about her older brothers siding up against the younger one.
Cole suspected that was an interesting match-up, given Anteaus’ size.
“Is that so?” he said. “When were you there, Anteaus?”
Anteaus picked up a nearby horsehair brush and began brushing the dust from his brown animal. “From the time I was nine years of age until I had seen ten years and eight,” he said. “I was knighted there by the Earl of Teviot and I remember that Northwood was a strong ally of Pelinom and de Velt. We helped your father fend off a couple of raids while I was there.”
“How long ago was that?”
Anteaus cocked his head in thought. “Six years ago was the last time I was there,” he said. “Mayhap eight or ten years ago.That was a period in time when the reivers seemed to be very active. I do not think you were at Pelinom at that time, but I remember your brothers.”
Cole shook his head. “I have spent a good deal of time at Norwich and also Pembroke Castle,” he said. “I only came home to Pelinom a few years ago. Home to stay, that is.”
Anteaus turned back to the horse. “So I heard.”
Cole looked at him curiously. “Heard what?”
Anteaus gestured to Essien with the hand that held the brush. “Essien says you are going to marry Audrie de Longley,” he said. “That will keep you in the north. Her father will not let her out of his sight. He was always very protective over her, you know. Lady Audrie was a sickly child, like her brother. John de Longley is not much of a warrior because of it, but he is a great statesman. I grew up with him.”
Cole was frozen with surprise. He hadn’t expected his association with Audrie de Longley to come out of Anteaus’ mouth. With Corisande sitting on the other side of the stall wall, she must have heard it. He was momentarily speechless, unsure where to go from there, wanting to explain away Anteaus’ comment for Corisande’s benefit but not wanting to make it obvious that he was trying to distance himself.
But he had to say something.
He wanted Corisande to hear him dispute what was more or less the truth.
He’d never in his life been in such a position.
“John is a good man,” he said steadily. “But Lady Audrie and I…”
