It was a rather chivalrous statement and something he wanted to be clear on. Ellowyn eyed him. She had known a lot of knights in her life, as her father and grandfather were great knights, and it was her grandfather who had taught her to be a good judge of character. He had instilled the caution and the protocols in her.
From the moment she’d met the Duke of Exeter, he’d come across as arrogant and rude, that was true, but never lascivious. He wanted her to be clear that he’d not molested her and her instincts told her to believe him. At that moment, she started to see something more in the man, not simply the haughty warrior.
More than that, he was starting to make some sense about the situation so she slowly lowered the shovel. As she eyed him, she also recalled the army he had dumped on her, leaving her to fend for the shelter and nourishment of nearly six hundred men. Her head was throbbing and she was feeling nauseous, made worse now that her memory was returning. She was remembering every sickening and frightening thing. With a heavy sigh, she tossed the shovel aside.
“I thank you for your concern for my safety,” she replied, “but I have several hundred of my father’s men I must attend to. If you will kindly vacate the chamber, I shall dress and be gone.”
Brandt shook his head. “It is not necessary,” he told her. “I have tended to the men.”
She regarded him with some doubt. “Why would you do that? They are no longer your concern. At least, that is what you told me.”
He could feel the brittle peace between them and sensed she was not particularly the forgiving type. At least, not with him. Not that he blamed her. He’d had a momentary flash of guilt when she had fainted and had sought to make amends by taking charge of her welfare. Now he was starting to feel stupid for allowing himself to feel any compassion for her. The woman was still as hostile towards him as she had ever been.
“My concern is with the men,” he said. “With you incapacitated, someone had to tend the weary troops so I took the initiative.”
Truth be told, Ellowyn felt marginally better knowing she didn’t have to worry over housing and feeding all of those men this night. However, along with her relief was a measurable amount of awkwardness. She wasn’t particularly comfortable with de Russe, nor did she care for him much, so she was determined to vacate his presence as soon as possible.
“You have my thanks,” she said. “Now, if you will kindly leave the room, I shall dress and find my own way.”
He didn’t move. “It is late, my lady,” he said. “You may sleep here tonight. I have ordered food and your cloak is still being cleaned. It would not do for you to be out and about at this time of night.”
Her brow furrowed as she looked at him. “You do not need to be concerned for me. I can take care of myself.”
He lifted an eyebrow as if he did not doubt her. “Be that as it may, your father would never forgive me if something happened to you. Please be my guest this eve, enjoy the room and the meal, and that will be the end of it.”
“The end of what?”
“Our association. I apologized that it has not been pleasant.”
Ellowyn was caught off guard by the apology. She was smug in her acceptance of it, gratified he had been the one to acknowledge and make amends for their rough relationship, but it began to occur to her that he was not entirely to blame. If she thought hard on their first meeting, she realized that she had been the first one to throw a metaphorical punch. True, he had been rude, but she had taken it to an entirely different level with her reaction. Perhaps if he was apologizing, she should give it a try as well. But swallowing her pride was easier said than done.
“It…,” she tried again, shrugging in resignation. “It is not solely your fault, my lord. I… well, I believe I was quite angry with you this afternoon when you ignored me and I should not have been so…furious.”
“You were belligerent.”
“Aye, that too.”
He fought off a smile. “You, my lady, have a bit of a temper.”
“I do. I admit it. But if you know my father, then you also know it is an inherited trait. He is a de Nerra, after all.”
Brandt’s grin broke through, a surprising gesture. “Your father and I have fought a few battles together,” he said. “Fortunately, I was always on his side. There were times when I pitied the enemy.”
Ellowyn couldn’t help but smile in return, she really couldn’t. It came so easily when he smiled first. She also couldn’t help but notice de Russe was a truly handsome man with a dashing smile. He had straight white teeth and big dimples in both cheeks. Embroiled as she had been in her anger towards the man, it was the first time the thought of his handsome looks had occurred to her.
“He has considered taking me into battle with him, in fact,” she said. “He is convinced I would make a fine commander.”
Brandt’s grin broadened, an unusual gesture for him and one he did not readily display. But Ellowyn, in spite of everything, seemed to easily provoke it. Perhaps it was because she was truly a beautiful woman, more beautiful when she smiled, and her smile erased her bad behavior from his mind. Something about that warm, angelic face just made him want to smile as if he had no control over such a thing.
“I would believe that implicitly,” he said. “You have shown tremendous bravery in the short time I have known you, an admirable quality. And you showed no hesitation in showing me that side of you.”
He meant earlier by the Thames. Ellowyn simply lifted her shoulders. “I was angry,” she said, realizing she was feeling rather bad for her behavior now that the conversation was becoming civil. Warm, even. “I am sorry if I was insulting.”
He waved her off. “You already apologized,” he said. “Further apologies are not necessary. I am as much to blame as you are. I am willing to forget about it if you are.”
She nodded fervently. “I am.”
“Then you will accept my hospitality tonight?”
