Brandt began helping himself to the bread and cheese artfully displayed on the table. “Verily,” he told her. “The de Lara brothers can attest to that.”
Alex heard his name. Since his brother was still engaged in conversation with Lady de Nerra, he answered.
“I am not entirely sure we have had time to rest and relax in over three years,” he said. “This afternoon, your father allowed us to inspect some green chargers he had recently purchased. Your father has a good eye for horseflesh.”
Ellowyn nodded sincerely. “Indeed he does,” she replied. “We both do. I purchased those young chargers, in fact.”
“Youdid?” Brandt repeated, somewhat incredulous. “My lady, they are some of the finest horses I have ever seen. Your father said he would negotiate a good price for them.”
Ellowyn looked at him with a cocked eyebrow. “Iwill negotiate a good price for them,” she clarified. “I purchased them, after all. I will be the one to barter their sale.”
Brandt bit off a grin. “You will be easy on me, will you not?” he wanted to know. “You frighten me.”
Ellowyn giggled. “I will try.”
“Pray do.”
As Brandt and Ellowyn lost themselves in grins and warm glances, Deston and Annalora entered the hall. The noise level soared with the two of them, their loud laughter and conversation, and the servants began to bring out the main course of the meal. As Deston and his wife sat at the table next to Brandt, the table was set with an entire roasted pig, boiled apples, cherries soaked in wine and spices, pickled cucumbers and turnips, more bread with cheese baked into it, and great bowls of boiled carrots. Ravenous, the diners plowed into the offered fare.
Ellowyn didn’t say much as Brandt and his knights tucked into the food. She was more interested in watching Brandt. After he served her first of the succulent pork, he helped himself to a great heaping pile and dug into it. She was staring at him but he was trying not to stare at her. In fact, Ellowyn was watching him so closely that she hardly remembered to eat until her grandmother, seated on her right, gently nudged her.
Picking up her knife, she tore her gaze away from Brandt long enough to spear a piece of meat. But her attention was diverted when she saw a thin young man enter the hall carrying a rather large box.
Curious, she watched as the young man took up a stool near the blazing hearth and pulled a large mandolin-type instrument from the box. He strummed and tuned his cat-gut strings.
“Papa?” Ellowyn caught her father’s attention, pointing to the young man. “Who is that?”
Brandt had been in conversation with de Reyne. He glanced over his shoulder at the man tuning the strings.
“He arrived a short time ago,” he replied, turning back to his food. “He is a musician separated from his troupe. They are all inMilnthorpe but he did not want to travel at night and asked for shelter. I told him I would feed him if he would play for us.”
Ellowyn was thrilled. “How wonderful,” she said, excited. “It has been a long time since we have had any music in the hall. Papa, perhaps you should think about employing musicians so they can play at every meal.”
Deston wriggled his eyebrows, making a face. “Too much extravagance,” he said. “You spend my money far too easily.”
“I spend your money on what it needs to be spent on.”
He guffawed. “Child, you are my greatest joy and my greatest expense,” he said as the musician began to play. “Someday, you will find a husband who will say exactly the same thing.”
Ellowyn knew he was teasing her but she wondered what Brandt was thinking about her father’s statement. She hastened to soften it.
“You complain too much,” she told her father. “If I spend a pence to buy wine, you cry rivers over lost money. Truly, Papa, one would think I have spent us right into the poor house.”
Deston was grinning. “I look forward to the day when I can laugh at your husband because you would do the same thing to him,” he said, glancing at the knights around the table. “Any takers? My daughter would be most happy to spend your money for the price of a marriage contract.”
“I accept,” Brandt said without hesitation. “She can spend my money and will have my blessing to do so.”
Ellowyn looked at him, eyes wide with shock. Deston, still grinning, had no idea the man was serious. “Are you certain?” he asked. “The woman has fine tastes. You will be a duke living in a mud hut with rocks for your bed. But at least your wife will be well-dressed with all of the frivolous things she will buy for herself.”
“As long as she is happy, that is my only concern,” Brandt replied steadily. He could tell that Deston wasn’t taking himseriously but he could feel the curious stares from his knights. “Well? Is it settled?”
Deston snorted, tossing aside a bone and moving in for another hunk of meat. “Is what settled?”
“That Ellowyn will be my wife.”
That brought the table to a grinding halt. By this time, everyone was looking at Brandt, including Deston and Annalora. Deston’s smile vanished.
“Yourwife?” he repeated. “My lord, are you… are youserious? I was only jesting.”
