Brandt shook his head. He was already moving around the table in preparation for escorting them out of the hall.
“I do not plan to remain long,” he said. “I am returning to France within the month.”
“Oh,” Lady Sabine appeared crestfallen. “I am sorry to hear that. We were hoping you would stay for a time.”
Brandt had the woman by the elbow. He looked at her curiously. “Why?”
Lady Sabine blinked. “Because… well, because we simply were, my lord. My husband is fond of you and I believe he feels secure when you are in residence at Guildford. We never had a son, you see, and I believe he has oftentimes looked upon you as a son in a manner of speaking.”
Brandt resisted the urge to roll his eyes at her statement. Baron Albury was a selfish man with bad health and a penchant for heavy drink. He didn’t care for anyone unless they carrieda bottle of wine with them. More than that, he and Brandt barely knew one another beyond their acquaintance. But Brandt remained polite.
“Then I am flattered,” he said. “Please give him my regards.”
He was effectively shutting the conversation down as he forcibly escorted Lady Sabine to the door. Her daughter trailed along behind. But Lady Sabine would not be cut off so easily.
“I will, of course,” she said. Then, she grabbed at her daughter, pulling her forward. “Daphne is home from fostering at Portchester Castle. I do not believe you have seen my daughter for many years.”
Brandt paused as they neared the hall entry, facing the round and pale young woman. She was even uglier at close range. “Lady Daphne,” he greeted with forced politeness. Then he looked at Lady Sabine. “Considering I have only seen you four or five times in my adult life, I will admit that I have only met your daughter once. She was very young, as I recall.”
Lady Sabine looked at her daughter with a beseeching expression that she was trying very hard to mask.Say something, you silly girl!Fortunately, Daphne received her mother’s silent plea and cleared her throat nervously.
“I was ten or eleven years of age, my lord,” Daphne said, her voice thin and weak. “Did you enjoy your time in France?”
Brandt could see through the paper-thin attempt to keep the conversation going and it was a genuine struggle not to rudely chase them away.
“I was at war, my lady,” he said frankly. “I do not consider that an enjoyable time. Now, if you will….”
Daphne cut him off. “How long have you been in France this time?” she asked. “You have been there before on campaigns, have you not?”
Brandt sighed impatiently. He couldn’t help it. “I have been there almost three years,” he said with increasing annoyance.“Before that, I was in France on two separate campaigns, each one lasting nearly four years. During that time, I have spent no more than a year in England intermittently. All of my focus is on Edward and his desire to claim what is rightfully his. Now, if you ladies will excuse….”
“Perhaps you will come and visit us at Albury before you depart for France,” Daphne said, clumsily interrupting him again. “My father would like to see you and we would have a great feast in your honor.”
“Although I appreciate the offer, you will understand if I decline,” Brandt said, moving them through the front door and out into the mid-morning sun. “I have a great many things to accomplish and do not have time for social events.”
Daphne’s hopeful expression dampened. “I am sorry to know that,” she said sincerely. “I was hoping… well, perhaps you will allow me to return to Guildford and play for you. I am most accomplished on the harp and I would consider it an honor to play for you.”
Brandt eyed the woman. Now he was coming to understand the purpose of their visit and it had nothing to do with welcoming him back to England. He didn’t know why it hadn’t occurred to him before now. Lady de Ferrers was on a husband hunt for her daughter and evidently thought the duke would be easy prey now that he was newly returned from the wars in France. He quickly sought to make his position very clear.
“Although your offer is gracious, I will have to ask my wife if she would be agreeable to such entertainment,” he said. “I will send for you if she has an inclination to listen.”
Both Lady Sabine and Lady Daphne appeared shocked. “Yourwife?” Lady Sabine repeated, incredulous. “You… you aremarried?”
Brandt nodded. “Indeed I am,” he said, rather pleased at their expressions. “Now, you will excuse me, ladies. I will bid you a good day.”
With that, he turned away and headed back to the keep. But he was detained by Dylan, who pulled him into a private conversation somewhere near the smithy shack. Unfortunately, he was blocked from Ellowyn’s view as she descended the stairs from the keep. Although she was keeping her eye out for him, she missed him entirely but clearly saw the women standing near the great hall. They were just standing there, looking rather lost, so Ellowyn made her way towards them.
“Greetings, ladies,” she said pleasantly as she approached. “I am Lady de Russe. I am not sure where my husband is, but I should be happy to entertain you until he can join us.”
Lady Sabine and Lady Daphne looked at Ellowyn with shock, outrage, and curiosity. It was an odd combination. Lady Sabine seemed the most incensed, shamed by Brandt’s treatment of her and now faced with his glorious wife. The bitter, petty woman had little control but in the midst of her tantrum, she was also very sly. If she could create problems, she would.
“He has already joined us,” she snapped. “He was quite rude and… and inappropriate. We are leaving now.”
Although Ellowyn wasn’t surprised that Brandt had been rude, considering his behavior at their first introduction, she didn’t like the way the woman spoke of him. Already, her dander was up.
“What do you mean?” she asked, her pleasant attitude fading. “What did he do?”
“Do?” Lady Sabine repeated, flustered and exaggerated. “My lady, do you know what manner of man your husband is?”
