Page 51 of Bold Angel
“My lord.” She made an obeisance and forced herself to smile, noticing as she had when she had first seen him, that except for the cruelty in his eyes and his slightly pointed nose, he was handsome in the extreme.
“’Twould seem I make a habit of arriving while your husband is away.” His pale blue eyes swept over her, taking in her sapphire tunic, golden girdle, and the embroidered silk chainse she wore beneath. “Now that I see the jewel that hid beneath your convent garments, I cannot say I am particularly regretful.”
She let that pass, tamping down her loathing. “My husband will soon return. I have seen a chamber readied, should you care to bathe and refresh yourself before the meal.”
He nodded. “The day has been a long one. A bath and a goblet of wine would put me in your debt, my lady.”
She motioned to one of the servants and turned to leave, but Lord Stephen caught her arm. “Mayhap you would attend me yourself.”
She smiled faintly. “Of course.” But she hadn’t the slightest intention. Accompanied by his squire, Lord Stephen was shown upstairs while the rest of his men filled their horns with ale or sipped a goblet of wine.
Caryn turned toward the kitchen, hoping to seek out a willing maidservant, but resigned to a page should she fail.
“I will tend him, milady.” Bretta stopped her in front of the ovens. Fresh-baked barleycorn bread filled the kitchen with a pleasant, yeasty smell.
“You don’t have to. I do not know his intentions. I would not force any of the women—”
“’Tis all right, milady.” She grinned. “I fancy the notion o’ scrubbin’ Lord Stephen’s back. He’s got a right fine one, I’ll warrant.”
Caryn smiled. “Justbe careful.”
“I’ll have him purrin’ like a kitten in no time a’tall.”
Ral still had not arrived by the time Lord Stephen returned to the hall. Dressed in a fine purple tunic over a scarlet chainse, he looked every inch the baron, pleasantly relaxed, and not in the least the brutal man she knew him to be.
“Good eventide, my lord.” She smiled as he approached the dais.
“Might I join you?”
“Of course.”
He took a place beside her on the platform, his men at the trestle tables readied below them, awaiting the arrival of their lord. They spoke of pleasant subjects, the weather, the crops, events in the village, at Braxston, and at Malvern.
“My sister will soon be arriving,” he said. “’Tis a while since she has come for a visit. Mayhap the two of you will have the chance to meet.”
“Mayhap. I would enjoy having another woman to talk to.” Assuming she was nothing like her cruel-hearted brother.
“Eliana is a treasure, tall and fair-skinned—quite beautiful, really. Did you know she was once betrothed to your husband?”
Caryn’s head came up. “Your sister and Lord Ral?”
“’Twas long before you. Our fathers arranged it when both of them were children.”
“Nay, I did not know.”
“I am not surprised… since he dishonored her by refusing to go through with the marriage.”
Was this then the reason for the two men’s hatred? “Surely he had a reason.”
The line of his mouth grew taut. “Mayhap he did. I know only that he grievously wronged my sister.” He smiled thinly. “Mayhap he will tell you about it sometime.”
And mayhap he would not, though she would dearly like to know. “You journey from the south,” she said, changing the subject.
“Yes. I return from a visit to my estate at Grennel.”
“You travel with very few men. Saw you no sign of the Ferret and his outlaws?”
“Nay. ’Tis said they raid somewhere to the north. ’Tis also said your lord husband has been pursuing them with a vengeance.” A corner of his mouth curved up. “Should he discover their whereabouts, I would be happy to lend him a hand.”
