Page 66 of The Consolation Prize

Otho glared at her, before remembering due deference. He grudgingly reached down, but Roger pettishly slapped it away.

“I want no help from this man!” he bleated. “I’ll have my brother turn him away from his door for this insult!”

“You want your brother to turn mine away?” Una asked coolly. “That might be awkward.”

Roger’s mouth fell open. He looked from Una to Otho and back again. “I thought he was my brother’s steward,” he said grudgingly.

“And so, he is,” Una agreed.

“I knew of no other relationship,” Roger gulped.

“No indeed, how should you?” she said pleasantly. “I will hear your apology now.”

Roger rose stiffly and dusted off his knees. “I apologize, sister,” he said rigid with affronted pride.

Una nodded. “Very proper. Now see that it does not happen again.”

“My-my attentions were not intended to be dishonorable—” he stammered, then broke off, his color very heightened. “Perhaps I might be permitted to apologize to the maiden.”

Una glanced at Otho who was looking at this point, very forbidding indeed. The black eye and swelling about his face made him look somehow even more alarming. “Perhaps in a day or so,” she said addressing Roger kindly. “Rose is a very sensitive girl and I fear you may have overset her feelings far too much for one day.”

He looked mortified, bowed again, and then hurried toward his waiting horse.

“Impudent young puppy!” Otho burst out furiously. “What other intentions would he have toward a servant girl?”

Una pursed her lips. “I think he’s a little green where girls are concerned,” she started tactfully. “His father intended him for the church, and I don’t think he has much experience—”

“I don’t give a damn if his father intended him for a eunuch!” Otho burst out angrily, before checking himself. He bit back his words with difficulty. “Gods, Una, I’m sorry, that was unpardonably rude—”

“Not at all, Otho,” she soothed him. “Indeed, I much prefer it when you speak naturally with me like this, without exaggerated civility.”

He gave a bark of laughter. “I don’t know why I got so worked up like that.”

“Well, Rose is a very innocent young woman, surely it is only natural that you should feel protective about a member of our household.”

Otho swung round giving her a very sardonic look. “Una, that girl is destined to be some rich man’s fancy, if ever any girl was.” At her sharply indrawn breath, he continued damningly. “She’s frivolous and good for nothing but ornamentation. Quite frankly, I’ve done nothing but delay the inevitable.”

“Otho! I’m surprised at you!” Una plunked her hands on her hips. “Rose is a virtuous and kind young woman with many good points and does not deserve to have you speak of her in such a way.”

He rolled his eyes. “Sister, you have led a—”

“Don’t be ridiculous!” she cut him off. “If you mean to tell me I’m some sheltered virgin, then I would remind you I am a married woman.”

He spluttered. “I never intended to say any such thing!”

“Then kindly do not speak poorly of that girl in my hearing or I will be quite cross with you!” Before he could respond, Una turned on her heel and marched in the direction of the house. She made straight for the kitchens in the expectation she would find Rose in floods of tears and in need of comforting. To her surprise, she found her sat at the table humming a tune and grinding herbs in a pestle and mortar.

“Rose,” she said crossing the threshold and ignoring the Mrs Brickenden’s disapproving look. “You are not feeling upset?”

She looked up with shining eyes. “Oh no, milady,” she said with a smile trembling on her lips. “Was not Master Otho wonderful?”

Una felt a twinge of misgiving. Something about Rose’s reaction seemed decidedly amiss. Abelard who was sitting next to Rose, whined and she reached down to pat him absently. “Master Roger said he would like to apologize to you in person, Rose. I hope that would not distress you?”

“Distress me?” Rose looked surprised by the notion. “Oh, no, why should it?” she said vaguely, then started humming again, a small smile hovering about her lips.

Oh dear, thought Una. Roger might be young and handsome, but it seemed Rose’s tastes ran to burly Northern men with cantankerous dispositions.

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