Page 8 of To Love

“Which side would you agree with, Master Alden?”

“Alden,” he corrected, knowing she would not drop the moniker. Use of his given name alone would be much too intimate for their relationship. “I believe my opinion standing here in this chamber matters little. It is the decision to be deceitful, or not, when the circumstance arises that bears any weight.”

“Considering it now, though, could inform your decision when the matter is at hand.”

“You are right, of course. But I can say only that balancing between achieving strategic objectives and upholding moral principles highlights the complexities of warfare or the battles that lead up to it.”

“Very well said. Where have you cultivated such nuanced arguments?”

“By listening to an extremely astute and intelligent instructor on the subject, my lady.”

The corners of Lady Elara’s very alluring mouth lifted. “I am glad some of my words have reached your ears, even with Sir Darien sitting beside you.”

“They all have, my lady,” he said. Alden’s words were not meant to flatter as they were true. By her narrowed eyes, it seemed she attempted to discern the difference. “Honesty,” he added, “is as important a virtue to me as loyalty.”

“Is that so?”

“It is.”

Their eyes locked.

For the briefest of moments, Lady Elara’s ever-present resolute demeanor softened. She looked at him in a way the lady never had before. As if he were a man and not her apprentice.

“Lady Elara?” a voice called from the entrance to their chamber.

He resisted the urge to step back. Turning, Alden found the archery instructor at the door. That he was not on the training field was most unusual, as was the expression on Lady Elara’s face before indifference returned.

Alden had not seen the two together often, as she skipped most meals in the hall, preferring instead to take them in her chamber. If he was correct, it seemed as if she did not care for Lord Stirling.

“If I may be excused?” he asked.

“Of course.”

Alden passed the older man, the baron with one good eye and one eye patch. The injury had occurred in battle, if the rumors were true.

“There is an urgent matter I must speak to you about,” he said. Alden could not discern the rest of the words and left the chamber.

As he did so, Alden turned back. Just one quick, final glance.

She was staring straight at him.

Chapter

Five

Though Lord Stirling gave her no hint as to the purpose of the meeting he’d barged into her classroom to inform her about, Elara went to the solar at the appointed time after supper. She’d gone to the hall for meals, in the beginning, but too many of the recruits in their cups had forced her to stop doing so. While the other instructors, Eamon specifically, had attempted to convince her to return, it was simply easier this way. More than one recruit had been disciplined for their inappropriate advances, ones they would never make during their lessons.

On the other hand, missing meals meant Elara often was not privy to conversations such as those that might reveal the purpose of a rare, late-eve meeting such as this.

When she entered, all were present already. The other instructors—Eamon, Lord Stirling and the newly minted horsemanship master, Sir Gareth—as well as Lord Ashcroft and Lord Bennington, two of the noblemen who funded their order.

Though she had no particular feelings about Bennington, Elara had never cared for Lord Ashcroft and knew Eamon felt the same. The two men had a long, sordid history together, which made for interesting meetings such as this.

“Let us begin,” Lord Ashcroft began in his typically gruff manner. “A sennight ago, Lord Stirling came to me with a concern. As it is my coin—”

“Our coin,” Bennington added. “Among others.”

Ashcroft ignored him.