for that reason alone.”
Alastair regarded him with a pensive stare.
“It would be my luck my dear mother laid down for Strathmore and this was all
for nothing.”
Gavin grinned at his friend’s troubled
expression. “You wished to know, did you not? You must accept the good with the
bad. A pity you did not marry my sister already. Your wait has been
unnecessary.”
“She is determined, my lord. I would have
asked her three years ago if not for her insistence I find the man. And I
remind you; I’m not the only one seeking answers at this tournament. The others
look for their father’s here too.”
Gavin cursed under his breath. His men were
all the by blows of noblemen, sent to Rivenhahl to be raised, or hidden away,
as was the case. It became Elizabeth’s dumping ground for her
ladies-in-waiting’s sins. His father and mother treated them all like their own
children, but none of them would be dissuaded when they learned of Alastair’s
quest.
Miles and Gaston already knew who their
father’s were and planned to seek them here. Henry and Jasper didn’t know. They
had much less to go on than Alastair’s mother’s diary.
Not only was Lady Anne promiscuous while she
served as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth; she was also a hopeless gossip.
Details of other liaisons besides hers were written in detail within the diary.
The men poured over it during the journey to learn who sired them. Gavin felt
for them all, knowing despite their loyalty to his own father, they had to know
their own beginnings.
“Let us hope everyone finds what they seek
here, Alastair.”
“What does our fair witch seek; I wonder?” he
asked with a sidelong grin.
Gavin fumed at that. “She seeks to undermine
every bit of my patience, for one. Does the wench not have one bit of
gratitude? Did I not save her from the fires?”
“You did kidnap her, my lord,” he pointed out
in amusement.
“I am owed a reward for my championing her
cause, if I recall,” Gavin argued back.
“You don’t even believe her to be a witch.
How can you seek a reward if you don’t believe her capable of giving you said reward,
my lord?” Alastair asked smugly and shook his head. “I can see you have not
thought this through at all, once more. You let your cock lead in this.”
“She is just a pretty bedmate I would keep
for a time, Alastair,” he said angrily and shrugged. “Why do you concern
yourself with her?”
“I like the girl. Anymore thoughts of what
you will do with your fair witch when the tournament ends?”
“Not a one,” Gavin admitted and felt
defensive as he saw Alastair scowl. “Let me just win this blasted thing! I will
see the girl is adequately compensated. She will hardly be left at the gates
when we leave.”
Alastair said nothing more as the field
cleared. He grinned at him as he put on his helmet. “Come then, my lord, if I
knock you into the dirt enough this day perhaps a sound plan will come to
mind.”
****
Madeline stared at the lavender silk gown
with a longing she could hardly contain. It hung on a peg in the rear of the
shop. It beckoned to her the moment she perused the wares while the men loaded
the cart with their supplies.
Gaston found her there and grinned at her
look as she stared at the gown.
“It looks like it was made for you, Mistress
Madeline,” he offered shyly and saw her color slightly. “You must have it.”
“It is far too costly,” she protested and
turned away, determined to find something less expensive. The handsome young
knight frowned and gestured to the shopkeeper. The woman came forward, eager
for a sale.
“How much for this gown for my lady?” the
knight inquired and grinned at Madeline’s look of alarm. His warm brown eyes
narrowed at the shopkeeper’s disclosure of the price. “Surely if it hangs here
this long and in the back; you have been unable to sell it?”
“It is made of silk, Sir Knight,” the woman
protested and pointed out the intricate beading and
Alastair regarded him with a pensive stare.
“It would be my luck my dear mother laid down for Strathmore and this was all
for nothing.”
Gavin grinned at his friend’s troubled
expression. “You wished to know, did you not? You must accept the good with the
bad. A pity you did not marry my sister already. Your wait has been
unnecessary.”
“She is determined, my lord. I would have
asked her three years ago if not for her insistence I find the man. And I
remind you; I’m not the only one seeking answers at this tournament. The others
look for their father’s here too.”
Gavin cursed under his breath. His men were
all the by blows of noblemen, sent to Rivenhahl to be raised, or hidden away,
as was the case. It became Elizabeth’s dumping ground for her
ladies-in-waiting’s sins. His father and mother treated them all like their own
children, but none of them would be dissuaded when they learned of Alastair’s
quest.
Miles and Gaston already knew who their
father’s were and planned to seek them here. Henry and Jasper didn’t know. They
had much less to go on than Alastair’s mother’s diary.
Not only was Lady Anne promiscuous while she
served as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth; she was also a hopeless gossip.
Details of other liaisons besides hers were written in detail within the diary.
The men poured over it during the journey to learn who sired them. Gavin felt
for them all, knowing despite their loyalty to his own father, they had to know
their own beginnings.
“Let us hope everyone finds what they seek
here, Alastair.”
“What does our fair witch seek; I wonder?” he
asked with a sidelong grin.
Gavin fumed at that. “She seeks to undermine
every bit of my patience, for one. Does the wench not have one bit of
gratitude? Did I not save her from the fires?”
“You did kidnap her, my lord,” he pointed out
in amusement.
“I am owed a reward for my championing her
cause, if I recall,” Gavin argued back.
“You don’t even believe her to be a witch.
How can you seek a reward if you don’t believe her capable of giving you said reward,
my lord?” Alastair asked smugly and shook his head. “I can see you have not
thought this through at all, once more. You let your cock lead in this.”
“She is just a pretty bedmate I would keep
for a time, Alastair,” he said angrily and shrugged. “Why do you concern
yourself with her?”
“I like the girl. Anymore thoughts of what
you will do with your fair witch when the tournament ends?”
“Not a one,” Gavin admitted and felt
defensive as he saw Alastair scowl. “Let me just win this blasted thing! I will
see the girl is adequately compensated. She will hardly be left at the gates
when we leave.”
Alastair said nothing more as the field
cleared. He grinned at him as he put on his helmet. “Come then, my lord, if I
knock you into the dirt enough this day perhaps a sound plan will come to
mind.”
****
Madeline stared at the lavender silk gown
with a longing she could hardly contain. It hung on a peg in the rear of the
shop. It beckoned to her the moment she perused the wares while the men loaded
the cart with their supplies.
Gaston found her there and grinned at her
look as she stared at the gown.
“It looks like it was made for you, Mistress
Madeline,” he offered shyly and saw her color slightly. “You must have it.”
“It is far too costly,” she protested and
turned away, determined to find something less expensive. The handsome young
knight frowned and gestured to the shopkeeper. The woman came forward, eager
for a sale.
“How much for this gown for my lady?” the
knight inquired and grinned at Madeline’s look of alarm. His warm brown eyes
narrowed at the shopkeeper’s disclosure of the price. “Surely if it hangs here
this long and in the back; you have been unable to sell it?”
“It is made of silk, Sir Knight,” the woman
protested and pointed out the intricate beading and
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