such a large man could move so quietly. "By Saint Hermione's little finger, sir, you gave me a start. You might have said something before you popped out from behind the bushes in such a sudden manner."
"My apologies. I give you fair greeting, my lady," Gareth said calmly. "I was told I would find you here in your garden." He glanced at the small group still gathered beneath the apple tree. "I have already made the acquaintance of young William. Will you introduce me to the lady seated beside him and to the other members of your household?"
"Of course," Clare said stiffly. She rattled off the introductions.
Joanna studied Gareth with assessing interest. "Welcome to Desire, my lord."
"Thank you, madam." Gareth inclined his head. "It is good to know that I am welcomed here by some. Rest assured that I shall endeavor to meet as many of my lady's requirements as possible."
Clare flushed and motioned quickly to a reluctant-looking Dalian.
"Welcome to Desire, sir," Dalian muttered. He looked mutinous but he wisely kept a civil tongue.
Gareth raised one brow. "Thank you, master minstrel. I shall look forward to hearing your songs. I should tell you now that I have very specific preferences in music."
"Have you, sir?" Dalian asked, tight-lipped.
"Aye. I do not care for songs about ladies who are seduced by knights other than their wedded lords."
Dalian bristled. "Lady Clare delights in songs that tell of the love affairs of ladies and their devoted knights, sir. She finds them very exciting."
"Does she, indeed?" Gareth arched a brow.
Clare felt herself grow warm. She knew that she was turning a bright shade of pink. "I am told that such ballads are very popular at the finest courts throughout Christendom."
"Personally, I have seldom found it either necessary or convenient to follow the latest fashion," Gareth said. He gave the small crowd a cool, deliberate look. "I trust you will all excuse your lady and me. We wish to converse in private."
"Of course." Joanna rose to her feet. Then she smiled at Gareth. "We shall see you at supper. Come along, William."
William hopped off the bench. He grinned at Gareth. "Is the Window of Hell very heavy, Sir Gareth?"
"Aye."
"Do you think that I could lift it if I tried?"
Joanna frowned at him. "Certainly not, William. Do not even suggest such a thing. Swords are very dangerous and extremely heavy. You are much too delicate for such weapons."
William looked crestfallen.
Gareth looked down at him. "I do not doubt that you could lift a sword, William."
William beamed.
"Why don't you ask Sir Ulrich if you can examine his sword?" Gareth suggested. "It is just as heavy as the Window of Hell."
"Is it?" William looked intrigued by that information. "I shall go and ask him at once."
Joanna looked horrified. "I do not think that is at all wise."
"You may be at ease, Lady Joanna," Gareth said. "Sir Ulrich has had a great deal of experience with such matters. He will not allow William to hurt himself."
"Are you quite certain it is safe?"
"Aye. Now, if you do not mind, madam, I would like to speak with Lady Clare."
Joanna hesitated, obviously torn. Then good manners took over. "Forgive me, sir. I did not wish to be rude." She hurried off after her son.
Clare bit back her annoyance. Now was probably not the best moment to inform Gareth that Joanna did not want William encouraged in his growing enthusiasm for all things pertaining to knighthood. She
tapped her toe impatiently as the others took their leave.
Dalian lingered a moment, giving Clare an urgent, searching glance. He looked frightened but determined.
Clare frowned and quickly shook her head once in a small negative gesture. The last thing she wanted was for Dalian to attempt to be her champion in this awkward situation. The young troubadour stood no chance against the Hellhound of Wyckmere.
When they were alone in the garden, Clare turned to face Gareth. He no longer stank of sweat and
"My apologies. I give you fair greeting, my lady," Gareth said calmly. "I was told I would find you here in your garden." He glanced at the small group still gathered beneath the apple tree. "I have already made the acquaintance of young William. Will you introduce me to the lady seated beside him and to the other members of your household?"
"Of course," Clare said stiffly. She rattled off the introductions.
Joanna studied Gareth with assessing interest. "Welcome to Desire, my lord."
"Thank you, madam." Gareth inclined his head. "It is good to know that I am welcomed here by some. Rest assured that I shall endeavor to meet as many of my lady's requirements as possible."
Clare flushed and motioned quickly to a reluctant-looking Dalian.
"Welcome to Desire, sir," Dalian muttered. He looked mutinous but he wisely kept a civil tongue.
Gareth raised one brow. "Thank you, master minstrel. I shall look forward to hearing your songs. I should tell you now that I have very specific preferences in music."
"Have you, sir?" Dalian asked, tight-lipped.
"Aye. I do not care for songs about ladies who are seduced by knights other than their wedded lords."
Dalian bristled. "Lady Clare delights in songs that tell of the love affairs of ladies and their devoted knights, sir. She finds them very exciting."
"Does she, indeed?" Gareth arched a brow.
Clare felt herself grow warm. She knew that she was turning a bright shade of pink. "I am told that such ballads are very popular at the finest courts throughout Christendom."
"Personally, I have seldom found it either necessary or convenient to follow the latest fashion," Gareth said. He gave the small crowd a cool, deliberate look. "I trust you will all excuse your lady and me. We wish to converse in private."
"Of course." Joanna rose to her feet. Then she smiled at Gareth. "We shall see you at supper. Come along, William."
William hopped off the bench. He grinned at Gareth. "Is the Window of Hell very heavy, Sir Gareth?"
"Aye."
"Do you think that I could lift it if I tried?"
Joanna frowned at him. "Certainly not, William. Do not even suggest such a thing. Swords are very dangerous and extremely heavy. You are much too delicate for such weapons."
William looked crestfallen.
Gareth looked down at him. "I do not doubt that you could lift a sword, William."
William beamed.
"Why don't you ask Sir Ulrich if you can examine his sword?" Gareth suggested. "It is just as heavy as the Window of Hell."
"Is it?" William looked intrigued by that information. "I shall go and ask him at once."
Joanna looked horrified. "I do not think that is at all wise."
"You may be at ease, Lady Joanna," Gareth said. "Sir Ulrich has had a great deal of experience with such matters. He will not allow William to hurt himself."
"Are you quite certain it is safe?"
"Aye. Now, if you do not mind, madam, I would like to speak with Lady Clare."
Joanna hesitated, obviously torn. Then good manners took over. "Forgive me, sir. I did not wish to be rude." She hurried off after her son.
Clare bit back her annoyance. Now was probably not the best moment to inform Gareth that Joanna did not want William encouraged in his growing enthusiasm for all things pertaining to knighthood. She
tapped her toe impatiently as the others took their leave.
Dalian lingered a moment, giving Clare an urgent, searching glance. He looked frightened but determined.
Clare frowned and quickly shook her head once in a small negative gesture. The last thing she wanted was for Dalian to attempt to be her champion in this awkward situation. The young troubadour stood no chance against the Hellhound of Wyckmere.
When they were alone in the garden, Clare turned to face Gareth. He no longer stank of sweat and
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