reason to wish for more.
She spied, or rather heard, Bart as he snapped orders at a group of squires who had not yet won his approval. Bart strongly resembled Quentin in looks, but not size. Not as tall, not as broad, Bart had to work twice as hard to do half as well as Quentin in the contests. And Bart was quick-tempered and am bitious, as was often the case with the second son. He longed for wealth and power, but Raedelle was Quentin ’ s, and Bart ’ s fortunes must be earned another way. It was becoming apparent that he was not going to get his due through soldiering, but through clever association. She had noticed that when he looked at her of late his eyes would slowly traverse her slight form from nose to toes and back again, as if trying to account for the fact that she had lured an earl into their midst. Sometimes the gleam in his eye made her shiver. She knew, without being told, that Bart had plans revolving around this proposed marriage.
And Trenton, who was busy examining the battle gear that lay in shining rows in the courtyard, turned and smiled at her. He was a gentle lad at sevent een, too young for all this con spiracy, too young to go to battle. But he was without choice and must follow his brothers or be labeled as a weakling and coward. He was not, of course. He would be as large as Quentin, and with good training just as strong, but Trenton was kind and good through and through. He was neither conniving nor am bitious.
Anne and Trenton had been playmates until Trenton was sent to another keep for training as a squire. Upon his return he had cast aside playful games and concentrated on his knightly skills -- a third-born son had much challenge ahead to even cover his head. Their fondness for each other had not really waned. Pre cious were the evening hou rs when Trenton sang sweet trou badours ’ songs in their common hall. Trenton alone shared the raven locks and dark eyes of their common sire. She greatly feared losing him to a senseless war, and if there was one sibling she could tell about Dylan, it might be him. But, like his broth ers, he had been strictly taught to suspect and despise all deFraynes. And it was Trenton, not Bart, she would have asked the earl to see to, if indeed she were to marry him, which she would not.
The busyness of the courtyard changed her mind about a stroll there, and she went back into the hall and through the galleries and cookery toward the rear of the castle. She paused to watch Divina, who had taken over Marcella ’ s duties in the cookery, since Marcella was so occupied with letters. Divina ’ s command was no lighter than their mother ’ s, and possibly harsher. She barked orders at the maids and matrons like a seasoned baroness, though she was only nineteen. She yelled about the many hungry knights, chided and ridiculed them for laziness, though it looked as though they worked feverishly. Divina tried hard to live up to their mother ’ s standards, mimicking Marcella, and Anne was suddenly filled with pity. For so long she had envied Divina ’ s apparent closeness to their mother, but now she could see the true value. Divina was neither betrothed nor happy and was busy with Marcella ’ s chores.
Raedelle ’ s wall had been built thick and tall two centuries ago, and the gates were opened for the passage of troops and villagers. The town lay to the south, a hill stood at the back of the castle, and the bastions and parapets were stocked with both new guns and ready archers. There was a strong feeling of impending war. Anne frowned in confusion and disappointment, for she could not think of any amount of money or power that could make war so appealing, causing people to forget family loyalty. Mi nerva lay forgotten, quietly dying. Yet, her family, with the exception of Divina, was happier and more excited than she had ever seen them. There were whisperings of duchies, once the power had been won for York. And laughter over the monk ish, impotent King
She spied, or rather heard, Bart as he snapped orders at a group of squires who had not yet won his approval. Bart strongly resembled Quentin in looks, but not size. Not as tall, not as broad, Bart had to work twice as hard to do half as well as Quentin in the contests. And Bart was quick-tempered and am bitious, as was often the case with the second son. He longed for wealth and power, but Raedelle was Quentin ’ s, and Bart ’ s fortunes must be earned another way. It was becoming apparent that he was not going to get his due through soldiering, but through clever association. She had noticed that when he looked at her of late his eyes would slowly traverse her slight form from nose to toes and back again, as if trying to account for the fact that she had lured an earl into their midst. Sometimes the gleam in his eye made her shiver. She knew, without being told, that Bart had plans revolving around this proposed marriage.
And Trenton, who was busy examining the battle gear that lay in shining rows in the courtyard, turned and smiled at her. He was a gentle lad at sevent een, too young for all this con spiracy, too young to go to battle. But he was without choice and must follow his brothers or be labeled as a weakling and coward. He was not, of course. He would be as large as Quentin, and with good training just as strong, but Trenton was kind and good through and through. He was neither conniving nor am bitious.
Anne and Trenton had been playmates until Trenton was sent to another keep for training as a squire. Upon his return he had cast aside playful games and concentrated on his knightly skills -- a third-born son had much challenge ahead to even cover his head. Their fondness for each other had not really waned. Pre cious were the evening hou rs when Trenton sang sweet trou badours ’ songs in their common hall. Trenton alone shared the raven locks and dark eyes of their common sire. She greatly feared losing him to a senseless war, and if there was one sibling she could tell about Dylan, it might be him. But, like his broth ers, he had been strictly taught to suspect and despise all deFraynes. And it was Trenton, not Bart, she would have asked the earl to see to, if indeed she were to marry him, which she would not.
The busyness of the courtyard changed her mind about a stroll there, and she went back into the hall and through the galleries and cookery toward the rear of the castle. She paused to watch Divina, who had taken over Marcella ’ s duties in the cookery, since Marcella was so occupied with letters. Divina ’ s command was no lighter than their mother ’ s, and possibly harsher. She barked orders at the maids and matrons like a seasoned baroness, though she was only nineteen. She yelled about the many hungry knights, chided and ridiculed them for laziness, though it looked as though they worked feverishly. Divina tried hard to live up to their mother ’ s standards, mimicking Marcella, and Anne was suddenly filled with pity. For so long she had envied Divina ’ s apparent closeness to their mother, but now she could see the true value. Divina was neither betrothed nor happy and was busy with Marcella ’ s chores.
Raedelle ’ s wall had been built thick and tall two centuries ago, and the gates were opened for the passage of troops and villagers. The town lay to the south, a hill stood at the back of the castle, and the bastions and parapets were stocked with both new guns and ready archers. There was a strong feeling of impending war. Anne frowned in confusion and disappointment, for she could not think of any amount of money or power that could make war so appealing, causing people to forget family loyalty. Mi nerva lay forgotten, quietly dying. Yet, her family, with the exception of Divina, was happier and more excited than she had ever seen them. There were whisperings of duchies, once the power had been won for York. And laughter over the monk ish, impotent King
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