Ladybird (Below the Salt #9)

Chapter 4

B y the time the traveling party got to the castle it was already sunset and the day was just about over. Hunter felt all the eyes on him as they rode through the gates into the courtyard. Sitting atop his horse dressed in the cloak of a noble, he felt like such a fake. A big liar. He glanced over at Luke. The boy was smiling from ear to ear, enjoying every minute of this immensely. That concerned Hunter.

Robin dismounted quickly and immediately two stable workers ran over to him. One was old and the other young.

“We’ll take the horses, my lord,” said the boy who seemed to be about Luke’s age. The older man with him eyed up Hunter suspiciously.

“You have guests, my lord?” asked the man as Robin helped his sister dismount.

“We do,” Regina answered for him. “Please take their horses for them.” Even though this was her brother’s castle, Lady Regina wasn’t afraid to give orders as she saw fit. She was nothing like a normal lady who would be silent and seen but rarely ever heard. Robin glared at his sister but didn’t reprimand her in front of everyone. It made Hunter wonder if he refrained himself out of respect for his sister or because he was afraid of the wench. That amused him more than anything.

“Nay!” protested Luke when the boy tried to take the reins of his horse. Luke had dismounted and grabbed the reins back. “No one is going to take my horse since I just got her.” Luke looked over to Hunter for help. “Right, Hunter?”

“Hunter?” The older man cocked his head. “That name and your face are familiar. Don’t I know you from somewhere?”

“Nay, you don’t, Alfred,” said Regina much too quickly. “These are nobles from…from afar.”

“Really.” Alfred took the reins of Regina’s horse. “I could have sworn I’ve seen him somewhere. Mayhap in town.”

Hunter realized the man must know him from his job of being a thief-taker. After all, the last time Hunter was here he was not more than a child and now he was an adult. This man, being a groom, probably traveled to town often. Hunter decided he had better say something quickly to remedy the situation. His nephew already ruined his alias by calling him Hunter aloud.There was no sense in hiding his real name now.

“I’m sure you might have seen me around,” Hunter told the old groom as he got off his horse.

“What are you doing?” whispered Regina, scowling at him, obviously wanting him to keep his mouth closed.

“So, we have met before, my lord?” asked Alfred. “When and where?”

“Alfred, people call me…Lord Hunter. My name is Hunter Blake. He decided at the last minute not to use his real surname.“This is my nephew, Luke.” He shot Luke a look to stay quiet, having told him earlier that they couldn’t reveal to anyone who they really were.

“Hunter Blake,” repeated Alfred with a hand to his chin. “Then you are related to Lady Regina and Lord Robin?”

“Well, actually he’s not—” Regina started speaking but Hunter cut her off.

“Yes, I am. However, I’m not closely related. I am a distant…cousin. On their mother’s side.”

“What?” squeaked Regina, looking horrified at the story he was concocting.

“Her mother’s side?” Alfred scratched his head. “And yet you use the surname of Blake, my lord? I don’t understand.”

Damn, he hadn’t thought things through clearly because he was still too tired from his last mission. “Yes,” he said, clearing his throat, hoping to hell he could come up with a tolerable excuse. He hated the fact that once again in front of his nephew he was lying. “It was because their mother’s sister, yes that’s it, she married their father’s half-brother. From his second marriage. It’s complicated.”

“I’ll say,” mumbled Robin under his breath.

“Do you remember me at all, Lord Hunter?” asked Alfred.

Hunter’s heart sped up. The man was testing him and no one could come to his rescue now. “I’m sorry, I don’t,” he answered, hoping this would be the end of the conversation. Hunter noticed that the younger stableboy seemed to be about thirteen or fourteen years old, a bit older than Luke. His guess was that the boy was born here because he seemed very familiar with the job and stables. “Is this your grandson?”

“Yes. How did you know?” asked Alfred.

“A lucky guess. What is your name?” Hunter asked the boy.

“My name is Alfred,” answered the child.

“An excellent name.” Hunter looked back at the old man.

“You can call me Al and my grandson, Fred,” the older man suggested. Everyone around here does. It avoids confusion.”

“Well then, Fred. Would you be kind enough to care for my horse for me?” Hunter spoke to the boy.

“Why do you have your sword strapped to your back?” asked Fred, taking the reins from him. “Are you a knight?”

Damn, Hunter forgot about that. Only warriors and bounty hunters wore swords in this manner. He was in such a hurry to leave that he had just slipped the cloak right over his shoulders and over the sword as well.

“You could say I’m a fighting man, yes,” he answered.

“I’m a fighting man, too. See my sword?” Luke reached for his sword. Hunter’s hand shot out to stop him.

“My nephew, Luke, always says he wants to be a knight someday,” Hunter told them with a chuckle, trying his best not to lie but also not to be too direct with his answers.

“My lord, the cooks are waiting to serve the meal.” The castle’s steward rushed out of the keep to speak with Robin.

“Yes, thank you, John. We will be right there. Follow me, Lord Hunter,” said Robin.

They all walked to the great hall and Hunter stopped just inside the door. The room was noisy and crowded. Long trestle tables lined the walls and continued down the middle of the room. Each of them were filled with people. Some looked like nobles, some knights, and others were dressed more like commoners. There was a table near the back of the hall where some of the servants seemed to gather. Cupbearers and kitchen maids rushed back and forth with pitchers of ale and large empty platters. They seemed to be waiting to serve the meal. Most likely as soon as the nobles sat down. Wine flowed freely and music from the gallery filled the air. There was a jester walking around juggling eggs in the air. Children followed him, jumping up trying to catch the eggs. Several dogs hid under the tables waiting for scraps of food.

“You’ll eat up here with us at the dais,” Regina told him, leading him to a trestle table that was raised on a platform at the front of the room. Already a good dozen nobles sat there waiting. There were a few empty chairs in the middle of the table. It was all very overwhelming to be here at all.

“Down here is fine,” he told her.

“Nay, nobles eat at the dais. It is mostly only commoners who eat below the salt,” she told him. “Take a seat at the dais.”

“Nay.” Hunter shook his head. “I don’t think so.” The last place he wanted to be was on display for the entire castle.

“Why not?” she demanded to know. She leaned closer and spoke softly. “Have you forgotten that you are supposed to be a noble. If you were truly my cousin you’d be sitting with me.”

“It’s too much of a risk that someone might recognize me if I am up there on display.”

“I thought you didn’t have much contact with the townsfolk,” said Robin, having overheard their conversation. “That’s what William told me.”

“If you travel all the time, plus the fact you live like a hermit in the forest, it is possible that no one will even know you here,” added Regina. “You are at the castle now. This life is much different from that of your little hut in the woods.”

“Well, I want to eat up at the dais,” said Luke, his eyes widening.

“Only adults,” stated Robin. “However, you are welcome to sit with the children of the nobles over there.” Robin pointed across the room where a horde of children couldn’t seem to sit still.

“I think it would be better if Luke and I ate in our chamber,” suggested Hunter, not trusting that Luke could keep his mouth shut around all those children. “Can you just direct us to where we’ll be staying, please?”

“Of course, but are you sure that’s what you really want to do?” Regina’s eyes begged him to stay. She leaned over and spoke softly once again. “I thought being amongst the people would make it easier for you to identify the thief.”

“Yes, but not tonight,” he protested. “We just returned from a long trip and my nephew needs his rest.”

“I am a little tired,” admitted Luke, stifling a yawn with his hand.

“Fine, then. I can have my steward show you to your chamber and a page will bring food and drink to your room,” Robin offered.

“Thank you.” Hunter nodded, his head still pounding like a drum in his ears.

It wasn’t ten minutes later and Hunter and Luke were sitting in a bedchamber that was bigger than their cabin and horse stall put together. They ate food so delicious that he thought he’d died and gone to heaven. There was a full flagon of red wine that the page brought, and it tasted richer than any wine he’d ever had. A platter of sweetmeats was nearly empty since Luke decided he liked the candied fruit better than the quail or the dubious-looking meat that he couldn’t identify.

“Hunter,” said the boy, yawning again. “I think I’m going to like living here at the castle.” He put down his cup and his eyes started to close.

“Aye, well, don’t get too used to it, Luke. We won’t be staying long.”

“Where do I sleep?” asked the boy, standing up and stretching.

“Well, considering there is only one bed but it is big enough for four, I’d say we’ll share its comfort.” He pointed to the bed that was up two small stairs and surrounded by long velvet bedcurtains hanging from irons.

“What are the curtains for?” asked Luke stripping down to his braies and pulling back the covers and climbing into bed.

“I guess for privacy.” Hunter downed the rest of his wine after first using a hand cloth provided to wipe the grease of the meal from his fingers. He’d have to ask Regina tomorrow just what the food was that he’d devoured. Whatever it was, it tasted much better than the pottage he often made or even the hare he usually hunted and killed for their meals. “Although, I’m not sure why anyone would need that much privacy,” he finished telling Luke. Hunter started thinking about Regina again. He thought of the way she looked with those womanly curves. Her delicate yet alluring scent seemed to be stuck in his nose and it was driving him crazy. Then there was that kiss they shared. The way she’d kissed with so much passion had his mind racing and his senses reeling. All he could think of was what he’d like to do with her atop a big luxurious bed like this, and behind those lush, closed velvet curtains.

He sprang to his feet, shaking the lustful thoughts from his head. When he noticed Luke was already sleeping, he decided to go for a walk in the night air to clear his mind and cool his hot, aching loins. Mayhap a dip in the cold lake would cure his problems. What was wrong with him? Someone like him should never even be entertaining ideas about taking a noblewoman to his bed. He never should have kissed her either. Now, she’d ruined everything. No other wench would ever suffice again. He’d always be comparing his latest tryst to Lady Regina. Hell, he had enough trouble in his life and didn’t need to be locked behind bars for seducing someone of such a high status.

He closed the door to the room softly, hurriedly making his way down the stairs. Cheery music rent the air. Hunter stopped just outside the door to the great hall, seeing people laughing and drinking and eating more food than he’d ever seen in his life. There were strolling minstrels playing music and a few of the men already well in their cups, pulled women up from the table to dance with them.

His eyes roamed over to the dais. He had hoped to see Regina, but was disappointed to find that she was not there. Robin sat with a woman who had a round face and strawberry- blonde hair. She was probably his wife, he decided. Some of his knights and ladies of the castle looked toward the entrance, causing Hunter to quickly step back into the shadows. He did not want to be seen. Regina’s seat next to Robin’s was empty so there was no need to tarry here any longer. It was probably a good thing she’d already left because seeing her right now would only make him want to kiss her once again. And that wouldn’t do a damned thing to relieve him of his little problem.

He turned and headed out of the hall and made his way down to the castle courtyard. The sun was just setting and it lit up the horizon with a beautiful glow of reds and oranges, bringing the sky to life. The castle was large with an inner and outer bailey. He’d noticed an orchard when he’d arrived, right inside the castle walls. There were many out-dwellings such as the forge, the stables, the barracks for the soldiers and, of course, the mews. Wanting to be alone to think, he decided to get his horse and take a ride outside the castle walls to a lake he’d noticed not far from the drawbridge.

Approaching the lake, which appeared surrounded by brush, he realized it was a perfect place to go to be alone. The sunset only got better and the water looked inviting. There was no one around so he tied the reins of his horse to a tree and decided to go for a quick swim to cool down.

After kicking off his boots, he removed his tunic. He was about to remove his breeches when the sound of a hawk crying out caught his attention and made him look up at the sky.

There, silhouetted on the glow of the horizon, was a bird of prey with wings spread majestically as it seemed to float gracefully through the air. It was a hawk or falcon of some sort. He wasn’t sure which. He watched the bird it as it got closer, realizing it was preparing to land. It also seemed to have leather ties dangling from its feet. He knew at once it was one of the birds from the castle mews. Hunter headed down to the shore in his bare feet, peering around the brush. That’s when he saw her.

Regina stood on the shore with a golden glow from the sky lighting up her smiling face. Her hand was in the air and on it was a falconer’s glove. She stretched her arm upward toward the heavens as if she were summoning the wind itself and gave a sharp whistle. The bird flew to her obediently and landed gently on her gloved hand. Regina praised the bird with soft, gentle words and quickly gave it a reward from her pouch.

“You are such a good bird, Lightning,” she said, stroking the falcon on the head.

Fascinated by her expertise in handling the bird, Hunter made his presence known.

“I am surprised you are not with the nobles eating in the great hall, my lady.” He walked toward her. “Instead, I find you outside the castle walls, alone and with a hawk.”

Startled, Regina spun around too quickly. The fast motion startled her bird and caused it to take off again in flight.

“You frightened Lightning,” she scolded. “And he is a peregrine falcon, not a hawk.”

“Sorry.” He shrugged. “They all look the same to me.”

“What are you doing here, Hunter?” Regina’s heart raced. She had left the great hall early not only to let Lightning fly in the sunset but because she needed to get away and think about what happened earlier that day in the thief-taker’s cabin. The man had been bold enough to not only touch her but to kiss her. She had all but melted in his arms, not able to move away.

“I could ask you the same thing, my lady. Do you usually skip a meal just to fly a bird?”

“Don’t make it sound like such a menial task when it is more important than eating. Lightning loves the sunsets. He deserves to fly more than he usually gets to do. It is not normal nor healthy for any bird to be tethered to a perch for so long. I like to let my birds feel freedom as often as they can.”

“They are hunting birds, my lady, and are expected to be tied to their perches when not working.” Hunter stopped right next to her, so close that she swore she could feel his body heat radiating out and touching her from that gorgeous bare chest he didn’t even try to cover in her presence. “They have a job to do and like most of us they will never know what it is to truly be free.”

His words sounded so sad but at the same time didn’t seem bitter. To her, his tone came across as almost serene. It was as if he’d made peace with the idea of being naught but a simple commoner for his entire life. She got the feeling he wasn’t the kind of man who ever strived to spread his wings and soar to new heights. He seemed cautious and not willing to take risks. Then again, he was a thief-taker and she knew risk must be involved with a job like that, so mayhap she just didn’t understand him.

“Watch out,” she told him, dipping her free hand into the bag at her side. “Lightning doesn’t like to be crowded when she lands.”

“Sorry.” He took a step back.

With her left hand in the air, she stood still. The bird landed with stealth atop her glove and she fed it a scrap of meat once again.

“The bird seems devoted to you.”

“She should. I am the hand that feeds her. She will do anything I want.” Once she said it, she realized that it might have sounded haughty. After all, she had fed Hunter tonight as well.

“How old is she?” he asked, once again taking a step closer.

“Lightning is five,” she told him, wrapping the jesses, leather strips attached to the bird’s legs, around her hand. “However, my oldest bird, Hera, is a gyrfalcon and I’ve had her the longest. She is eight now.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to tell one bird apart from another.”

“You will in time. However, you haven’t even met them all yet. When you do, you will see the difference.”

He shook his head. “I really don’t think I’ll ever be able to do what you do. Was it hard to learn the skills of being a falconer?”

“It comes with time and a lot of hard work. And no, you will never be able to do what I do, you are right.” She gave Lightning another scrap of meat.

“Thanks for having so much faith in me,” he said leaning in closer to peruse the bird. He reached out to touch it but the bird squawked and opened its beak, letting out a rapid kak-kak-kak sound that startled Hunter. He quickly pulled back his hand. “Why did she do that?”

“Lightning is cautious since she doesn’t know you. Or like you,” she added under her breath, reaching out to gently stroke the bird’s back.

“How can you say the bird doesn’t like me?” Hunter scowled. “She’s probably just being territorial, that’s all.”

“Nay,” she answered. “Her territorial call is kee-kee-kee. You definitely made a bad first impression.”

“I give up,” mumbled Hunter. “How am I supposed to be a falconer’s assistant if the bird won’t let me near her?”

“You have to earn the bird’s trust first.” Regina looked over at him and directly into his eyes. “Just like with a woman,” she said in a mere whisper.

“I see.” Hunter found himself being drawn into Regina’s big, beautiful eyes. With the setting sun reflecting in her hazel orbs he saw small specks of green and even orange bringing them to life. “And how long does it take to gain that type of trust?” It took all his control not to reach out and cup her cheek or push back a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. But after that slap he received, he decided he’d better take things slow. Besides, if he tried to touch her, the damned bird would probably attack and sink its sharp beak into his flesh.

“It takes longer than you think,” was her answer.

“Do you mean…for the bird…or for a woman?” he asked in a deep voice, wanting her to trust him the way her bird trusted her. He longed for Regina to welcome him and fall into his open arms. He fantasized of her resting her head against his chest as he stroked her soft hair the same way she stroked the bird’s feathers.

With their gazes interlocked, the intimate moment lingered. Her stare was strong and brave. Surprisingly, she did nothing to break the connection between them. There was a curious nature locked deep within her eyes that called to him. Hunter found himself wondering if she was as intrigued by him as he was her.

“Where are you clothes?” she asked, nearly choking on the words, or so it seemed. Her gaze slowly lowered from his eyes to his bare chest.

“I was planning on taking a quick dip in the lake. Then I saw you.”

“A dip in the lake? Whatever for?”

He squirmed a little and then nonchalantly crossed his arms over his groin. The last thing he wanted was for her to notice the bulge growing under the fabric of his breeches.

When Regina’s eyes traveled lower, she almost gasped aloud by what she saw and quickly looked the other way. This man was filled with lust. The bulge in his breeches proved it. She shouldn’t be here alone with a lusty half-naked man when it was soon to be dark. Not to mention, she was with a stranger she barely knew and also unescorted. Regina didn’t know anything about this man at all. She wasn’t even sure she could trust him.

“I was hot,” he said, making her skin warm just hearing his words. Did that bulge in his breeches have anything to do with her? Deep down she rather hoped so. “I wanted to cleanse myself from the dust and dirt of my last trip.”

“Nobles do not bathe in the lake,” she told him, feeding more to her bird, trying her hardest not to look at him anymore. The more she did, the more she wanted him to kiss her like he did at the cabin. “If you want a bath, tell the steward. He will have servants bring up a wooden tub which they will fill with hot water.”

“Really? Where? To my bedchamber?”

“Of course. Where else?”

“I have never bathed indoors before.”

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye and shook her head. “Then you’d better start. If you want anyone to believe for a moment that you are a noble, you had best act the part. That goes for your nephew, too.”

“Have no fear, I can do it, my lady. However, I am not so sure about Luke.”

“What do you mean?” She turned to look at him and instantly regretted it. His nipples were hard. Hopefully just from the cool night breeze. His chest was so wide and sturdy and his arms bulged with muscles. There was a small smattering of dark hair trailing down his chest and disappearing into the top of his breeches. The hair on his head was brown and hung down to his shoulders. He had a beard and mustache covering his face and craggy thick brows. His features were very handsome for such a rugged and unrefined man. Hunter stood much taller than most of the men at the castle. He still towered over her now, and he had bare feet.

“I have been having a hard time raising the boy,” he explained. “Luke doesn’t seem to want to listen to a word I say.”

“How old is he?”

“He recently turned thirteen.”

“That’s why. It is only going to get worse before it gets better. I know for a fact since that is how my brother Robin was at that age.” She walked over and sat down on a rock, removing a small leather hood from her side pouch and slipping it over the bird’s head and eyes. The falcon’s beak stuck out through the opening.

“What is that for?” Hunter still kept his distance.

“Birds of prey are easily distracted and startled,” she told him. “Having a hood over their eyes helps to calm them. You can come closer now, it’s all right.”

“Thank you,” he said, walking up next to her.

“What about the boy’s parents?” she asked. “Can’t they do something to control him?”

“Nay. They are both dead and I am his guardian now.”

“I am sorry. How long has it been?”

“I have been raising Luke on my own for the last five years. Right after my sister, Mary, passed away.”

“Do you have any more sisters? Or what about brothers?”

“Nay. It’s just me now. Mary was a half-sister, actually. She was a few years older than me.”

“How old are you?”

“I am twenty-nine, my lady. How old are you?”

Her head snapped upward. “I am not certain it is proper to ask a noblewoman her age, but if you must know I am twenty-one. Hunter, I am curious. Do you have any children of your own?”

“I would think that was an obvious no since I can’t seem to handle the boy I have taken guardianship over.”

“Then, you’ve never been married?”

“You certainly do ask a lot of personal questions.”

“If you are going to be living within the castle walls and working with me every day it is important that I know all about you.”

“Ah. I see. So you can…trust me?” He flashed her a smile.

“I am not sure that will ever happen,” she mumbled, turning to pay attention to her bird.

“No,” he said.

“No, what?”

“No, I haven’t been married. My life hasn’t been all that easy, you see.”

“What does that mean?” She turned back to look at him once again, seeing the turmoil in his eyes.

“My mother died when I was thirteen. My father raised me until he died when I was twenty. Then I was on my own until five years ago when my sister died too. That is when I took Luke to live with me.”

“I’m sorry for all your hardships.”

“Thank you. It is a part of life, I guess.”

“Was your family free? Or were you serfs?”

“Neither. My mother and stepfather were farmers. They owned a small plot of land that produced our food.”

“Stepfather? What about your real father? The one who knew my father?”

“That…doesn’t matter.”

“My father said he once worked right here at Shrewsbury Castle. As a dungeon guard, I believe.”

“Yes. That’s correct. He was a guard here before he left Shrewsbury Castle to raise me.”

“Why did he leave?”

“If you must know, it is because the lord of the castle at that time refused to let him raise his bastard son at the castle. We were shunned by all. My father wasn’t able to keep his job and raise me both.”

“I’m sorry. So what type of job did he have after he left the castle?” She could tell all her questions were disturbing him greatly, but she wasn’t exactly sure why.

He turned and looked out over the water. “Excuse me, my lady, but I need to get back to my chamber in case Luke awakes. I don’t want him wandering about a strange castle on his own.”

“All right. I understand.” She stood with the bird still on her arm. “Report to the mews in the morning just after sunup.”

“Sunup? That early?” He seemed surprised.

“I start training early in the day. Before it gets too busy around the castle. It only distracts the birds.”

“All right. First thing in the morning then, my lady.” He started to walk away as the sun disappeared on the horizon.

Regina couldn’t look away as she watched his half-naked form moving smoothly and graceful over the land as he made his way to the water. She called out after him. “Did you want me to have the servants bring you a bath?”

He stopped and turned back to look at her from down by the lake.

“No need, my lady. The lake will be fine.” With that, he turned his back to her and dropped his breeches as well as his braies. He stood at the edge of the lake stark naked. She gasped, almost startling Lightning again when she jerked backward and almost fell. Then she saw him dive into the lake making a big splash as his naked back end disappeared under the water.

Regina turned and walked back to her horse at a near run. Mayhap she had been severely mistaken when she thought Hunter Chase was not a risk-taker at all. His actions tonight told her that he was not only a risk-taker but also a very dangerous man to be around.

Unfortunately, one thing that attracted Regina like a moth to a flame was a handsome, sexy, unpredictable and dangerous man. That is, a man just like Hunter Chase.