Chapter Fifteen #3
Lilia was particularly concerned with Brody and how badly he was injured, and Lady Currie’s lust for the man threatened to undo her completely.
She was so upset over it that by the time they reached the staging ground, she was trembling.
She was also slowing down, which caused Lady Currie to rush around her and head straight to the one of the guards from the Ludus Caledonia who was guarding the gate.
He knew her on sight.
“Lady Currie,” the man with the heavy French accent said. “We have not seen you here for some time. How may I be of service?”
Lady Currie smiled prettily. “Where is Sir Clegg?” she asked. “I wish to speak with him.”
The man seemed to know exactly what she wanted, so he unlocked the gate and ushered her and Lilia inside.
Since Lady Currie had been here so many times, she knew exactly where to go.
Lilia followed her along a path that was laid with tile, a path that would lead them directly to the private viewing box of Sir Clegg de Lave.
From this lavish and private box overlooking both the staging ground and the arena beyond, the owner of the Ludus Caledonia could watch everything.
It was a structure built on the edge of the gully that contained the Fields of Mars, one that had big arches instead of walls so there was a great view from all angles.
In the winter, however, those arches were fitted with shutters and curtains that were now closed up against the gently falling snow except for two of them, directly overlooking the staging area and the arena.
An enormous fire roared in the hearth near lavish couches and a table with fine wine decanters and a spread of delicacies. A man with flowing silver hair was standing in one of the open arches, heavily wrapped against the cold. When he noticed Lady Currie, he came away from the arch.
“Ah,” he said pleasantly. “Lady Currie. It is always a pleasure to see you.”
Lady Currie smiled brightly. “And you, Sir Clegg,” she said. “I was wondering if I might ask a question about a couple of your new novices.”
Clegg nodded, sensing money to be made. He always made a great deal of money from Lady Currie when it came to his fine, young warriors and this was, after all, a business.
“Of course,” he said. “Come and sit with me. Let us drink warmed wine and speak on those men you are interested in.”
Lady Currie giggled. “I am rather obvious, aren’t I?”
Clegg smiled, displaying yellowed teeth. “I like a woman who knows what she wants,” he said as they moved towards the fine couches. “Let me guess. You want to know of the two that were just in combat.”
Lady Currie nodded. “In particular, the one who was injured,” she said. “Tell me of him.”
Clegg’s bushy eyebrows lifted. “Ah,” he said. “The Highlander. That is Brody McKay. He is an excellent fighter.”
“And his opponent?”
“Titus Stewart, another Scotsman. They call him The Eagle.”
“I heard,” Lady Currie said with a hint of impatience. “And in the first round there was a tall blond. Who was that?”
“A young Englishman named Warenne de Soulant,” he said. “Which one would you like to meet?”
“Brody.”
Clegg shook his head. “He was wounded from what I saw, so I do not believe he’ll be good company for you,” he said. “What of Titus? Or Warenne?”
Lady Currie was unhappy that he’d rejected her first choice and she wasn’t shy about it. “But he didn’t look too badly injured,” she said. “Brody, I mean. Where is he?”
Clegg grinned. “He has been taken to his cottage, I would imagine, to be tended by the physic,” he said. “A wounded man will not be of much use to you and your needs, my lady, so choose another for tonight. When Brody heals, I will introduce you.”
Lady Currie didn’t press him, but she was still unhappy. “Very well,” she sighed sharply. “Warenne was nice-looking. Do you have any others?”
“I do.”
“Will you show me?”
Clegg nodded. “Come out to the balcony and we shall inspect the men in the staging area below.”
Lady Currie nodded, eager to take a good look.
Lilia, still standing back by the door, watched the woman as she moved swiftly to the big balcony that gave a supreme vantage point.
But she also knew that, from this point forward, she wasn’t needed.
Lady Currie had Clegg’s attention and it would be through Clegg that she would find the evening’s companionship.
Sometimes Lilia followed her for lack of anything better to do, but sometimes she didn’t.
Sometimes, she went back to the carriage to wait in the dark and cold.
But tonight… she wasn’t going to go back to the carriage.
She had another destination in mind.
“M’lady?” she said before Lady Currie could become too involved in her inspection. “Do ye require me? I can wait for ye elsewhere if ye wish.”
Lady Currie waved an impatient hand at her. “Go back to the carriage,” she said. “Find Amy and the two of you can wait for me. I do not know how long I shall be, so do not ask.”
Lilia simply nodded, eager to be gone. In little time, she was out the door and back through the iron gate. The warrior village was to the south and she stood there a moment, remembering what Brody had told her.
I have a cottage at the end of the warrior’s village. Come find me when this is over.
She intended to.