Chapter Three #4
Lyssa listened to his explanation and although part of her understood what he was saying, another part of her understood that, perhaps, he did not want others to know he had been in her company.
The woman with the catch in her speech. Of course, he would be ashamed; any man would.
It reminded her that this entire event had been based on his pity towards her. Abruptly, she lowered her head.
“I-I understand, my lord,” she said. “I-I will not tell anyone.”
There was that tone in her voice again, as if he’d upset her.
The third time in as many hours. The first two times, he hadn’t pressed her very much for an answer, but now he was going to.
He shouldn’t have cared. Truthfully, he should have simply accepted the fact that she was an emotional female just like the rest, one given to irrational whims and moods, but something told him that she wasn’t like that. She seemed genuine and open and honest.
It was something that he liked about her, this wide-open fascination with the world and the trusting look in her eye.
He had watched her in the tavern, her joy in life and her humor, and he knew this wouldn’t be the last time he saw her.
He wanted to see her again and again, and in time, perhaps something even more than that.
Perhaps this was the woman he would finally take unto himself and call her wife.
But before that could happen, in the infancy of whatever he was feeling for her, they had to get a few things straight.
With that in mind, he reached out and grasped her arm.
“Look at me,” he said quietly.
Lyssa kept her red-cheeked face down. “I-I-I do not….”
He cut her off, though it was gently done. “Lyssa, look at me.”
Her head shot up, astonished that he had used her name so boldly. When he saw her surprise, he lifted his eyebrows. “So you do not like it when I call you by your name?”
Lyssa’s expression was uncertain. “I-I-It is forward of you.”
Her stammering was growing worse, perhaps because she was upset. Perhaps it was even because she was afraid. Whatever the case, he didn’t like it when she was nervous. He wanted to see that happy young woman, always, and especially when it pertained to him.
“Aye, it is,” he said quietly. “But in case you have not realized it, I have been rather bold towards you all evening. May I call you by your name in private, when it is just the two of us?”
She nodded unsteadily. “I-If you wish.”
“I do. And I wish that you should call me Garret.”
Her puzzled expression grew. “I-If that is your wish, I shall.”
“Excellent. Now, Lyssa, I wish to ask you a question.”
She eyed him. “I-I will answer if I can.”
“Do I make you nervous?”
Lyssa looked at him for a moment. “S-Sometimes,” she said honestly.
A smile played on his lips. “Thank you for being truthful,” he said quietly. “If I have made you nervous, that has never been my intention. I am sorry if you have felt that way. To be completely honest… you make me a little nervous, too.”
Now, she was surprised. “I-I do?”
He nodded. “There is something I wish to ask you and I am afraid I will not like your answer.”
“W-What is the question?”
His smile grew, but it was forced. Garret realized that he really was nervous as he looked at her. “Would you be agreeable if I were to call upon you at The Wix?”
She stared at him, dumbly. “C-Call upon me for what?”
He snorted. “Because I would like to see you again.”
“W-What do you wish to see?”
“God’s Bones, woman, do I have to make myself plain? I wish to call upon you. To bask in your beauty, to bring you gifts. Now do you understand?”
She did. He could tell when her eyes widened as if she could hardly believe what she’d just heard. “M-Me?” she gasped.
“You.”
Her mouth popped open. “W-Why would you want to do such a thing?”
He couldn’t tell if she was pleased or not. “Because I find you enchanting. Because I would like to spend time with you.”
As he watched, her eyes suddenly pooled with tears and she blinked rapidly, chasing them away. He grew concerned.
“Does this distress you?” he asked. “I am sorry if I have offended you. That was not my intention. If what I have said is of no interest to you, then you only need tell me. I will not trouble you further.”
Lyssa, in truth, could hardly believe any of it.
She felt entirely foolish for her reaction, but not so foolish considering the lack of confidence she had in herself.
She put a hand to her mouth, trying to stave off her astonishment as she struggled to grasp that a man – any man – should look to her as a romantic prospect.
Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine such a thing would be possible, and most certainly not from someone like Garret de Moray.
“B-But I do not understand,” she whispered, her throat tight.
“Y-Y-You are a great and noble knight. I-I am… I am no one. I-I have no great family ties, no prestige to bring you. I-In fact, I cannot even speak without sounding like a dullard, so I do not understand why you would… why anyone would….”
In that stammered statement, Garret came to understand a great deal. In fact, it was a rather heartbreaking realization. He began to think back through the evening, thinking to the moments when she’d grown moody or quiet, and each time it had been because he had given her a compliment of some kind.
Did the woman truly believe she was unworthy of them?
“So you believe no one would want to court you because you are not from a great family?” he asked.
“Lady, you sorely underestimate yourself. In the short time I have known you, I have come to see a kind and joyful woman who clearly thirsts for life. I have never seen anyone laugh as openly as you have tonight. As those idiots put that stick on your head, you were thrilled to be part of it. I cannot remember ever having that kind of unbridled joy, not ever. It intrigues me. You intrigue me. I would take you over all of the finely-bred females England had to offer, even if it was only for this night. To me, it would be worth it.”
Lyssa’s heart went from slowly breaking to taking flight. She’d never heard such sweet or lovely words, now directed at her. Could she even dare to hope? “E-Even with… with the way I speak?”
His brow furrowed as if he didn’t know what she meant. “You speak like an angel.”
“B-But I stammer my words!”
“It is of no consequence to me.”
Lyssa could hardly believe what she was hearing. She felt like she was living a dream because, surely, only in dreams would a man as powerful and handsome as Garret de Moray say such things.
This didn’t happen in her world.
As Lyssa struggled for a reply, Garret reached out and gently took her hand, bringing it to his lips for a tender kiss, and she nearly collapsed.
Lightheaded, Lyssa watched him as he flipped her hand over and kissed her palm.
The expression on her face was nothing short of miraculous, but she could only think of one thing to say.
“A-Are you deaf, then?”
Garret burst out laughing, low and deep. He kissed her hand again. “I can hear you quite clearly,” he said. “And I can see you quite clearly. You are an exquisite creature and I would be humbled and proud if you will allow me to call upon you. Please do not deny me.”
She shook her head, a smile on her lips because he was still chuckling. “I-I will not deny you,” she murmured. “I-I can only say that you honor me greatly.”
Garret was about to reply when a shadow stepped out from behind the livery.
In fact, several shadows stepped out and Garret was immediately on his guard, pulling Lyssa against him in his haste to remove her from the shadow that was coming up behind her.
Very quickly, he realized that there were also men behind him.
He couldn’t tell how many but he realized that this was not a good situation.
In fact, it was a dangerous one.
Years as a trained warrior told him that.
He didn’t try to back up or move away other than to pull Lyssa against him, protectively, as the men began to come into the light of the livery lamps.
Garret could see they were armed. He was, too, but Lyssa was without any weapons or protection, and if this turned into a fight, he was concerned for her.
He knew that Zayin was in the livery and, hopefully, could see the situation.
He was counting on it because he could see at least six men and possibly more behind him.
If he was going to take them all on, then he at least wanted Zayin to protect the lady.
“How romantic,” the dirty, round man who had come up behind Lyssa spoke, his tone crass and crude. “The lady is, indeed, an exquisite creature, knight. I don’t blame ye for wanting something from her.”
Garret showed absolutely no fear. He took a step back, in the direction of the livery, but he could hear the sing of weapons as they were pulled forth from their sheaths. Having heard that sound many times in his life, he immediately stopped.
“I have no quarrel with you at the moment. But if you and your men do not lower your weapons and go about your business, that will quickly change,” he said to the dirty man who had addressed him. “If your men attack, you will be the first one I kill so consider your next move carefully.”
The dirty man stared at him a moment before breaking out into a grin. “Bold words, m’lord,” he said. “I am not sure if ye have noticed, but ye’re sorely outnumbered.”
“I do not need increased numbers in order to defeat rabble such as you.”
The men standing around chuckled, a nasty and guttural sound.
The dirty man looked around, smiling at his colleagues, before returning his attention to Garret.
“Ye have a grand opinion of yerself,” he said.
“But, then again, I’ve never met a knight who didn’t believe he was invincible. Where do ye hail from, sweetheart?”