Chapter Nine #2
After her conversation with Lyssa this morning, Rose knew this was coming.
She simply hadn’t expected it so soon. Garret was looking at her hopefully, Rickard was looking at her with some confusion, and their attention was making her a bit nervous.
As she pondered her reply, she could hear Lyssa’s words rolling around in her head.
I do not want to be a spinster like you!
Truth was, Rose didn’t want to be a spinster, either, but that was the role in life she’d assumed.
Hearing Lyssa’s words in her head the second time around hurt her just like the first time she’d heard her status verbalized.
She could remember what it was like to be young, but barely.
That had been many years ago. It had been a long time since a man had sent her heart fluttering.
Still, she didn’t want to be unfair. But she didn’t want to be too quick to agree, either.
“This seems rather sudden, Sir Garret, don’t you think?” she asked. “Lyssa told me about last night. She also told me of your intentions.”
“They are honorable, my lady.”
Rose eyed the man a moment. “Honorable though they may be, your intentions are rather sudden,” she repeated. “Why?”
Garret hadn’t expected that question. He had to think about it because he honestly wasn’t sure how to answer the woman. He therefore took a different tactic, hoping to drown any protests she might have by listing his credits.
“Does it matter, my lady?” he asked, trying to gain the upper hand in the interrogation.
“My name is Sir Garret de Moray, son of Gaubert de Moray of Rushmere Castle near Wolverhampton. Although I will not inherit my father’s lands or titles, Richard has granted me the property of Ravendark Castle near Salisbury and he has also granted me the titles of Lord Ravendark and Lockerley.
I have wealth of my own, Lady Rose, and would provide excellently for Lady Lyssa.
You ask of the suddenness of the situation; mayhap I have simply come to the point in my life where a wife would be a pleasing thing.
No one wants to grow old alone. I have been alone long enough. ”
It was a succinct speech and, in truth, a fairly good argument. Rose had to admit that she was impressed by his response. Sighing faintly, she folded her hands in front of her and sized the man up.
“A well-enough answer, my lord,” she said crisply. “But I have a few more questions.”
“I am at your disposal, my lady.”
She smiled thinly. “How old are you?”
“I have seen thirty years and nine.”
“And you do not mind that Lyssa has seen twenty years?”
“Why should I mind?”
“Because she would be old for a bride.”
“She is the perfect age, my lady.”
Rose snorted quietly, thinking the man was trying to work some flattery on her. “She has a stammer in her speech.”
“So she does.”
Rose looked at him to see if he was simply being flippant or if he was being genuine. “Is it possible that does not bother you?”
“Why should it?”
Rose considered his answer. In fact, she was considering all of his answers.
She had to admit that he seemed sane and rational.
He didn’t seem like a man who was making a hasty decision.
But she didn’t want him to think this was going to be as easy as he pleased; he was a man who was used to getting what he wanted.
Men in power were usually like that. But for her niece’s sake, Rose thought it would be better if Garret had a few days or even weeks to think about what he wanted.
She didn’t want to give her permission only for the man to have second thoughts and break her niece’s heart.
In her opinion, he simply didn’t realize how rash all of this was.
“Then I shall consider your request,” she said. “That is the only answer I will give you today. For now, you will excuse me. I must see to my niece.”
“Garret already did,” Rickard said. He thought, at this point, he should put in a few good words for his brother, even if he, like Rose, thought all of this was rather hasty.
“Lady Rose, my brother is a man of excellent character and possesses a strong heart. Your niece could not find a better husband, not in all of England. Have you not heard how sought after my brother is? He has had many offers in the short time he has been back from The Levant and even the Count of Amiens made an offer for his eldest daughter.”
Rose cocked an eyebrow, looking at Garret. “Is this true?” she asked.
“Aye, my lady.”
“Why did you not accept any of these offers?”
Garret faltered in just the slightest. “Because they were not women of my choosing.”
“And my niece is?”
“Aye, my lady.”
Rose didn’t know if that helped sway her decision, although she found it rather remarkable that a much-desired bachelor evidently wanted Lyssa. Still, she remained firm on the subject.
“As I said, I will think on it,” she said.
“When may I have your answer, my lady?” Garret asked.
She gave him an expression that sent almost anyone at The Wix running for cover. Cold, domineering, it was Lady Rose’s signature scowl.
“When I am ready, Sir Garret. Not before.”
With that, she turned and headed for the doorway that led in to the attached room, but Garret didn’t let her get very far. He took a step or two after her.
“My lady, if you please,” he said. “One more thing. You mentioned plans to send Lyssa away. May I inquire where?”
Rose shook her head. “I am not sure yet,” she said.
She hesitated a moment before continuing.
“I suppose it would do no harm to discuss the subject with you. In fact, you may be of use. If you wish to court my niece as you say you do, then mayhap you have connections that would see her sent to a place where she would be safe. Not as a servant, of course, but as a lady to a noblewoman. She is accomplished and would make an excellent companion.”
Garret felt there was more hope for his suit for Lyssa than there had been even moments earlier. At least Rose was willing to consult him on a matter involving Lyssa.
“I have the finest connections in England,” he said. “The House of de Lohr would accept the lady if I asked them to, as would the House of de Winter or de Lara. Any of the big houses, really.”
“Would you be inclined to ask on Lyssa’s behalf?” Rose said. She sounded hopeful. “Sir Garret, I have connections to a few good houses, but certainly not the connections you have. If Lyssa could benefit from your intervention….”
Garret held up a hand, interrupting her. “You need not ask further,” he said. “I will do what is necessary. But you must do something for me in the meantime.”
“What is it?”
Garret’s gaze moved over Rose’s head, to the door that connected to the smaller tower chamber where Juliana was still tending Lyssa.
“Keep her safe until I can make arrangements to remove her from The Wix,” he said. “I will return tomorrow to see to her health and we will speak more about sending her away, but it may take time. Until then….”
Rose understood him perfectly. “She will be safe, I swear it.”
“You are her last line of defense, Lady Rose. You can help her where Rickard and I cannot.”
“Understood, Sir Garret.”
“But know this… if Colchester touches her again, I will kill him.”
Rose believed him without question. It wasn’t some foolish emotional declaration; it was something he believed. She could see it in his eyes. A man like Garret de Moray did not make threats; he made promises.
She respected that.
This time, it was Garret who turned away; he turned on his heel and departed the room with Rickard close behind him.
Rose followed the pair, bolting the door when it shut behind them.
She paused a moment, her hand on the latch and reflected on the conversation.
Instead of being upset by it, or rattled by it, it had oddly given her comfort.
She wasn’t alone in her endeavor to protect her niece from a predator.
In the last few words Garret had spoken, she realized that she liked him very much.