Chapter Fourteen
“A-And then – then he tried to run off, slipped in the grease from the table, and knocked himself unconscious!”
Garret laughed uproariously at the end of Lyssa’s story.
She giggled so hard that she ended up tripping over her own feet and falling onto the small bed that was wedged against the wall.
Garret laughed and laughed, pouring her more wine and then drinking straight out of the pitcher, draining it.
The potent Spanish wine had them both fairly tipsy.
Garret had listened to Lyssa tell the most delightful story of a party that she and her mother had attended at the home of a lascivious neighboring lord.
The man had tried to chase the women and ended up knocking himself cold.
Garret was still hooting about it.
“God’s Bones,” he muttered, turning the now-empty pitcher upside down to get the last drops. “He sounds like a perfectly abominable neighbor.”
Lyssa was flat on her back, gazing up at the ceiling and feeling a bit as if she were on the ocean; everything was rocking around.
“H-He was terrible,” she agreed. “H-He was forever attempting to lure my mother to his home, which was a very nice one, but, one time, she came to visit because he promised her something – I do not even remember what it was – and when she went to the home, he greeted her without his trousers on. S-She said he was wearing a robe and a tunic and little more. S-She ran back to our house as fast as she could!”
Garret snorted, shaking his head at the tale of the lewd lord. “It is a pathetic man who would try to lure women to his home for less than honorable reasons,” he said. “Where does the man live in case I am in the area someday and must avenge your mother’s honor?”
Lyssa giggled. “M-My mother’s family is from the Welsh Marches,” she said.
“O-Our family’s seat is Rhayder Castle, but my grandsire was so disappointed with my mother when she ran from my father that he sent us to live in a tiny lodge to the north, in a town called St. Harmon.
T-The lord I speak of was in a nearby town called Marteg. Lord Gilfach was his name.”
Garret set the empty pitcher down, realizing he would get no more out of it. “Gilfach,” he muttered. “I shall remember that name. And what of your grandsire? Why did he not protect you from this… this predator?”
Lyssa’s mind went back to those days at St. Harmon.
They weren’t particularly fond memories.
“O-Once my mother returned from France, I do believe my grandsire hated her,” she said.
“H-He was not very nice to her or to me. I-I do not remember him well, but what I do remember was not pleasant. H-He died some time ago and for those who are left, I do not consider them family. T-They have made it clear I am not part of their clan.”
The tone of the conversation was changing, becoming moody now. “But your Aunt Rose serves the duchess,” he said. “She obviously considers you family or she would not have sent for you upon your mother’s death.”
Lyssa rolled onto her side, looking at him as he sat on the floor because the stools were too uncomfortable for a man of his size. His back was against the wall, one big leg propped up.
“A-Aunt Rose loved my mother,” she said.
“S-She speaks well of her, but she did not know her well after she married my father or after we returned to England. F-From the stories my aunt tells, my mother was a lively and happy woman before her marriage. B-But my memories of my mother are quite different. I-I think shame and disappointment will change people. D-Don’t you? ”
Garret nodded. “If a man is beat down enough, it will change him,” he said pensively. “I have seen it happen to even the strongest men.”
Lyssa watched him as he sat there and gazed into the flickering hearth. Her mind was whirling in many directions, thoughts of the past, the present, and the future filling her head. The wine had made her scattered and unable to focus.
“B-But not you,” she said softly. “Y-You are the greatest knight in England. N-Nothing will ever change you. S-Surely you have never known any disappointment.”
He looked at her, his head lolling sideways and his black eyes half-lidded. “That is not entirely true,” he said. “I have known disappointment.”
“W-What?”
He thought on her question, the strong Spanish wine breaking down barriers that were normally there.
“I am not the firstborn son,” he said. “I have always found some disappointment in that. Rickard was the first; he shall inherit everything from my father. Mayhap this is why I have worked so hard to be better and stronger than everyone else. Mayhap it is to prove to myself that I am, indeed, a worthy man.”
Lyssa smiled faintly. “B-But you adore your brother, do you not?”
“I do.”
“H-He is proud of you, also.”
“I hope so. He means a good deal to me.”
“T-Then you are a rich man, indeed,” she said. “Y-You have the love of your brother. Y-You have property and titles that you have earned. I-I would say that makes you a very rich man.”
“I like to think so.”
“G-Garret?”
“Aye?”
“I-I do not want to go back to The Wix tonight. I-I want to remain here, with you.”
He was silent for a moment before sitting forward, perhaps even trying to rise to his feet.
“I promised your aunt that I would return you,” he said.
“As much as it pains me to take you back to The Wix, I will not go back on my word. But take comfort in the fact that tomorrow morning, I shall take you away and you shall never see that place again, not ever.”
Lyssa wasn’t happy with that answer. The alcohol had magnified her fears, her emotions, and, soon enough, tears were trickling down her temple and onto the bed.
Even in the dim light, Garret could see that and he finally managed to make it to his feet, lurching the few steps over to the bed.
He gazed down at her as she lay curled up on her side.
“Why do you weep?” he asked softly.
She closed her eyes and sniffled. “B-Because I do not want to go back,” she whispered tightly. “I-I am afraid.”
Bending over, he put a big hand on her head. “There is no need,” he assured her. “I will take you back tonight. You will go inside and lock yourself in. You will be safe until morning.”
Lyssa latched on to the hand that was on her head. “P-Please,” she begged, tugging at him. “P-Please do not make me go back. S-Send word to my aunt and tell her that I have spent the night safely in a tavern. T-Tell her I am afraid to go back.”
She tugged enough that he ended up half on the bed, with one knee on the ground beside it.
The bed was low to the ground and once he lost his balance and ended up on a knee, Lyssa put her arms around his neck and pulled him towards her.
Garret very quickly found himself in a rather enticing position.
“It is only for the night,” he assured her, although he had to admit that this position, with him over her, was the most natural of positions.
And those lips… those lips had his focus and he struggled to finish his train of thought.
“If it would comfort you, I will turn you over to Rickard and he can put you somewhere other than the manse. I am sure there is a room in the servant’s quarters or even the barracks where he could lock you in, somewhere Colchester would never think of looking. ”
Lyssa had her arms locked around his neck, looking into his face.
He seemed confident and with such confidence, it was only natural that her fears would fade.
She trusted him and she knew he would never put her in harm’s way but, still, she didn’t want to leave him.
She didn’t want this moment, this sweet and private moment, to ever end.
“I-I know you will do what you feel is best,” she said quietly. “T-Thank you for taking care of me.”
“It is my pleasure.”
“G-Garret?”
“Aye, sweet?”
“I-I promise to take care of you, also. I-I will do everything I can to always make you happy.”
He smiled faintly, inevitably settling down onto the bed. She was pulling at him, gently, and he could hardly resist the call. “And I shall do the same. Making you happy is my greatest desire.”
She smiled, her eyes twinkling. “I-Is that not what love is? M-Making one another happy?”
Love.
There was that word. He’d not even considered that word until now because it really wasn’t something in his vocabulary. He loved Richard, he loved his country, and he loved his fellow knights like brothers, but to love a woman? He’d never done that before. Only fools and women fell in love.
… didn’t they?
“I would not know,” he said, off-balance by the mention of that word he was so unfamiliar with. “I suppose that is small part of it. There are many things that make a marriage but I do not expect love is the most important thing.”
The smile vanished from Lyssa’s face. That wasn’t the answer she was expecting. She wasn’t sure what she had expected, but the downplay of a warm and wonderful emotion such a love hadn’t been in her thoughts.
In truth, loving the man, or falling in love with him, had only just occurred to her.
Having never expected to have a husband, she certainly never expected to love one but Garret was different.
She held him in such high esteem that she was certain love was a possibility.
At least, for her it was. But his answer had her feeling embarrassed and disappointed.
It also had her feeling the least bit insecure.
She knew how men behaved within the bonds of marriage. Her father had kept mistresses and the only other man she’d been in contact with, Colchester, had certainly had his share of women. Everyone knew that.
Was it possible that Garret would be the same way? Was it possible that he would only marry her so that she could bear him legitimate children while he dallied with a stable full of other women? The mere thought made her sick. Thinking of Garret in another woman’s arms….