Chapter Seven #2
Tiberius’ eyebrows shot up as if he was fearful of her threat. “God’s Blood,” he muttered. “I shall stand right here and not make a move, then. I am not fond of being knocked on the head.”
Douglass’ angry stance took a hit and she started to giggle. “I would not really do it,” she said. “Well, I suppose if I had to, I would. But you will not give me a reason to, will you?”
Tiberius shook his head firmly. “I will not, I vow,” he said. His gaze glimmered warmly at her. “I simply wanted to speak with you. Tomorrow, you go on to London and we return home. If I do not say what I wish to say now, then I suspect I will never again have the opportunity. Will you listen?”
Douglass grew serious. “Of course,” she said, indicating for him to sit on a small stool while she moved to the only chair in the room. “Please speak. I have not had the chance to truly speak with you since this journey began. Are you well, Tiberius?”
He smiled faintly as he took the stool, folding his very tall body on top of it. “Of course,” he said. “May I say that for these past four days, you have been looking exceptionally well yourself.”
Douglass grinned. “Is that what you wished to speak to me about?”
The time was upon him. Tiberius felt a tremendous sense of urgency, fearful that de Moray and Garran would be pounding on the door at any moment. He began to grope for words, knowing that this could possibly be the most important conversation of his life and he didn’t want to sound like a fool.
“Nay,” he said after a moment. “I wished to speak to you about me. That is to say, the conversation we had back at Isenhall is all I have been able to think on. My lady, I do not pretend to be a perfect man. I am not, you know. I have my flaws. But the one area where I demand perfection is with my honor. I am an honorable man to the death. My word, once given, is my bond, and I have never broken my word. I may not be as prestigious as Tallis d’Vant but I have a lordship that provides me with an excellent income.
I carry the de Shera name, which is far more impressive than the d’Vant name.
And I am loyal to the death. My devotion, once given, can never be broken or distorted.
Do you understand what I am trying to say? ”
Douglass had an idea and her heart was full to bursting with joy.
Four days of not being able to speak with Tiberius, to have him chased off every time he came close to her, had driven her to the brink of rage and frustration.
Although she knew her father and brother were only doing what they felt best, for once, she didn’t want their protection.
She wanted them to go away and let Tiberius come forth.
She wanted to go back to that moment at Isenhall when such lovely, sweet things had been said between them.
She wanted to continue that conversation.
Therefore, in that respect, she suspected what Tiberius was trying to say but she wanted to hear him say it. She did not want to guess.
“I think so,” she replied. “But be plain, tell me your thoughts, Tiberius, and do not hold back. You may never have another chance.”
So she realizes that, too, he thought. It began to occur to him that she was thinking the same thoughts he was.
At least, he hoped so. His heart was pounding so that he was sure it would burst from his chest as he looked her in the eye, savoring her beauty, praying that she felt the same way he did.
If she didn’t, he would be crushed forever.
For all of those hearts he had broken, for all of those women he had made cry when he had left them wanting for him, his broken heart would be just payment for their anguish.
He would finally know what it would feel like to long for someone you could never have.
He could only pray it would not happen to him.
“What I am trying to say is that I will speak to your father about courting you if you are agreeable,” he said softly. “But I will not do it if you are set on marrying d’Vant. I only wish to see you happy.”
So he said it. Everything Douglass had wanted to hear was out in the open, words of joy and happiness floating in the air between them like sparks floating upon a fair breeze. She wanted to reach up and grab these words, holding them to her heart.
“I am agreeable,” she said quietly, the light of joy in her dark eyes. “But you must speak to my father right away. He is planning on meeting with d’Vant very soon.”
Tiberius was grinning so broadly that his face threatened to split in two.
“I will,” he said. “You… you have made me the happiest man in all of England. I swear to you that you, and only you, will have my loyalty and my heart for the rest of my life. You will be my wife and worthy of such respect. You will always be my forever, Lady Douglass. You have my vow.”
Douglass smiled, touched by his words, sweet words she’d heard back at Isenhall and sweet words that were coming to represent Tiberius in her heart and mind.
“And you will be mine,” she said softly.
“Mayhap… mayhap you should write up a contract for my father and present it to him. If you do that, he will believe you to be very serious indeed. It will prove to him that you mean what you say.”
Tiberius’ smile faded somewhat. “Would that I could,” he said. “I will have to have my brother draw up a contract. You may as well know that I do not write. That is, I was educated on the mechanics of it, but it is very difficult for me to do.”
Douglass cocked her head seriously. “What do you mean?”
He shrugged, realizing he was about to admit something fairly embarrassing to a woman he very much wanted to impress.
“You may as well know now,” he said. “It is very difficult for me to read or write. I mix words and numbers up terribly. That is why I take to memorizing everything, so I will not have to read or write.”
Douglass looked at him with concern. “Is this true?”
“It is.”
Her concern turned thoughtful. “I knew a knight like that, once,” she said. “A friend of my father’s. He was a very smart man but he would mix sentences up all of the time when he was reading.”
Tiberius nodded, somewhat ashamed. “As do I,” he replied. “It is not something I generally tell people. Only my brothers really know of my problem. I pray it does not diminish your opinion of me.”
Douglass immediately shook her head. “Of course not,” she said. “I can read and write. The lady of Codnor Castle, my patroness, taught me how and she permitted me to teach the pages and young squires of Codnor. I truly enjoy educating people. Mayhap… mayhap you will allow me to help you read?”
Tiberius was touched by her offer, deeply touched. “Then you are not ashamed?”
She shook her head firmly. “Nay.”
He smiled timidly. “I would be honored to read with you, then,” he said. “But I warn you, it will not be an easy task for you. I can be rather stubborn about things. You may run away screaming.”
Douglass laughed softly. “I would never run,” she insisted. “I can be rather stubborn myself at times. You will learn or I will beat it into you.”
Tiberius chuckled. “It would not be the first time someone has tried.”
Douglass merely smiled, so very thrilled that they had been given the opportunity to speak their minds and declare their intentions.
Now, there was nothing assumed or unspoken between.
He knew her mind and she knew his. Silence settled, although it was not uncomfortable, and she indicated a pitcher on the nearby table.
“Can I offer you some ale?” she asked. “Have you eaten?”
Tiberius looked over at the table bearing the remnants of her meal; bread, cheese, fruit, and something in a bowl that he couldn’t quite see. He nodded his head.
“I have eaten,” he replied. “But that is the worst ale I have ever tasted, so you will understand if I refuse. I will make sure you have better food tomorrow.”
Douglass was already feeling protected by the man, nurtured and cared for. It was flattering and sweet. “We will be in London tomorrow,” she said. “My father usually stays in a small manor near the city’s center that belongs to my mother’s side of the family.”
Tiberius cocked his head thoughtfully. “Garran has spoken of it before,” he said. “Leadenhall House, I believe. Your mother’s family is from Chaldon Castle, are they not? In Dorset?”
Douglass nodded. “Have you been to Dorset?”
“I have been everywhere.”
Douglass laughed. “I would believe that,” she said. “Do you have a favorite place to visit?”
Tiberius pondered the question. “I like Paris a great deal,” he said. “It has beautiful… buildings. Aye, beautiful buildings.”
Douglass’ laughter grew. “You were not going to say buildings.”
“I wasn’t?”
“Nay,” she shook her head. “It is okay for you to tell me that there are beautiful women in Paris. I have heard that also.”
He puffed out his cheeks, relieved. “As beautiful as they are, they cannot compare with you,” he said sincerely, watching her flush prettily.
His gaze was soft upon her. “Truly, I shall murder your brother for not telling me of you sooner. I could have offered for your hand years ago. As it is, I find myself scrambling to prevent a catastrophe.”
Douglass grinned. “It is not as bad as all that.”
Tiberius snorted. “That remains to be seen,” he said, rather ominously.
But he didn’t want their precious time together spent with negative thoughts, of him perhaps doing battle against d’Vant to win her hand, so he shifted the subject.
“Let us instead spend a few moments and speak of nothing else but you. I want to know all about you. What do you like to do to fill your time, Lady Douglass?”