Chapter Four
“What is the matter with them?”
Cole was sitting at the dais of the smoky and crowded great hall, hearing the soft question come from his wife. He took a drink of his fine wine.
“I do not know,” he said. “They were acting strangely in town today, as well. If I did not know better, I would say they were drunk.”
Corisande de Bourne de Velt looked over at the women in question.
The great hall was packed with people on this cold, wet night, so it was standing room only on the fringes of the room.
But over in one corner, Lady Felkington and her sister were entertaining a group of soldiers with elaborate stories and loud songs.
The louder they’d sing, the more the men would laugh and cheer.
Copious amounts of wine were being poured into their cups, which they would drain quickly.
It had been going on since their arrival.
Corisande wasn’t quite sure what to make of it.
“Where is the third woman?” she asked. “Lady Felkington’s daughter?”
Cole delved into the pork and beans in his trencher. “Apparently, she was soaking wet when she arrived, having given her mother her cloak,” he said. “Addie is taking care of her.”
“Is she a drunkard, too?”
Cole shook his head. “Nay,” he said. “She seems bright and articulate. She nearly came to blows with Julian because one of the soldiers shoved her mother.”
Corisande looked at him in surprise. “One of the soldiers shoved her mother?” she asked, bordering on outrage. “Was he sufficiently punished?”
Cole put up a hand to ease her, fighting off a grin. “Julian dealt with the man but not before Lady Felkington’s daughter dealt with Julian,” he said. “I assure you, it was simply a misunderstanding.”
Corisande eyed him. “She had every right to be angry if her mother was pushed, Cole,” she said. “Your mother was there, was she not? I will ask her what she knows.”
That was usual in the de Velt household.
Sometimes, it wasn’t sufficient what Cole knew.
Corisande often went to Kellington for advice and information, and the two of them occasionally colluded for the greater good of the family.
Cole, like everyone, just went along with it.
He didn’t really mind, however. He loved his wife more than words could express, just as he loved his mother, and he trusted them both implicitly.
It wasn’t as if he could put up a fight, anyway.
“Where is my mother?” he asked, mouth full.
“With the children,” Corisande said. “She is giving me a few moments of respite from that gang of unruly animals you like to call your children.”
Cole grinned. “Atlas and Ajax are not animals,” he said, referring to his two oldest sons. “They are cunning and bright. Ophelia is an angel, but I suppose Silas is a bit like an animal. He has too much of my father in him, even at two years of age.”
“And the baby?”
Cole leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Vivienne is as beautiful as you are,” he said sweetly. “You have given me the most beautiful and brilliant children. I have no complaints.”
Corisande fought off a smile. “Flattery will get you everywhere.”
“It has gotten me five children.”
Corisande started to laugh. “I suppose it has,” she said, but then her smile suddenly faded and she began to look around the room. “Where did your mother’s guests go?”
Cole looked over to the corner where he’d last see Lady Felkington and Lady d’Orbec. They were gone and the men who had been clustered around them had vanished.
He shook his head.
“I do not know,” he said. “Mayhap to their chamber for the evening?”
Corisande continued to search the room for the missing guests. Unlike her husband, something told her they had not retired for the evening.
It was just a feeling she had.
“I found Lady Lista,” Addington said. “She is in my chamber changing out of that damp dress she was wearing. It is starting to smell, so I have ordered a bath for her.”
Julian was in the chamber he shared with Ashton. He hadn’t gone into the great hall after his conversation with Lista, instead choosing to eat in his chamber and retire early. He saw no reason to go into the great hall at this point.
He just wanted this evening to be over with.
“So you convinced her to stay?” he said. “That is good of you.”
“I want you to come to the hall, too.”
Julian shook his head. “Nay.”
“Why not?”
He was growing irritated. “Because I will not,” he said. “Stop asking me. Go back and enjoy yourself.”
Addington knew why he wouldn’t go to the hall. He was afraid of seeing Lista, afraid of feeling humiliated all over again. Therefore, she had to be careful in what she said to him. Beneath that hard exterior, Julian was quite sensitive.
“You did not offend her, you know,” she said quietly.
He rolled his eyes. “Of course I did not,” he said. “I’ve hardly spoken to her. How can I offend her?”
Addington eyed her brother. Julian, with the weight of the world on his shoulders, was the brother who still bore the burden of guilt about their father’s death.
Cole had Berwick and he was creating his own empire while Julian remained at Pelinom, ever the good son, serving Pelinom and his mother in his father’s stead.
Only it wasn’t enough; it had never been enough nor would it ever be because Julian had yet to find peace within himself.
Not only had he not prevented his father’s death those years ago, but old insecurities had him firmly within their grasp.
He was an unattractive freak, a man with nothing to offer any woman.
He’d learned that long ago.
Addington knew her brother was interested in women and possibly marriage because there had been at least two women that she knew of who had caught his eye.
One had been a local girl who had flirted with him a little until another knight who had more of a stake in her had ridiculed and belittled Julian in front of her.
That was the last time he’d ever seen her.
Then, there had been a woman from Carlisle, a merchant’s daughter, who had seemed interested enough until her father had married her off to a distant cousin.
Perhaps she had never ridiculed Julian, but her father certainly had.
He had ridiculed the man for being a de Velt, however, and not because of his unique appearance.
Still, the end result had been the same.
After that, Julian threw his attention into Pelinom and his duties there.
That didn’t leave room for anything else.
But now…
“Julian, I am going to tell you something very important,” Addington said. “Are you listening to me?”
Julian lay back on his bed, hands folded over his head as he stared at the ceiling. “How can I help but hear you?” he said. “You are right next to me.”
“I didn’t say hear me. I said listen.”
“I’m listening. Say what you’re going to say.”
Addington could see that his defenses were up. Julian had the strongest sense of self-preservation of anyone she’d ever known. It was going to be difficult to get through to him that way but she was going to try.
“I spoke to Lady Lista,” she said. “You did not offend her. Do you know why she left so quickly?”
“I suppose you are going to tell me.”
“I am, but I swore that I would not, so I am breaking a promise.”
“What promise?”
“I promised not to tell you that Lista thinks you are handsome.”
He continued to stare at the ceiling. After a moment, he blinked slowly. “Get out of here,” he grumbled. “You’re not funny in the least.”
Addington slapped him on the leg. “I am not trying to be funny,” she said, rather angrily. “I am breaking a confidence to tell you this and all you can do is tell me to get out? Stop feeling sorry for yourself and listen to me or you will lose this opportunity.”
He frowned. “What opportunity?” he said.
Before she could answer, he went on. “Addie, I appreciate that you are trying to cheer me up, but you know as well as I do why she ran. It’s why they all run.
I do not need you telling me otherwise. It is no great loss, as she can go on with her life and I can go on with mine. No harm has been done.”
“Even if I swear on Papa’s grave that it is the truth?”
That had some weight with him. He looked at her; really looked at her. A heavy gaze that was trying to determine just how serious she was. He had been dismissing her until this moment but they both knew that Addington would not have referenced Jax lightly.
He sighed heavily.
“What are you talking about?” he finally hissed. “Addie, I do not want to hear this.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “Why not?” she said.
“How difficult is it for you to believe a woman finds you attractive? You are, you know, and I say that without guile because I am your sister and I do not need to resort to trickery or empty flattery. But if I see something – or someone – that might make you happy, I am going to tell you. What you do with that information is up to you.”
His gaze lingered on her for a moment before finally putting his hands over his face. “Then tell me,” he said, muffled. “Tell me and get it over with.”
Addington watched him rub his hands over his face, wearily. “Do you know why Lista ran from you?” she asked.
“Why?”
“Because she thinks you are handsome and she further believes that she is far below your social station,” Addington said.
“It’s pathetic, really. She’s much like you, Julian – she doesn’t believe she’s worthy of happiness.
In her case, it’s because of her mother.
She says no man would want her because of her mother. ”
His hands came away from his face. “That is ridiculous.”
“Do you think so?”
“I do.”
“Do you think she’s pretty?”
“She’s marvelous.”
“She said the same thing about you.”
His head popped up. “She said… she what?”
Addington fought off a grin. “She said that she thought your eyes were marvelous, just like the rest of you.”