Chapter Ten #2
“Sir Louis, this is Lady Lista de la Mere,” Julian said.
“She is the mistress of this castle. Lista, this is Louis de Rhos, whose father is the Earl of Sunderland. Louis was fortuitously traveling last night when he encountered our Scots. He helped chase them away, so we should show him all manner of gratitude.”
Lista smiled at the handsome knight. “You have my thanks, Sir Louis,” she said. “May I provide you with food and drink?”
“And a bed,” Julian said before Louis could respond. “The man needs to sleep a little, too.”
Louis grinned, focusing intently on Lista. “Food, drink, and a bed would be much appreciated, my lady.”
Lista’s smile turned bright. “Gladly, my lord,” she said. “Please come with me. You, too, Julian.”
Julian didn’t even have to be told. He was already following her.
Louis brought up the rear, following them through a large antechamber before entering the great hall, which had a few wounded near one of the hearths.
Lista directed the knights to the dais, where they sat heavily.
Gloves, helms, and other possessions went on the table as Lista sent the servants running for food and drink.
It wasn’t long in coming.
Mostly everything that had been served the night before ended up on the table again, warmed over and sauced.
There was boiled beef with a gravy of wild mushrooms, an egg and cheese pie, and also a hot pottage comprised of green beans, cabbage, wine, beef, and barley.
It was a veritable feast and the knights dug in as Lista stood next to Julian, watching the pair eat ravenously.
“I am afraid to ask how bad the damage is in the garden,” she said. “Some of the servants are out there now, but you’ve seen it. Is it terrible?”
Julian’s mouth was full of the egg pie. “It could have been worse,” he said. “I think some of the young trees were torn out, and many of the vegetables were uprooted, but we’ll go out in a bit and assess the damage. I’m afraid there might not be any grapes left.”
Lista sighed heavily and sat down next to him. “They’ll grow back,” she said. “As long as the vines were not damaged.”
“I do not think so, but I did not look closely.”
“Is this kind of thing regular?” Louis asked, chewing. “The raids, I mean. Is it a regular happening here?”
Lista shrugged. “Not too often,” she said. “They seem to leave us alone for the most part but, from time to time, they come around. It is nearing winter, so they are looking for food. Were there many of them?”
Louis nodded. “I’d say a couple of hundred, if not more,” he said, glancing at Julian. “What do you think?”
Julian cocked his head thoughtfully. “At least that many,” he said. “But there are a lot of dead bodies in the garden right now.”
“You mean headless bodies,” Louis said, a smile playing on his lips.
Julian sensed the humor, but he was unapologetic. “If one chooses to tangle with a de Velt, one must pay the price.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
They chuckled at one another, shoveling more food into their mouths. Julian buttered a piece of white bread, handing it to Lista, who took it gratefully. She dipped it into the gravy on his trencher and took a big bite.
“Where were you traveling to when you got caught in the battle, Sir Louis?” she asked.
Louis glanced up from his food. “Please call me Louis,” he said.
“I never liked formal titles. They seem so… oh, I don’t know.
So cold. But in answer to your question, I was traveling from Berwick to Kelso and was driven off course by the storm.
I never even knew Felkington was here, but from what I’ve seen, it’s a magnificent castle. How long has your family lived here?”
“Since the Duke of Normandy came to these shores,” Lista said, eating more food off Julian’s trencher. “Felkington was one of the first stone castles in this entire area.”
“And you have lived here your entire life?”
“My entire life.”
“Where did you foster?”
“Richmond Castle and Bamburgh Castle. Do you know them?”
Louis nodded. “I do,” he said. “My father is allied with Richmond. He’s also allied with Northwood Castle, not far from here. My older brother married the earl’s daughter.”
That realization struck Julian. He hadn’t even made the connection until this moment.
His older brother, Cole, was supposed to marry Audrie de Longley, the Earl of Teviot’s daughter, but the woman broke their engagement to marry the heir of Sunderland.
He felt stupid for not even thinking of that before now.
Not knowing if Louis would have known that, he didn’t bring it up.
He didn’t see a need since Cole had been rather relieved by the broken engagement.
“We are close allies of Northwood Castle,” Julian said. “And when I say ‘we’, I mean the de Velt properties. Pelinom and Berwick Castle included.”
“Oh?” Louis said, interested. “I thought Berwick was a royal property?”
Julian nodded. “It is,” he said. “But it was entrusted to my father to manage since our family home is so near to it. My eldest brother is the garrison commander.”
Louis nodded in understanding. “Then the next time I am in Berwick, I shall pay my respects to a son of de Velt,” he said. “Who is your brother?”
“Cole de Velt.”
Louis paused in his eating. “I have heard that name,” he said. “But where?”
He didn’t seem clear on the answer to the question, but Julian had a feeling he might figure it out so he simply told him.
“It’s possible you heard it because my brother was betrothed to Audrie de Longley before your brother married her,” he said. “But do not fear – there were no hard feelings. My brother is happily married to a good woman and we enjoy a strong alliance with Northwood, still.”
Louis lifted his eyebrows as if realizing the same thing Julian had.
“Ah,” he said. “That’s where I’ve heard it.
Audie’s former betrothed. I remember my father was terrified of angering Jax de Velt when my brother and Audie declared their feelings for one another.
I am glad to hear there are no lingering hard feelings. ”
Julian grinned. “Not at all,” he said. “Be at ease. I hope Audie is well.”
“Very well, thank you. I shall give her your greetings.”
“Please do.”
The conversation died a little, but only because their mouths were full. Lista was picking beef off of Julian’s plate, contemplating getting her own food, when two lone figures entered the great hall. Glancing up, she found herself looking at her mother and aunt.
Immediately, Lista was on her feet.
“What are you doing here, Flora?” she asked, moving to intercept the woman. “There is nothing for you to see here. Kindly retreat to your chamber and if it is food you desire, I’ll have it sent up to you.”
Flora eyed her niece but her gaze moved to the two big knights in the hall. She moved around Lista, heading for the dais.
“Will you not introduce us to our guests?” she said loud enough for Julian and Louis to hear. “It seems we have some fighting men at our table.”
Lista was greatly displeased that Flora had moved around her. She wasn’t even paying attention to Meadow, who slipped past her and went to sit next to Julian. Since it would have been rude not to make introductions, she sighed heavily and tried not to sound unhappy as she spoke.
“Sir Louis, this is my mother’s sister, Lady Flora d’Orbec,” she said. “The woman who just sat down is my mother, Lady Felkington. Ladies, meet Sir Louis de Rhos, whose father is the Earl of Sunderland.”
Flora’s eyes glittered. She pulled away from Lista and went to sit between Louis and Julian.
“Welcome to Fucking… I mean, Felkington Castle, my lord,” she said, fixed on Louis. “I have been to Sunderland, many times. It is a lovely village.”
Louis didn’t sense anything odd, but though the woman looked quite haggard as she sat down. She’d also been rather vulgar with her greeting.
Perhaps all was not as it seemed with her.
“Thank you, my lady,” he said steadily. “I agree with you. It is rather nice.”
Servants started to bring food and drink, but Flora was fixed on the dark-eyed knight.
“Your father is Henry de Rhos?” she said.
“My mother was the daughter of the Earl of Malton and I do believe he was a friend of your grandfather, Warren. I miss the days when we would visit with our great allies of the north. I do remember Herrington Castle to be particularly nice.”
Louis nodded. “It is comfortable.”
“Do you live there?”
“I do, my lady.”
“And you have brothers?”
“Three, my lady. I am a middle son.”
“Like Julian,” Lista piped up, wanting to pull Flora’s attention off Louis. The older woman seemed particularly focused on him. “Julian is the middle son of Ajax de Velt.”
Louis looked at Julian and lifted his cup. “Ours is the best of the birth order.”
Julian chuckled, lifting his cup as well. “We are gods.”
Louis laughed as he shoveled more pottage into his mouth, which Flora didn’t see as a deterrent to a conversation. Servants set food and a cup of wine in front of her and all she did was go for the wine. She took a couple of healthy gulps, all the while her focus on Louis.
“Are you married, Sir Louis?” she asked.
Louis choked a little on his food, taking a sip of wine to wash it down. “Nay, my lady,” he said. “Though my older brother is, I’ve not yet had the time.”
“Pity,” Flora said, turning to look at Julian. “And you are not married either, are you?”
“Flora,” Lista hissed, cutting the woman off. “That is not an appropriate question for men you have just met.”
Flora waved her off. “I was simply making conversation,” she said, gulping at her wine again. “Forgive me. I did not mean anything by it.”
She demanded more wine and Lista watched her with growing fury. Meadow, however, was eating pottage, her eyes darting around the table nervously. She was always nervous when Flora got to talking and Lista became irate.
There was no telling what could happen.