Chapter Fourteen #4
De Noble’s face fell completely and his smile faded. Stung, he nonetheless nodded politely and headed for the chamber door. She had told him to leave and he would. But he paused a moment before leaving completely, his expression somewhat dull as he turned to her.
“Mayhap there is one more thing you would care to know before I leave you to your illness,” he said, defeat and depression in his tone.
“I have received word that Black Castle was besieged a week ago. It would seem that there is a good deal of warfare going on south of Wicklow. Clearly, your brother could not have summoned more men this quickly and my men tell me that other Irish clanns have converged upon the castle. I have sent your brother word of this latest attack, and I have also sent him a request that you should be aware of. I hope you are agreeable to it.”
By this time, Emllyn was looking at him with a great deal of fear as a result of the information on Black Castle. But his last few words had her confused attention.
“What request?” she wanted to know.
De Noble bowed to her again, this time with less fanfare and more emotion. There was a warm glimmer in his eye, a light of hope everlasting in the face of the unwilling object of his affection. The man was an optimist.
“I have asked your brother for permission to court you,” he said.
“You see, I have admired you from afar since nearly the moment we met. I believe you have been aware of it by several notes I have sent you, notes that have gone unanswered, I might add. You are a kind and witty woman, and you have made Elyse very happy. She speaks quite highly of you and I would like to know such happiness again, too. I have decided to no longer hide my interest in you behind anonymous notes. Now you know it is I who have sent them. I would hope that, in time, you are agreeable to my suit.”
Emllyn wasn’t particularly shocked by the request, but she was stunned by the entire situation.
“Sir,” she gasped. “I have never given you any indication that I would be willing to accept such a suit.”
He nodded. “I realize that,” he said. “I have been rather ambiguous about my interest so I assumed that you, as a proper maiden, would not have rightly responded to something as bold and coy as anonymous notes. I commend you for your behavior and apologize for mine. It was forward of me.”
Incensed, Emllyn’s mouth popped open. “Sir, you misunderstand,” she said firmly. “I am not interested in your suit. I wish you well in finding affection, but it will not be with me.”
De Noble tried not to appear too defeated. “I understand the past few weeks have been very disorienting for you,” he said. “Mayhap with time, you will reconsider. I am a patient man.”
Emllyn had no idea how to respond so for lack of any response at all, she simply turned away from him.
She didn’t see de Noble’s expression of disappointment.
All she heard was the door as he quietly shut it.
With a grunt of frustration, she ran to the door and bolted it.
She didn’t want the man coming back in again.
Standing at the door, leaning against it, all she could feel was utter bewilderment.
There were so many thoughts rolling around in her head that it was difficult to single out just one.
Damn de Noble for pressing his suit, she though angrily.
A note to Kildare would only result in a confusing reply which would completely disrupt her story about sailing on the fleet to oversee the victory for her brother.
In fact, it very well might destroy everything.
Yet, she couldn’t think about that now. She would deal with it when and if the time came, because even more pressing than that was the news of Black Castle’s siege.
The very thought had her wracked with distress.
It explained why Devlin hadn’t returned to her yet; he was caught up in something terrible.
Mayhap he had even been injured in the siege, or worse.
She couldn’t imagine why he hadn’t come for her if he remained healthy and whole.
Emllyn put her hands to her head at that thought, horrified. God’s Blood, it can’t be! Devlin can’t be injured or dead! He had promised to return for her.
Everything leads me to thee.
He had promised!
Eefha. She had to find Eefha. Putting her ear against the door, she waited a nominal amount of time for de Noble to leave the area before quietly opening the door and peering outside.
It was dark in the corridor beyond, with Elyse’s empty chamber off to the right and the partitioned chambers for female servants directly in front of her.
Quietly, Emllyn slipped out and shut the door behind her.
She had to find the old woman. Perhaps the woman, for once, might actually be able to communicate with her.
The rumors surrounding Black Castle were indeed serious.
She had to figure out what to do. If Devlin couldn’t come to her, then she would have to go to Devlin.
No matter what the cost.