Chapter Four #3
“Apologies are not necessary, truly,” she said to both Val and Mayne.
“Lady Celesse also suggested disbelief that I am not betrothed. I suppose it is true that, at my age, I should be, but it does not distress me that I am not. I have had a very good life at Eynsford Castle as a confidant of Lady Eynsford. My life is very full with my duties and I have not felt wanting in any fashion, truly.”
Val and Mayne were both looking at her, both of them thinking nearly the same thoughts – a beautiful, accomplished woman who was not already spoken for was a prize, indeed. Val knew simply by looking at Mayne what the man’s thoughts were because he had the expression of a hunter about him.
But Val wasn’t about to let Vesper fall prey to the man. He is interested in her, Val thought. He was grossly offended by it.
“I would be very interested to hear of your duties at Eynsford,” Val said, leading into a much more pleasant line of conversation instead of her lack of a betrothal. “Do you hope to return someday?”
Vesper nodded. “I would like to,” she said.
“Lady Eynsford would like for me to continue attending her. I have been her ward for so long but she would like for me to be one of her ladies, which would be a tremendous honor. It is through her that I have learned so many things, but I am particularly fond of sewing and music. Whenever Lady Eynsford requires something new to wear, she always has me produce it for her.”
She seemed very proud and Val was impressed. “That is an exacting skill,” he said. “You must be excellent.”
“I do like to sew and create garments.”
“And the music?”
“I have learned to sing and accompany myself on a clavichordium,” she said.
“Lady Eynsford had one brought all the way from Italy and, although she did not know how to play it, I was quite fascinated by it. She gave me permission to play it and, soon enough, I learned how to. Lady Eynsford was very pleased.”
Val’s gaze lingered on her for a moment before leaping to his feet and taking her by the wrist.
“Come with me,” he said quietly.
Vesper had no choice but to follow as he practically yanked her from the table.
Val ignored his mother calling after him as they disappeared into the rear of the great hall where there was a wooden staircase that led to the minstrel’s gallery above.
In truth, Vesper hadn’t even noticed the minstrel’s gallery, a loft on the north side of the vast hall, until Val had pulled her up the staircase.
Even then, the gallery seemed to be more for storage than anything else.
There were old trunks, an old wardrobe, and other things, neatly arranged but quite obviously forgotten up in the darkened gallery.
Val led her to the balcony where the gallery overlooked the hall, coming to a halt in front of something that was covered up with a great length of canvas made from hemp.
It was dusty from not having been disturbed in quite some time and Val had Vesper stand back as he yanked the canvas away.
Dust flew up in the air but beneath the fabric sat a small clavichordium.
It was quite small, built as a boxy wooden cabinet on four spindly legs that, at one time, had been highly polished.
Now, it was lonely and forgotten. On the plate above the ivory keys were the words Aurelius Cato Anno MCXXXIX etched into the plate, perhaps once painted with gold paint.
It was difficult to tell because time had faded away some of the gold, but in all, it was a magnificent piece. Vesper was enchanted.
“It is beautiful,” she said softly as she bent over to inspect the old keys. “Is it yours?”
Val watched her as she studied the old instrument. “Nay,” he said. “It was my father’s. He, too, was musical and had a talent for instruments, but this has sat here unused since his death. Mayhap, you would be kind enough to play it for us. I am sure my mother would like to hear the sounds again.”
Vesper looked at him, smiling timidly. “If you do not believe she would mind.”
Val shook his head. “She would love to hear you play it,” he said, suddenly looking around as if he was missing something. “There is a stool that goes with it but I do not… ah, here it is.”
He yanked a small three-legged stool out from beneath a stored table, setting the stool in front of the instrument and indicating for her to sit.
“My lady?” he said, an encouraging smile on his face. “If you please?”
Vesper couldn’t resist. She really did love playing music so she carefully sat, timidly pressing one of the keys to see if the old instrument even worked.
A soft, slightly out of tune note echoed in the loft and also down into the hall, where it was heard above all of the noise and eating.
Sensing that entertainment was about to come, the room quieted down and Val smiled at her when she seemed too hesitant to play another note.
“Go ahead,” he said softly. “Play something as beautiful as you are.”
Vesper looked at him, seeing purely by the man’s expression that he was sincere.
It made her heart leap strangely, that same feeling he’d caused within her once before.
It also fed her courage as she very much wanted to please him now, as her host. Or perhaps it was even more than the fact that he was simply a generous host; perhaps it was because he’d been so kind to her.
I like the way he looks at me. Placing her hands on the keys, she played four or five chords before finally lifting her voice in song.
I dreamt that you loved me still
And loved me forever and a day.
From beyond the mellow sea
I felt your spirit calling to me
And I dreamt that you loved me still.
She had a pure, true voice, like the sound of angels singing.
It was very sweet and high. Val couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face as she continued to play the instrument but her singing had stopped for the moment.
Now, she was simply continuing the song without words but her sweet voice lingered in his ears. He wanted to hear it again.
“Surely that is not all you are going to sing for us,” he said, moving up beside her as she played. “I have never heard anything so lovely in my life. Please sing something else.”
Vesper paused in her playing. “If you wish,” she said, clearly flattered at his praise. “I am sorry, but the instrument is slightly out of tune. I am afraid my singing might sound poorly because of it.”
He shook his head before the words were even out of her mouth. “You open your mouth and angels pour forth,” he said. “Nothing you could sing could sound poorly, my lady. Please sing another.”
Vesper was back to blushing again. Val was a charming man and not afraid to heap praise upon her, something she was very quickly coming to like.
His words made her feel very special and honored in a way she could never remember feeling.
Wondering if he truly meant what he said never crossed her mind; surely he meant it.
She wanted to believe him.
O lovely one… my lovely one…
The years will come… the years will go…
But still you’ll be… my own true love…
Until the day… we’ll meet again….
Seeing Val’s enthralled expression, she continued with the next verse.
O lovely one… my lovely one…
My love for you… will never die…
My heart is yours… ’til the end of time…
When you will be…my own true love…
The song was glorious and endearing, a love song that was typical of the songs in these times, written and sung by troubadours or young maidens like Vesper.
Songs that spoke of lasting affection, undying love, or sad partings.
All Val knew was that those words, words he’d heard before, had never really had any meaning to him until Vesper had sung them.
As he watched her sing, he couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to have the affection of a woman like Vesper.
My heart is yours… ’til the end of time….
Those thoughts had never occurred to him until that very moment. What a lovely thing that would be… with the right person.
Rather startled at his turn of thought, Val looked over the side of the balcony to see that the room below had come to a halt.
Faces were turned upward, towards the minstrel’s gallery, all of them waiting eagerly for the next bit of music to come.
Val looked over to see what his mother’s reaction was to Vesper playing Gavin’s old clavichordium and he could see his mother looking up at the gallery as well, a rather wistful expression on her face.
He hadn’t seen that expression from her in a very long time and Val had to admit that he was touched.
His mother, for all of her gruffness and petulance, had a soft heart beneath that she liked to keep hidden.
He was pleased that Vesper had given the woman a moment to find that soft part of her again.
He was more impressed that she could bring a room full of people to a halt with her sweet singing voice.
Returning his attention to Vesper, who was just playing a few chords now and not singing, he knelt down beside her.
“You have a captive audience below,” he said. “Play and sing to your heart’s content. Everyone is enjoying it very much.”
Vesper kept her eyes on the keys as she played. “To tell you the truth, I have never played for anyone other than Lady Eynsford. It is good that I cannot see the hall from where I sit for if I could, I would surely faint of fright.”
He laughed softly. “You seem brave enough to me,” he said. “Moreover, you sing and play so beautifully that it is a genuine tragedy for you not to be heard. McCloud must be very proud of your accomplishments.”
Vesper thought of her father and her good mood faded. Nay, her father wasn’t proud of her accomplishments or if he was, he’d not said so. He was as wrapped up in life at Durley as she was wrapped up in life at Eynsford and the two did not meet. They didn’t even come close.