Chapter Four #4
Not wanting to get on to the subject of her relationship with her father, she sought to change the focus, realizing she had done a good deal of subject changing when in conversation with Val throughout the course of their association. She hoped he hadn’t noticed.
“As I am sure your mother is very proud of your accomplishments as well,” she said. “My father did not tell me much of how you and he met. Mayhap we should return to the table so I may hear some of those adventures in France that you spoke of.”
But Val did, indeed, notice that she always seemed to change the subject away from her and especially away from her father.
He realized she didn’t know McCloud very well but he was coming to suspect it was more than unfamiliarity that made her shy away from discussing her father.
There was some kind of sullenness there, as if she not only didn’t know her father but didn’t want to know him.
There was resistance.
However, the lady spoke so fondly of Eynsford Castle that Val was coming to think she hadn’t wanted to leave it, that perhaps McCloud might have forced her to.
But for what purpose? His curiosity about the lady, and about McCloud, was growing.
There was something odd afoot that he couldn’t quite put his finger on as if to say “Aye! That’s it! ” Nay; it wasn’t anything definitive.
But it was there.
“There is all evening to speak of France,” he said after a moment. “I do believe everyone would rather listen to you play. It has been so long since we’ve had good music in this hall. Won’t you please indulge us?”
Not strangely, Vesper didn’t feel much like singing anymore. Her thoughts were leaning heavily on her father and on leaving this wonderful place and wishing she didn’t have to.
“I… I am a bit tired after traveling today,” she said. “I hope you will forgive me that I am too tired to continue. But I would be happy to play something for you to sing.”
Val lifted his eyebrows at the irony of that request. “I do not know any fine songs. Moreover, I am a terrible singer. How can you punish everyone in this hall with such a request?”
Vesper burst into soft laughter. “I do not believe you,” she said. “All knights are trained in courtly accomplishments. Did you not learn to sing when you were younger?”
He made a face that suggested she was asking him something most distasteful. “Aye, I did, but I do not want to speak of it. I was teased mercilessly. My master told me that a goose sounded better than I did when I sang.”
Vesper bit her lip, trying to keep from laughing at him but it was to no avail. “I am sure that is not true,” she said. “Please sing something. I insist. What can I play for you?”
Val didn’t want to deny her but he truly didn’t want to sing. Therefore, he sought to teach her a lesson. Perhaps if he sang a terrible and shocking song, she would never ask again. He eyed her thoughtfully.
“Do you know Tilly Nodden?” he asked.
Vesper’s brow furrowed in thought. “I do not. How does it go?”
With a mischievous gleam to his eye, Val went to the balcony and called down to the men eating there. “The lady has never heard Tilly Nodden,” he boomed. “Who here is brave enough to sing it?”
Suddenly, most of the men eating below had the same mischievous gleam in their eye that Val did. An older soldier stood up, grinning, and lifted his cup to the chamber as he belted out a tune that was better suited for the walls of a tavern.
“A young man came to Tilly Nodden,
His heart so full and pure.
Upon the step of Tilly Nodden,
His wants would find no cure.
Aye! Tilly, Tilly, my goddess near,
Can ye spare me a glance from those eyes?
My Tilly, sweet Tilly, be my lover so dear,
I’m a-wantin’ a slap of those thighs!”
Almost every man in the hall had joined in by the second line, so by the time the song was finished, it was being sung by everyone.
When it was over, the hall burst out in bawdy laughter as some of the men began the next chorus.
Up on the balcony, Val turned to Vesper, who was looking at him with very wide eyes.
“That is an example of the songs I know,” Val told her. “I pray you do not think me too crass.”
Vesper stared at him a moment longer before slapping a hand over her mouth to stifle the giggles. “I have heard the soldiers at Eynsford sing that tune,” she admitted. “I simply did not know the name of the song. Tilly Nodden, is it? That is a naughty song.”
Val snorted. “More than you know,” he said. “There are more verses that are even worse. Now, will you sing something lovely or do I have my men sing that terrible song all night long?”
Vesper grinned at him, knowing he had her cornered. She couldn’t refuse. “Can I at least finish my meal before you make me sing?” she asked. “I am rather famished and I’ve not yet eaten my fill.”
Val was appalled at his behavior. “Of course,” he said, reaching out to snatch her hand again and pulling her away from the instrument. “Forgive me, my lady. I was only thinking of myself. And my ears.”
Vesper easily forgave him. “It is no trouble,” she said. “And… and you may call me Vesper when we are not in front of my father. I would be honored if you would.”
Val’s featured softened into something quite warm. “’Tis I who am honored, my lady,” he said with soft sincerity. “Permit me to escort you back to the feast where you can eat as much as you wish. I will make no more demands upon you.”
Vesper shook her head as they began to take the steps down to the main level. “I do not mind singing for you, truly, but I would like to eat first. When I am satisfied, I shall sing as long as you wish.”
“That could be a very long time.”
“It cannot be too long because I must return home on the morrow.”
Val knew that but to hear it from her lips… well, he didn’t like that one bit. He found that he wanted to spend more time with this enchanting woman. “Then mayhap you and your father will come back again, very soon, to visit. I enjoy his company very much.”
“But you have hardly spoken to him.”
He cast her a rather coy glance. “If I said I enjoy your company very much, it might be too forward. I do not wish to chance that. So let me say that I enjoy your father’s company tremendously and I wish for him to return as soon as possible.”
Vesper knew he was speaking of her even as he used her father as the example. She gave him a coy glance of her own.
“I am sure he would like that very much.”
“Would he truly?”
“Indeed.”
They had come to the bottom of the stairs. With a broad smile, meant only for Vesper, Val escorted her back over to the table where she could finish the remains of her meal.
It was one of the more memorable evenings he’d ever had.