Chapter Ten #2
All the while, Annaleigh was keeping an eye out for Talus or even Anthony, as she didn’t want to get sucked into a conversation with either of them.
Truth be told, War was the only one she wanted to get sucked into a conversation with but she had no idea where the man was. Surely he had to be around somewhere.
Perhaps she could stumble upon him, somewhere.
Leaving the cook, she went on the hunt.
*
“From what I understand, she has several suitors,” Alexei was saying.
“Not the least of which are two of de Wolfe’s knights.
You met them yesterday – du Reims and d’Vant.
Evidently, she’s been stirring the blood of every unmarried male from Carlisle to Berwick.
English males, I mean. Is that what you wished to know? ”
Sitting in his borrowed chamber in the keep of Castle Questing, War was listening to Alexei’s report on Annaleigh with a discouraged expression on his face.
“Of course she’s stirred their blood,” he said. “Just look at her. She looks like an angel. As if heaven’s door opened up and she stepped forth. She’s positively enchanting.”
Alexei was watching War closely. The man had been brooding since last night, since he spent a few stolen hours in the garden with Lady Annaleigh.
It was a mood that Alexei had never seen before, so he was trying to decipher what it meant.
Either War was unhappy or he was very happy.
It was difficult to tell. He was evidently interested in a woman who had saved his life and perhaps wasn’t sure how he felt about that.
It was an interesting situation, to be sure.
“You would know more than I,” Alexei said after a moment. “Whether or not she is enchanting, I mean. But I have eyes. I can see how beautiful she is.”
War lounged back on the bed, leaning against the headboard.
It was a moody sort of pose. “She is,” he muttered.
“But seeing her here… speaking to her… mayhap my father’s death has affected me more than I thought.
Mayhap I am looking for something to stir my emotions, to distract me from my grief.
Do you think that is all this is? That I am looking for a distraction? ”
Alexei lifted a blond eyebrow. “If you are, let it not be a cousin to de Wolfe,” he said. “You do not want to sour the man on you if you only intend to use the lady and cast her aside.”
War shook his head. “Nay,” he said. “I do not intend to do that. I do not know what I intend to do. All I know… all I know is that the conversation with her last night made me feel light of heart. Happy. That’s not something I feel, not ever.”
Alexei was fairly shocked at what he was hearing. Joy coming from War’s lips wasn’t a normal occurrence. “Your father had been begging you to marry for years,” he said. “Is it possible you might consider it with Lady Annaleigh?”
War held up a hand. “Slow yourself,” he said. “I only said I enjoyed the lady’s company. I did not say I wished to marry her.”
“Then why did you ask me to find out what I could about her?”
War shot him a withering look. “Because I wanted to know,” he said. “It is not because I want to marry the girl.”
“Then you do not mind if she is pursued by others?”
“Is she interested in any of them?”
Alexei shook his head, a smile tugging at his mouth when he heard the insecure squire in War’s tone. “From what I’ve been able to find out, the young knights make arses of themselves and she has no interest,” he said. “Were you to pursue her, I do not think there is any competition.”
War stood up from the bed, going to the small window that overlooked the inner bailey. “Where are Monty and Clement?” he asked.
Alexei was well aware that he was changing the subject. “Monty will not let Clement out of his sight,” he said with some irony. “He is convinced the man is going to corner de Wolfe and tell him that you do not deserve Bamburgh.”
War grunted. “Clement is disgruntled, but not suicidal,” he said. “If he does something stupid, then there are three knights who could easily cut him to pieces. But he does talk.”
“I know,” Alexei said with regret. “He walks the fine line between loyalty and subversion.”
“I have never trusted him.”
“Nor have I,” Alexei agreed. “Would it mayhap be wise to speak to de Wolfe about him? Mayhap de Wolfe would like to take on another knight. Clement is a good warrior.”
War looked at him. “Leave him here at Castle Questing?”
Alexei shrugged in a way that suggested that was exactly what he meant and War thought on that seriously.
“Mayhap I will,” he said after a moment.
“He’s not a talentless knight, but I simply do not want him with me.
I do not want to be looking over my shoulder for the rest of my tenure at Bamburgh.
I will think on it. Meanwhile, I will go and check on my horse.
He had a strange gait yesterday. I want to make sure he has not turned up lame. ”
“Keep an eye out for Lady Annaleigh while you’re out there.”
“Shut your lips, you bastard.”
Alexei burst into laughter, like a naughty boy, and it was difficult for War to keep the smile off his face as well. He kicked Alexei in the shin as he moved past him, causing the knight to double over and trip on the bed.
But he was still laughing.
“Wait,” he said, pushing himself off the bed. “Before you go, you have not told me what you intend to do with de Wolfe and the letter from your mother. Do you plan to tell the man while we are here?”
War paused by the door, his smile fading. “I don’t know,” he said. “I will think about that later. There is too much on my mind, Alexei. Give me time.”
Alexei let him go. War quit the knights’ quarters, heading out into the bright morning.
As soon as he came out of the knights’ quarters, he could hear screaming.
Children screaming. No one seemed to be in a panic about it, as everyone he could see was going about their business as if there weren’t piercing screams filling the air.
The closer he drew to the stables, the louder the screaming became.
He was just entering the stable yard when he saw William coming through the gate with a four year old clinging to him. William saw him and, with a smile of greeting, headed in his direction.
“Good morn to you, Herringthorpe,” he said. “I’m glad I found you. I would like to take you on a tour of my property, at least those within a few hours’ ride, to give you a sense of the borders. We can make a visit to Wark Castle in an hour or so. It would be a start.”
War’s gaze was on the child in the man’s arms. My sister, he thought to himself.
It was a very strange feeling, he had to admit.
His gaze moved from the child to William, feeling such odd familiarity with the man’s features because in many ways, they mirrored his own.
After his arrival yesterday, and sleeping on thoughts torn between William and Annaleigh, he was quickly coming to the conclusion that he wasn’t entirely sure how he felt about any of it.
About William, about the letter he had from his mother for William… any of it.
The truth was that his thoughts seemed to be leaning towards Annaleigh.
But he nodded to William’s statement.
“Whatever you wish to do, my lord,” he said. “And good morn to you, as well.”
The child in William’s arms suddenly turned around and looked at him. A little lass with long, dark hair and big, green eyes that were red from weeping, but she looked very much like William. Which meant she looked like War. War smiled politely and she frowned.
“This is my youngest child, Lady Penelope,” William said. “Penelope is going to go about a few duties with me before you and I head out. Penny, this is Sir War Herringthorpe. Please greet him politely.”
Penelope was still frowning. “You look like my dada.”
War grinned but, deep down, he was feeling a jolt of shock. Could even the child see the resemblance? “Is that so?” he said. “It is an honor to meet you, Lady Penelope.”
Penelope’s response was to wipe her nose with her hand.
“Penny thinks that every man with dark hair looks like me,” William said with a chuckle. “Do not be too offended by it.”
“I am not,” War said, trying to sound neutral. “I’m flattered she would think so.”
Penelope began squirming and William put her to her feet. When she took off running, William returned his attention to War.
“Troy has returned to Wark Castle this morning and he will greet us later today when we conduct our tour, but I have also sent word to Northwood Castle and to Berwick,” he said.
“We can easily make it to Northwood this afternoon after we visit Wark and spend the night there before continuing to Berwick in the morning, if you are agreeable.”
War nodded. “I am,” he said. “That is why I came. I am grateful that you should take the time to introduce me to your allies.”
William smiled weakly. “You are an important new figure in the north,” he said. “It is important to see and be seen. Everyone will want to know your name and look you in the eyes, so be aware. Some may be more annoying than others.”
War cracked a smile. “I hope I can tactfully deal with them.”
“I think you can,” William said. His gaze lingered on War for a moment before continuing. “I will go and make the preparations for our departure. Be ready to depart in an hour.”
“Will we be returning to Castle Questing, my lord?”
“Probably not.”
That told War what he needed to know. He nodded in response and William headed off across the stables, moving for the outer bailey.
War watched him go, studying the size and shape of the man who was his father.
But as he watched him go, it occurred to him that if he left in an hour and would not be returning, he would not be seeing Annaleigh again.
That realization didn’t sit well with him.