Chapter Ten #3
He had to pack his saddlebags, but he wanted to at least bid Annaleigh farewell.
He had no idea where she was but he knew he had to find her.
He’d told Alexei he had no designs on marrying the woman, but that didn’t mean he had completely discounted it.
He felt like everything was being rushed now, like he had to make a rushed decision where she was concerned.
But when he thought on it, it really wasn’t a rushed decision at all.
This would not be the last time he ever saw her.
That was one thing he’d made up his mind about.
Turning around, he spied the keep and the wall of the kitchen yard.
He knew that she helped Lady de Wolfe around the castle, so it might be logical to look for her in the kitchen yard.
If not the yard, then perhaps the walled garden.
He wasn’t exactly sure what he was going to say to her when he found her, but he would think of something.
As he stood there and pondered where to begin his hunt, he could see one of the de Wolfe knights out of the corner of his eye.
The man was heading in his direction. When he turned to look at him, he could see that it was one of the sons of Kieran Hage.
He couldn’t remember the man’s name, but he’d met him briefly at Thropton and then again when he’d arrived at Castle Questing.
As he watched the man approach, he could see that the knight was focused on him.
The man smiled and lifted his hand in greeting as he drew near.
“My lord,” the knight said. “I am Christian Hage. You’ve met so many new faces here, so forgive me if you knew that. I thought to introduce myself again to be sure.”
War forced a smile. “I will admit that names have never been my strength,” he said. “I usually have to meet men a few times to remember who they are and where they came from or I’ll end up calling them ‘that tall dolt’ or ‘that short bastard’. I’ve been known to do that.”
Christian laughed softly, displaying a smile that looked just like his father’s. In fact, he had Kieran’s face but his mother’s eyes, green in color, but he was far taller than his father. He was rather long and sinewy, in great contrast to his father’s bulk.
“I’m glad to hear I am not the only one who does that,” he said. “But in truth, I come on a mission from Lady de Wolfe.”
“Oh?” War said. “What is that?”
Christian pretended to be quite formal in his delivery. “The Lady of Questing would like to know if you slept well,” he said. “She has also sent me to discover if you and your men would like some food to break your fast.”
War nodded. “You may tell Lady de Wolfe that I slept quite comfortably,” he said. “I visited the knights’ quarters, where my men were, and their accommodations were quite satisfactory. In fact, I was just going to find my men. It seems that we are to leave for Wark Castle within the hour.”
“Ah,” Christian said. “The grand tour?”
“So it would seem.”
“Then you must find your men and tell them to prepare,” Christian said. “May I walk with you?”
“Please.”
The two of them began to head off in the direction of the knights’ quarters. Christian glanced up in the sky, shielding his eyes from the sun.
“At least the weather will hold for you,” he said. “It can be quite unpredictable this far north, or have you discovered that for yourself yet?”
War glanced up into the clear, blue sky. “It has seemed a little erratic at times,” he said. “Mist seems to favor Bamburgh.”
“Indeed,” Christian said. “The entire coast can be covered with it. Berwick, especially.”
“Where your cousin is?”
“Aye,” Christian said. “Actually, my eldest brother is there, too. Alec. I believe you met him.”
“The man who looks so much like your father?”
Christian grinned. “He acts like him, too,” he said. “I have two younger brothers, also.”
War looked around. “I believe I saw them,” he said. “Young boys?”
“Nathaniel is four years of age and Kevin has seen about twelve years,” Christian said. “I heard that you have younger brothers, also.”
“I do,” War said. “Sterling and Callum are in London, serving in the royal household.”
“They will not come north to serve with you?”
War shook his head firmly. “All I would want to do is box their ears or kick them in the arse,” he said, watching Christian snort. “They are thorns in my side, but I would kill or die for them.”
“No truer words were spoken about any brothers,” Christian said. He paused a moment before continuing. “I heard you came from Suffolk?”
War nodded. “I was born there.”
“But I heard you say that your mother was from the north.”
Again, War nodded. “Her family is from Yorkshire.”
“Ah,” Christian said in understanding. “Mine is from Scotland. She is a cousin to Lady de Wolfe.”
“So you’re all related?”
“We are a clan unto ourselves,” Christian said, grinning. “In fact, in speaking of cousins, I’ve been wanting to ask you a question. May I?”
“Go ahead.”
Christian scratched his head thoughtfully.
“I’ve heard a few people comment on how much you look like William,” he said.
“I was wondering if you might be a cousin? Most of the de Wolfes are big and dark like you are and, God knows, there are enough de Wolfe relations running around the north. Half of Wolverhampton contains de Wolfe cousins and relations. Mayhap somewhere back in your family line?”
War didn’t like the question. In truth, he was caught off guard by it.
He didn’t get the sense that he was being probed and the reality was that it was simply in the course of conversation.
There would be no possible way Christian Hage could know anything about him or his relationship to William, but Christian had pointed out something that War hadn’t noticed until he’d come to Castle Questing – the reality was that he did, in fact, look like William.
He was surprised it had taken someone this long to point that out.
He supposed the question had to come sometime.
They were just entering the area where the knights’ quarters were located and War spied Alexei and Monty outside of the stone building. They looked to be working on a saddle between them. War came to a pause, turning to Christian.
“I suppose anything is possible,” he said steadily. “But I do not have any relatives from Wolverhampton, so I could not tell you for certain.”
Christian shrugged. “I was simply curious,” he said, perhaps sensing that War had other things to do now. “It has been a pleasure speaking with you, Herringthorpe. I hope this will not be the last time we see you at Castle Questing.”
“It won’t,” War said before he could stop himself because he was solely thinking of Annaleigh. “I hope that this is the first visit of many to come.”
Christian smiled. “I’m sure it will be,” he said. “I look forward to seeing you the next time.”
“Won’t you be coming to Wark?”
Christian shook his head. “When Uncle William and my father leave Castle Questing, I remain behind in command,” he said. “Someone has to keep Lady Penelope from leading a rebellion and taking over the castle. I am the only thing that stands between Uncle William and Penelope’s reign of terror.”
War chuckled. “I’ve not been around the lass much, but I’ve heard tell.”
Christian laughed softly. “I’m sure you have,” he said. “I will send a servant out here with food for you and your men for your journey.”
“I would be grateful.”
Christian turned around and headed back towards the keep.
He would do what he told War he would do and send his men some food for their journey.
He would also make sure to tell Jordan that War’s accommodations were comfortable and that he was grateful for her hospitality even though she’d never asked Christian to see to the man’s comfort.
That had been all Christian’s idea.
When he was done with the food and his Aunt Jordan, he fully intended to find his father and tell him of the conversation.
But something told him that War wasn’t being completely truthful.
He could see it in his eyes.
De Wolfe eyes.