Chapter 6
“ R egina, you are so quiet today. Is something wrong?” asked Sage the next morning as they sat in the ladies solar stitching.
“Nay. Nothing’s wrong.” Regina flashed a smile at Sage and the other women, aimlessly pulling the colored thread through the bag she was embroidering.
“Really?” Sage reached out and picked up the bag. “Then why does this flower look more like a bird dropping?”
“Oh!” Regina had been thinking of Hunter and not even paying attention to what she was doing. “Well, you know I was never any good at this.”
“And neither were you ever so bad either.” Sage gave her that knowing look that said she knew Regina was keeping something from her.
“Will you be teaching your cousin falconry today?” asked Lady Jean who was a young widow.
“I—I suppose,” she answered. “But I have so many other things to do.”
“Your cousin, Hunter is sooooo handsome,” gushed Lady Penelope who was about Regina’s age and who always had eyes for the men. “Will you introduce me to him?”
“Me, too!” piped up yet another lady in the room, Lady Gertrude. She was old and had no business even looking Hunter’s way.
“If I get the chance, of course, I will.”
“Good,” said Penelope with a giggle. “Because I am going to do my best to get him to kiss me.”
“What?” Regina looked up quickly in surprise.
“I’d like to lure him to my bed and make hot, passionate love with him,” said Jean looking like she was hot and bothered.
“What kind of a thing is that to say?” gasped Regina.
“Well, I’m a widow and don’t need to protect my image anymore like you, Regina,” said Jean. “I haven’t had a man in a while and there is nothing wrong in wanting to find release.”
“Oh, my,” muttered Regina, fumbling with the needle, trying to get it back through the cloth with no result despite her best efforts.
“Ladies, a man like Lord Hunter won’t want either of you,” said Lady Gertrude. “He will need a more experienced woman in his bed. Like me and all the things I can show him.” Lady Gertrude smacked her lips, almost turning Regina’s stomach at the mere thought of this old woman in bed with Hunter.
“He’s not looking for a woman, I’m sure, so please everyone just leave him be.” Regina looked down at her work. She’d truly made a mess of the embroidery and would have to tear it all out and start over again. Why was it so hard to focus lately? And why were these lust-filled ladies targeting Hunter? Regina didn’t want to share and felt like she wanted the man all to herself.
“Why wouldn’t he be looking for a woman?” asked Jean, batting her eyes. “Or have you already claimed him for yourself, Regina?”
“Huh?” This startled her so much that she pricked her finger with the needle, enough to draw blood. “Ouch!” She threw the embroidery to the side and stood up. “Hunter is my cousin,” she ground out. “I hardly think I’d be wanting to bed him but neither should you. Leave the man alone!”
“Just because he’s your cousin, that doesn’t mean a thing,” said Jean. “A lot of nobles marry their cousins. It keeps the bloodline strong. He is so handsome, I don’t see why you don’t want him, too.”
“Did you say marry?” Regina wasn’t sure she liked where this conversation was leading.
“Jean, don’t give her ideas,” scolded Penelope. “I hear the man already has eyes for Regina. If they couple, we’ll never have a chance with him at all.”
“Hunter has eyes for me? Where did you hear that?” This shocked Regina that the gossip had gotten to this point so fast. She only hoped that no one had seen them down at the lake.
Penelope continued. “The scullery maid told me she was washing dishes in the lake last night and saw you and Hunter by the water together. She said she saw Hunter stark naked!”
“Really? Naked?” Jean’s eyes lit up with excitement and she squirmed in her chair.
“What do you mean?” exclaimed Regina, her breath hitching in her throat.
“Is this true, Regina?” asked Sage, sounding as shocked to hear them say this as she was.
“I—I…” Regina didn’t know how to answer. This was how gossip started. Even if it wasn’t really gossip but the truth. Still, if it wasn’t stopped immediately, Regina’s reputation as a lady would be ruined. If that happened, no nobleman would ever want her someday as his wife.
“The scullery maid said Hunter has quite a nice…body. In every way.” Jean’s smile widened and both she and Penelope squealed.
“I’d like to see that,” said Gertrude, a sly smile turning up the corners of her mouth.
“Ladies!” Sage stood up with hand on her belly. “That will be all. Now, I do not want to hear another word about this silly nonsense. It is idle gossip and will go no further than this room. We are ladies and must conduct ourselves as such. Do you all understand?” It was ironic that Sage was the one telling the others to act like ladies when Sage wasn’t noble born but had only inherited the title of lady when she’d married Robin.
The ladies nodded to Sage and their smiles disappeared. They turned their attention back to their stitching once again.
Flushed and flustered, Regina threw down her embroidery and ran from the room.
“Regina, wait!” Sage called after her, following her out of the ladies solar.
“I need to get to the mews, Sage.” Regina spoke without turning around for fear her sister-by-marriage would see the blush rising to her cheeks. She walked faster.
“Regina, please. I still don’t feel that well and cannot run to keep up with you.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot about that.” Regina turned and headed back down the corridor and put her hand on Sage’s shoulder. “Is there anything I can get for you?”
“Nay. I’m fine.” Sage’s breathing was a little labored but she still managed a smile for Regina, always seeming to care for others more than herself. “Walk and talk with me,” said Sage, holding on to Regina’s arm and strolling down the corridor at a much slower pace. “These walls have ears, you realize. Always be careful what you do or say.” Sage looked back over her shoulder as she said it. Regina looked back to see both Ladies Penelope and Jean peeking out the solar door, watching them, probably hoping to hear something to use for tomorrow’s gossip.
“Yes, you’re right,” she agreed, turning as they continued down the hall.
“It seems Hunter Chase has been making quite a stir around Shrewsbury Castle since his arrival,” commented Sage.
“Yes. I suppose so.”
“How much of that gossip is true?”
Regina stopped and turned toward Sage. She let out a deep sigh, not wanting to lie to her. “Most of it,” she answered softly.
“What? Really?” Sage’s eyes opened wide. “I don’t understand.”
“I was flying Lightning down at the lake the other night. Hunter was there and approached me. He was half-naked, meaning to go for a swim.”
“Half-naked?” Sage couldn’t hold back her amusement. “Well, that just shows how gossip elaborates on things. Those ladies said he was totally naked.”
“Well…he was.”
Sage’s mouth dropped open and she was barely able to speak. “What?”
“When I was about to leave, he stripped down and took a swim in the lake. But it wasn’t until I was already walking away, I swear.”
“Oh, Regina, you had better hope Robin doesn’t hear about this. It can only bring you trouble.”
“Nothing happened between us, Sage. Honest.”
Sage let out another breath. “Well, that’s good that he didn’t try to kiss you or touch you.”
“Right. Not there at the lake, anyway,” she mumbled under her breath, turning and continuing to walk.
“Wait a minute, Regina.” Sage hurried to catch up to her, grabbing her arm and spinning her around. “You cannot dump that on me and then just think you are going to walk away. You’d better explain and do it fast because I am losing my patience.”
“There is nothing to explain.” Regina shrugged. “Hunter kissed me, but it was before he ever came to the castle. Besides, Robin already knows about it, so you can stop worrying.”
“What is going on between you two?” Sage blinked several times in succession.
“Nothing at all.”
“That isn’t what it sounds like. What did you do when Hunter kissed you?”
“I slapped him, of course. And reprimanded him for even thinking he had the right to kiss a noble.”
“Regina, remember that I wasn’t a noble before I married Robin. I never liked the haughtiness of those born into a higher status and I still don’t. If you keep acting like that, you are going to push the man away.”
“Good. Because he is here to do a job and that job has nothing to do with kissing anyone. Especially not a noblewoman.”
“Ah, there you are,” came Hunter’s voice, causing Regina to spin around. Hunter and Robin walked toward her from the great hall. “I was starting to think you were avoiding me for some reason.”
She was trying to avoid him because spending so much time with him was making her mind confused. This man was nothing but trouble. He was here under false pretense to do a job and he wasn’t doing it.
“There will be no training session at the mews today,” she told him, keeping her composure even though he looked handsome as always. However, he was wearing his own clothes and no longer dressed like a noble. “Why did you change your clothes? Those are not the ones you were wearing yesterday.”
“Robin’s clothes were too tight on me,” he told her. “They were catching too much interest from all the ladies at the castle so I put mine back on. Why? Did you like seeing me in those tighter breeches?” He held a dung-eating smile on his face and the conversation only made her blush even more.
“They are not the clothes of a noble,” she told him.“However, as long as you cover your body, I don’t really care what you wear.” She wanted to tell him about the scullery maid having seen him naked and all the gossip, but she couldn’t do it with her brother standing right there. It would turn out badly for both of them if Robin discovered she’d been alone with a naked man. Even if they didn’t do anything.
“I will summon my Uncle William to the castle to make something appropriate for you,” Robin told Hunter.
“Thank you,” said Hunter, his attention going back to Regina.
“Why not?” he asked her, folding his arms over his chest.
“What do you mean?” She started to become nervous, thinking he was going to say something about her wanting to see him naked or some such nonsense.
“Why will there be no training at the mews today?”
“Oh, that.” Relief swept through her. “I figured that you’ll never catch the thief if you don’t spend time looking for the culprit. And I can assure you, that you won’t find the thief in the mews.”
“She has a point,” agreed Robin. “Actually, Regina, that is exactly what Hunter and I were just talking about.”
“You were?”
“Yes. I’ve decided the ploy of him being a falconer’s assistant isn’t believable. My men are starting to ask questions. Mayhap I’ll have him spend more time in the great hall and amongst the nobles instead. I think that might be more beneficial.”
“I suppose so since he won’t be able to actually train or even touch the birds,” agreed Regina, even though she didn’t like the idea of Hunter not being with her. She was starting to like having him around.
“Good morning, Hunter,” came a sultry voice, interrupting them.
“Ladies,” said Hunter with a nod as Penelope, Jean, and Gertrude walked up and stopped before them. “How are you this fine day?”
“I am Lady Jean and would be better with a kiss on the hand.” Jean boldly reached out for him. Hunter took her hand and kissed it.
“Me too,” said Penelope, pushing her hand in front of Hunter’s face. “I am Lady Penelope.” He kissed her hand as well.
“What about you, my lady?” Hunter looked up and gave Gertrude a smile that would make any woman blush.
“Ladies, continue on to the great hall,” instructed Sage, coming to her rescue. “We are in the middle of an important conversation.”
“Of course,” said Jean, giggling and whispering behind her hand as she and the other ladies walked away. For some reason, Hunter kissing their hands bothered Regina. Still, she couldn’t show it.
“Hunter, Hunter, look at what I have!” Luke ran up with the stableboy Fred on his heels. In Luke’s arms was a black cat that had a small white spot on one of her front paws. “We found her in the stable today. Fred said she is probably a stray and that she doesn’t belong to anyone. Can I keep her? Can I?”
Hunter groaned inwardly when she saw his nephew with the cat. “I said no pets, Luke. Now put the cat back where you found her.”
“I’m going to name her Inky.” Luke didn’t listen to a word he said. “Fred, do you think more stray cats might wander into the stable? Mayhap Inky needs a friend.”
“We can watch for them,” said Fred. “There are always so many mice, that the cats would really help us out.”
“Luke, you’re not listening to me,” said Hunter softly, trying not to cause havoc.
“Mayhap we should go to the kitchen and get something for Inky to eat,” suggested Luke.
“Good idea,” agreed Fred. “I think most cats like meat. Follow me.” The boys ran off, leaving Hunter standing there feeling like a fool. God’s teeth, why wouldn’t the boy listen to him?
“I think I’ll start my investigation in the stables today,” Hunter told the others. “Tell me again. Which one of the knights had his horse stolen?”
“It was Sir Elwood,” Sage supplied the information.
“And where would I find Sir Elwood?” asked Hunter.
“I can introduce you to him,” Robin offered. “As well as the guard who had his sword stolen. Mayhap they can give you some insight of what actually happened.”
“Yes, that will be a good start. My ladies,” said Hunter with a bow. “I will let you continue with your conversation.”
“You don’t need to bow to us,” said Sage. She leaned forward and spoke in a hushed voice. “After all, you are a noble too now, remember.”
“Oh. Yes, I suppose you are right.” Hunter wasn’t sure about this. He would feel as if he were disrespecting the nobles if he didn’t, but supposed he needed to keep up appearances. He wasn’t sure he’d ever get used to this act of pretending to be a noble.
“So, Robin. Hunter is no longer going to be spending time in the mews?” asked Regina, surprising Hunter that she was even asking as if she cared. He thought she’d be jumping for joy not to have to be around him.
“Nay, I thought we just covered that,” said Robin. “You said you agreed.”
“That’s right,” broke in Hunter. “There seems to be no need for me in the mews since you so clearly pointed out that I would not find this thief by spending time there.”
“True, but my birds might be in danger,” she blurted out. “I think it would be a good thing if Hunter didn’t stray far. I mean, in case he is needed.”
“Ah, yes.” Hunter stroked his beard. “But the question is, will I be in danger too? I mean, I don’t take a fancy to being slapped around.”
Hunter was toying with her, but saw that she wasn’t in a playful mood this morning. Her brows dipped and she frowned at him.
“Never mind. I don’t need his help. I will be in the mews if anyone is looking for me.” She turned and bolted off, leaving Hunter dumbfounded.
“I said the wrong thing, didn’t I?” Hunter asked Robin. “I was only jesting, trying to lighten the mood.”
“I’m not sure,” said Robin. The men watched Regina storm through the corridor nearly knocking into several servants along the way. “I gave up knowing just why women do or say anything. It never makes a bit of sense to me.”
“Robin, stop being so insensitive,” scolded Sage. “Can’t you two tell that Regina’s feelings were hurt?”
“Hurt? I hurt her? How?” For the life of him, Hunter didn’t know how to act around the girl. One minute Regina was kissing him with passion and seeming like she enjoyed it. The next, she was slapping him or storming away in a huff. “What do you think is bothering her?” Hunter scratched the back of his neck in thought.
“With Regina, one never knows.” Robin shrugged. “I wouldn’t worry about it. She’s probably having her flux and should stop being so grouchy in a few days.”
“You both are truly simpkins, aren’t you?” snapped Sage.
Hunter and Robin looked at each other in confusion but didn’t dare say a word. Sage was pregnant with twins and it probably wouldn’t be wise to upset her.
“The poor girl has already spent the morning as the brunt of gossip because you can’t keep your breeches on, Hunter. Haven’t you caused her enough trouble already?” Sage stormed away as well.
“Thief-taker, is there something you want to tell me?” Robin shot him a daggered look.
“Nay. Not really,” he said, turning to walk away. Hunter stopped and looked back at Robin and held up a finger. “Except, who do I speak to about getting a bath sent to my chamber in the future?”