Chapter Ten
Kennington House
“Where is my daughter?”
At sunset, Kellen was standing at the gates of Kennington, waiting for his child to be delivered and already, the situation wasn’t going well. He was gathered with a group of his men, including St. Héver, armed to the hilt and appearing as if he were looking for a fight.
Maximus’ heart sank when he saw the offensive posturing that Kellen was presenting.
He looked at Gallus, who appeared terribly strained and grossly impatient with de Lara’s demeanor.
Having just left his ill wife, Gallus was in no mood for foolery.
He couldn’t even present a semblances of politeness at de Lara’s question.
“She is with my wife,” he said flatly. “My wife became ill this afternoon and your daughter has been kind enough to tend her. Given that my wife has no ladies about her and I do not want serving women touching her, I accepted your daughter’s offer. That is what I have come to tell you, de Lara.”
Kellen looked unhappier than he had when they’d first arrived. He eyed Gallus and Maximus, and the host of de Shera soldiers behind them. There were about thirty, including three very big knights. Jaw flexing, Kellen took a few steps towards Gallus as the man sat astride his volatile, red jennet.
“I am sorry that your wife fell ill, my lord,” he said through, Gallus was sure, clenched teeth, “but you can surely afford great care for her. I want my daughter returned home.”
Gallus wasn’t going to let de Lara bully him. More than that, the man was being plain rude. Bracing his big, gloved hand on his thigh, he leaned forward and looked the man in the eye.
“I can afford the best care in England for her,” he said.
“But that is not the point. The point is that your daughter graciously volunteered to sit with her and tend her so that my wife is not being attended by people she does not know. Your daughter is a generous and giving individual, qualities you do not seem to have. Kindly tell me why you were so hospitable and kind to my brother last evening and then today you treat us as if we have done something unspeakably wrong. Well? I am waiting.”
De Lara eyed Maximus as the man sat, emotionless, astride his black and white steed, waiting and watching for Kellen’s reply.
Kellen, however, was reconsidering his attitude after Gallus’ scolding.
Nothing the man had said was untrue. He simply didn’t like anyone to point it out.
It was his prerogative to behave however he wished, especially with his daughter at stake.
“I am grateful to Sir Maximus for saving my daughters from a burning building, my lord,” he finally said.
“But you must understand that I am very protective of my children. I do not like it when they are out of my sight. I worry just as any father would. The fact that your wife promised to bring my daughter home at sunset, yet she is not here, concerns me greatly.”
Gallus scowled. “Why should it?” he said. “You know where she is. You know she is with my wife. She is safe and comfortable. Why on earth should you be concerned for her safety?”
Kellen was starting to become flustered. “You do not understand,” he said. “Since my wife died, it has only been me and my girls. I am naturally protective of them.”
Gallus waved him off impatiently. “My first wife died two years ago this summer,” he said.
“I have two small daughters and I am protective of them as well, so do not speak to me of being protective of your children. Your daughter is safe and I need her help. I will bring her back to you as soon as my wife has sufficiently recovered.”
Kellen wasn’t happy with that directive, not in the least. “Where is my daughter?” he demanded one last time. “You will take me to her immediately.”
Gallus sighed sharply. “She is at The One-Eyed Raven Inn,” he told him.
“If you want to go to her, then you will do it on your own, but if you go near my wife in your attempt to get to your daughter, know that I will strike hard and strike fast. No man goes near my wife. Is that in any way unclear?”
Now, threats were being leveled and Kellen was forced to back down.
He didn’t need the Thunder Lord as an enemy but he was rapidly heading in that direction.
He glanced at St. Héver, standing next to him, seeking the man’s silent support, but all he received was an impassive expression in return.
At that point, he was coming to think that perhaps he was looking like a fool for being so demanding and rude.
After a moment, he lifted his hand in a gesture that implied a reluctant surrender.
“It is clear, my lord,” he said. “I am not attempting to offend you. I simply want my daughter returned to me, as your wife promised.”
Gallus would not accept the man’s apology. “What you have done is insult my honor and my wife’s honor,” he said coldly. “You have implied great distrust in us as if we have done something to deserve it. Do you always treat people this way, de Lara? It is a wonder you have any allies at all.”
Kellen could see that he had, indeed, insulted de Shera a good deal.
He would have to attempt to mend that state if he wanted to keep his standing in de Montfort’s rebellion.
Insulting the Lords of Thunder was not a way to get ahead in life, or at least in de Montfort’s world.
With a heavy sigh, he struggled to appear submissive, at least as much as he could.
He was a stubborn man, however, and it was difficult.
“You will forgive me, my lord,” he said, laboring to spit out the words. “Will you please come inside and enjoy some refreshments? Allow me to at least make amends for my slander against you and your wife. That was truly not my intent.”
Gallus glanced at Maximus, who was more than willing to go with the man.
They both realized that this would be the perfect opportunity for Gallus to present a marital contract to de Lara, especially now that they had the upper hand against him.
De Lara had been scolded and now he was being rather docile because he had tried to stir up a battle he had no chance of winning.
Maximus intended to take advantage of his surrender because, in those first few tense moments after they’d arrived, he could see what Courtly was talking about when she described her father’s protectiveness over his daughters.
I am not entirely sure what drives my father to chase away all suitors, she had said.
Maximus could clearly see what she had meant.
Kellen was a zealot when it came to the protection of his daughters.
Therefore, he knew to proceed carefully.
“Then we accept,” Gallus finally said, only when he received Maximus’ imperceptible nod. “Lead the way, de Lara. Let us see if your hospitality is enough to ease my anger against you.”
Kellen had his soldiers open up the big, iron gates and usher in de Shera and his men.
Gallus had his soldiers take up station near the gate, away from the bulk of de Lara men who were across the bailey and closer to the great hall.
Scott, Troy, and Stefan had accompanied them to Kennington and when Gallus and Maximus entered the hall that Maximus had feasted in the night before, the knights followed with a somewhat suspicious manner.
Having seen de Lara’s fit, they weren’t entirely sure that they weren’t in enemy territory and were on their guard.
The big hall of Kennington was cold and dark when they entered and Kellen immediately set about starting a fire in the hearth, but he had to do it himself because Ellice was still keeping her servants hidden.
Gallus thought it was all rather odd until he remembered what Maximus had said about the night before, how Lady Courtly had been forced to cook the entire feast because of a disagreement between her father and his sister.
As Kellen tended the hearth, which must have been embarrassing for him, Gallus leaned in to his brother.
“I see what you mean about the de Lara’s sister absconding with her servants,” he muttered. “Was it like this last eve, too?”
Maximus nodded, looking around. “It was,” he said. “But the aunt was here this morning. In fact, it was she who insisted that Courtly attend Jeniver on her trip. De Lara tried to tell us that he needed Courtly to tend her younger sister but the aunt volunteered. I wonder where the aunt is?”
Gallus lifted his eyebrows in agreement. “Excellent question,” he said quietly, then spoke louder as he addressed Kellen. “I understand your sister lives here, de Lara. Will she join us?”
Kellen threw more pieces of kindling on his infantile blaze. “She will not,” he said. “She is tending my younger daughter.”
“Where are they?”
Kellen looked over his shoulder at Gallus. “In their chambers, I would think,” he said. “I do not expect them to join us.”
Gallus turned back to his brother although he was eyeing Kellen oddly. “So he keeps the women hidden when male guests arrive,” he muttered. “Strange.”
Maximus shook his head. “He did not keep them hidden last night.”
“That is because he did not view you as a threat. Now, he evidently does, to any and all women in his family.”
Maximus was fairly certain that was the truth, which worried him for the marital negotiations to come.
But he sat down when Kellen indicated for him to sit at the same feasting table he had occupied the previous evening, and even in the same seat.
But instead of Gallus on his right, last night it had been Courtly.
Already, he missed her and the growing bond they had.
Her smile, the warmth of her hand… he missed everything.
He wished very much that she was sitting beside him.