Chapter Three #2
Gar nodded. “It was not for the lack of trying on the part of the Scots,” he said.
“The entire de Wolfe family on the western end of the border has been caught up in it. I was only able to come to Hensingham because my uncles and brothers and cousins are manning my post until such time as I can return, but as you can imagine, the fight has been… intense. I am afraid I am still in battle mindset most of the time.”
There was appreciation in Reece’s eyes as he sized up Gar, whom he only remembered as a younger man from several years ago. The Gar he knew then had grown up and out and was a tall, muscular specimen of a knight. He would be one hell of a son-in-law, one a man could be proud of.
He put a hand on Gar’s shoulder.
“You needn’t apologize,” he said. “I understand completely. My son, Maksim, is around here somewhere. Let me summon him and he can help you in your moment of need. I am afraid, however, that my wife and daughter are quite aware of your arrival and…”
He was too late. Women were suddenly appearing at the gatehouse and Gar found himself looking at an older, handsome woman with smooth skin and impeccable clothing.
She smiled at him and he acknowledged her with a bob of his head, startled by her appearance, but he was even more startled by what was standing next to her.
Who was standing next to her.
His breath caught in his throat.
A petite young woman with long, wavy brown hair was clad in a dark yellow silk that was studded with tiny pearls.
The neckline of the garment was slightly off the shoulders, exposing an exquisite neck and décolletage.
She was wearing jewels, but tastefully so, and her face…
Gar got to her face and he had to do a double take.
It was the girl from those years ago—he recognized her eyes.
Like liquid copper. They were a color he’d never seen before, but those eyes were now set in a face that had matured over the past few years into something refined and magnificent.
She had wide cheekbones, an upturned nose, and kissable lips that were a faint shade of pink.
The entire picture was something he’d never expected and, quite honestly, more beautiful than anything he’d ever seen in his life.
Before he could speak, however, Reece piped up.
“Julia, my dear,” he said to the older woman. “Please take Mattie to the great hall. We will join you there.”
He was practically manhandling the woman, trying to force her to turn around, but she wasn’t cooperating. In fact, she batted his hands away.
“No need,” she said. “We are here now. We knew Lord Braemoor and his son were arriving and wished to greet him as soon as he entered the gatehouse. My lord, we are honored to receive you.”
She was speaking to Troy, who held the title Lord Braemoor. “Lady Hensingham,” Troy said, dipping his head in greeting. “The honor is ours. We are looking forward to this visit and this union.”
All eyes shifted to Gar, standing filthy and slovenly next to his father.
Gar felt the horror of the women as they looked upon them and, for the first time since the journey to Hensingham started, he felt somewhat embarrassed by the state he’d let himself enter.
But he was saved from speaking when Maksim suddenly appeared.
The eldest, and only, de Reyne son took one look at Gar and went to him, putting his arms around him in a decidedly brotherly gesture.
“Gar!” Maksim exclaimed. “You wild beast, it is good to see you. Welcome to Hensingham!”
Gar hadn’t seen Maksim in at least a couple of years, not since they’d run into one another in London while Gar had been there on business for his grandfather.
Both he and Andreas had been in London and Andreas had taken him to an underground guild called Gomorrah.
It was a place lodged in the vaults of a ruined church on the outskirts of London, one that was known for its entertainment and fine food.
But it was very exclusive, because one could have any kind of entertainment one wished for, up to and including sexual pleasure, so it wasn’t spoken of in the open.
Therefore, Gar didn’t acknowledge that it was where he’d last seen Maksim. Or whom he’d seem Maksim with.
He didn’t think the man’s mother would approve.
“Maks,” Gar said, smiling. “It is quite agreeable to see you. How have you been?”
Maksim was slapping him on the shoulders. “Well, lad, well,” he said. But then, he began to get a whiff of Gar and how badly he smelled and his face screwed up in distaste. “God’s Bones, Gar. You smell like a bloody compost heap. Are there no baths in Northumberland?”
Gar cleared his throat uncomfortably, knowing that his betrothed was hearing the conversation. “I have been in the midst of battles for the past few weeks,” he said. “When we received your father’s missive, I did not have time to change my clothing. I simply came.”
“Now that he is here, it would be good of you to help him clean up so that he will not offend the women,” Reece said, lifting his eyebrows as his son looked at him so he could silently hint that Maksim’s assistance was desperately needed.
“Take him to the knights’ quarters and find the man some soap and water.
I am certain that Mattie will not mind waiting. ”
No one even looked at Mattie to get her opinion or permission.
They all knew what she was thinking. If she had a nose that worked, she could smell Gar the way everyone else could.
She’d have to be dead not to. Therefore, Maksim grabbed Gar and practically yanked the man through the gatehouse, heading for the knights’ quarters on the southern end of the long, rectangular bailey.
The moment they began to move, however, Winchester the dog, who had followed his mistress outside, seemed to think that it was a battle and he, too, went into battle mode.
The long-legged mutt charged.
As Gar was half pulled, half escorted into the bailey, Winchester ran up behind him and, with a growl, grabbed part of Gar’s boot.
He didn’t pierce Gar’s skin, but he had hold of the man’s boot and was furiously trying to tug at it.
Gar looked at the dog with annoyance as Maksim tried to shoo the dog away.
Winchester, however, wouldn’t be deterred.
“Matilda?” Maksim called to his sister. “Come and retrieve your vermin-ridden canine!”
Mattie came through the gatehouse, rushing in her dog’s direction. “Winnie!” she demanded. “Winnie, stop!”
That only seemed to make Winchester tug harder.
Gar didn’t want to see his boots torn up by a rabid mongrel, so he shook his leg, trying to dislodge the animal.
He managed to release its hold, but that made it more angry, and it rushed Gar gain.
Gar stuck out the same boot and shoved the dog away by the chest. He didn’t think the kick was too hard, but the dog went rolling away, much to the distress of Mattie.
“Winnie!” she gasped, moving to pick her dog up from the dirt. “Are you well? Did he hurt you?”
The dog’s answer was to run at Gar again as the man tried to walk off, snarling all the way.
He lunged at Gar and managed to get a piece of his breeches, which were the same breeches Gar had been wearing for weeks.
The same ones his grandmother had bathed him in.
They were made from canvas, a strong material, but it wasn’t impervious to naughty dogs.
Winchester lunged, grabbed a fold right on the seat of the breeches, and yanked.
A great ripping sound followed, and Gar’s entire right butt cheek was suddenly revealed to anyone standing behind him.
Mattie happened to be one of them.
Startled, Gar tried to get the torn segment of his breeches out of the dog’s mouth, but Winchester was on a tear.
He snarled and yanked, ripping the breeches further as both Gar and Maksim tried to beat him off.
Mattie, catching a glimpse of Gar’s bare buttocks, quickly turned away and covered her eyes as her brother tried to control the dog.
“Matilda!” Maksim roared. “Come and take your dog!”
Mattie still had her hands over her eyes. “I cannot!” she said. “I… Maks, you’ll have to get him away. I cannot look!”
The rip was becoming worse. The more Maksim tried to grab the dog, the more Winchester ran away, thinking it was a game.
All the while, he had the fabric in his mouth and ended up running a circle around Gar’s legs, ripping enough of the fabric to expose the man’s entire backside and then some.
Gar was left trying to preserve his modesty and fight off the dog that no one could seem to catch.
Soldiers in the bailey, watching the spectacle, were roaring with laughter as Mattie stood there with her eyes covered as Gar’s dignity was exposed for all to see.
Trying to escape Maksim, Winchester managed to crash into the back of Gar’s knees, and he went down on top of the dog.
Maksim leaped in to grab him.
“Matilda!” Maksim yelled again, holding Winchester by the scruff of the neck. “Get your dog before I throw him in the sea!”
Maksim had only ever called her by her full name and he was the only one in the family who did, but hearing him shout it in that angry tone was indicative of his frustration.
Mattie dared to uncover her eyes and, realizing that Gar was now sitting on his exposed buttocks, she rushed over to collect Winchester, pulling the dog away as he tried to rush at Gar again.
“I am very sorry, my lord,” she said, unable to look at Gar as he sat on the ground in torn breeches. “I do not know what has come over him. He is usually much better behaved.”
“Nay, he is not,” Maksim said, rage in his voice. “Get that beast out of my sight or I will put him on the fire and roast him!”