Chapter Nine #2
He made a face. “And it is nothing but a gaggle of deviant, gossiping geese in fine clothing, trying to pretend they are better than the rest of the peasants.”
She laughed happily. “I cannot wait.”
He chuckled again at her enthusiasm, wondering how she would feel after a day or two of exposure. But he wasn’t worried about her; with her temper and aggressiveness, she could hold her own easily against the catty court bitches… and with Christopher’s reputation, she would have to.
Looking at her this morning, it was hard to believe she was the same wild woman who had killed a man the night before. She looked radiant and beautiful and he had a suspicion as to why. Christopher had the same look.
“Then I should hope for your sake, my lady, that the weather clears a bit,” he said. “It will be miserable to travel in this weather.”
She shrugged lightly. “We cannot control the weather.” She looked at him seriously. “And another thing, call me Dustin. You are my brother now and I would have you address me as your sister.”
He nodded, pleased. “It would be my pleasure, if Christopher approves.”
She put her hands on her hips. “Approve or not, ’tis my name, and I say call me by it.”
He put up a hand in agreement, not wanting to agitate her. With a smile, he extended his arm and they left her chamber, heading for the great hall.
Christopher was below in the foyer, his eyes riveting to his wife as his brother escorted her down the stairs. Christ, she was so beautiful he could scarcely believe she belonged to him. He left Max to meet her at the bottom of the steps.
“What do you do?” he sized David up and down. “Who gave you permission to touch my wife?”
“I did,” Dustin said firmly. “As I have also given him permission to call me by my Christian name. Do you disagree?”
Christopher raised an eyebrow at her. “Nay, I do not, so long as he is respectful at all times. Get your hands off her, David. I shall take her from here.”
David handed Dustin off to Christopher. “You always spoil my fun,” he complained.
Christopher jerked his head at his brother, silently ordering him to make himself useful elsewhere. Good natured was the exchange, leaving all three of them grinning. When his brother sauntered off, Christopher turned back to his wife.
“You look lovely on this hellish morn,” he said softly.
She felt her cheeks flush. “I dressed in the warmest dress I could find. David tells me that he and Edward and Leeton are coming with us to London.”
“ ’Tis true, although Max and Anthony are verily upset with it, but I feel strongly that their place is here, guarding my fortress,” he replied. “Jeffrey seems to be content to stay. I was planning on leaving all of my knights here, but have since changed my mind.”
“Since you captured the spy?” she asked quietly.
“Mayhap,” he shrugged. “In any case, I feel better having adequate protection if I am indisposed.”
“So you bring knights to protect me?” she asked, thinking it a bit excessive. “I can take care of myself, Christopher.”
He gave her a reproving eye. “Nonetheless, Lady de Lohr, my knights will be your shadow.”
She was standing on the third step up from the floor, almost eye-to-eye with him. Her eyes lingered on the golden beard and on the soft lips that had driven her mad with awakening passion. He saw her expression go soft and distant.
“What are you thinking?” he stepped closer to her.
She shook her head, flushing again. “I…about last night, I suppose,” she said shyly. “Do you remember when you asked my permission to address me as Lady de Lohr, and you further told me that David said I hated the name?”
He nodded faintly. “I remember.”
Her gray eyes found his blue. “I do not hate it anymore.”
A slow smile spread across his mouth, broadening into the wide grin that near made her swoon. How she loved that smile!
“I am glad. I like using it,” he murmured.
He lifted her hand to his lips, kissing it sweetly before escorting her off the steps and leading her into the grand hall. Because everyone was so busy, a scheduled meal had not been served. Instead, there were great plates of fruits and bread, honey and butter set out on the long table.
Dustin took a great slab of bread with butter and honey, chewing contentedly as Christopher conversed with Leeton for a moment, quietly.
Since she could not hear their words, her mind wandered to Caesar and she wondered where the cat was.
As soon as she remembered again that the feline was caught in the storm, her concern rose and she wandered out of the hall and disappeared into the kitchens.
The cook, a small woman, hadn’t seen the cat, and neither had any of the other kitchen servants.
The back door leading into the kitchen yard was wide open and Dustin finished her bread standing in the archway, watching the rain fall onto the already saturated ground.
There was an icy wind with the storm, frozen fingers reaching out to touch her until she was shivering.
Even after she had finished eating, she stood leaning against the doorjamb, wondering if the rain would let up enough to allow Caesar to return home.
“There you are,” Christopher said, coming up behind her. “I was not even aware that you had left until I turned and found you missing. What are you doing?”
She glanced up at him and he noticed that her eyes were almost the exact color of the sky. “Watching for Caesar,” she said, somewhat wistfully. “Where do you think he is?”
He gazed out over the muddy yard. “He’s probably found a cozy spot somewhere in a thicket and is as dry as we are. You worry overmuch for him.”
“He’s old, Christopher,” she admonished softly. “Of course I worry over him.”
He caught her mood and put a hand on her shoulder. “Do you want me to go and look for him? I did yesterday, you know, and didn’t catch a glimpse.”
She was touched that he would go through that much trouble for her. “Nay, ’tis not necessary, I am sure. If he’s hiding, you shall never find him.” She let out a sigh, looking up at the dark clouds. “I suppose he will just have to wait until the rain clears.”
Reluctantly, she turned from the rain and allowed her husband to lead her back into the warm hall. Jeffrey was there, as were the de Velt twins, eating everything that had been laid out. Dustin went to Jeffrey.
“Jeffrey, Caesar is caught out in the storm and I fear he will not return before I leave for London. Would you please take care of him while I am away?” she asked.
He nodded, “Yah, my lady. I shall find him when the rain stops. And he can even sleep in my bed if he wishes.”
“Thank you,” she smiled easily. “And my rabbits, too? Will you feed them?”
The cat was one thing, but the rabbits were another. Jeffrey cleared his throat, glancing at Christopher’s stern face. “Yah, my lady, I shall feed the rabbits.”
“Feed them to the cat,” Max muttered and Anthony chortled loudly.
Christopher shot them both a threatening glare as Dustin turned to them, her pretty face menacing. “If you do, I shall have you for supper when I return.”
The twins were immediately remorseful. “My apologies, my lady. We promise nothing will happen to the rabbits,” Max said earnestly, though Anthony was still twittering.
“I shall take care of the bunnies,” Jeffrey reiterated, glancing reprovingly at the two knights. “I am in charge while the baron is gone.”
“Chris?” David bellowed at his brother from the front door. “The wagons are loaded and most of the men are assembled in the bailey.”
“Very well,” Christopher called back, putting his arm around Dustin’s waist and pulling her with him toward the front door. “Gather your cloak, sweetheart, and anything else you would carry with you. I shall return in a few minutes.”
“And then we leave?” she asked, her stomach fluttering with excitement.
“Aye, if everything is in order, we do,” he gave her a wink and exited out into the pouring rain.
Exhilarated, Dustin dashed up the stairs to her room where her cloak and small traveling bag waited.
The bag was her mother’s, a small thing that hung on a golden rope that secured around her wrist. Inside, she had placed several of her mother’s personal beauty items she wasn’t sure she would need, but wanted to bring them just the same: a comb, a brush, a small hand-mirror of polished silver, a small glass vial of beeswax for chapped lips, another vial with a cake of ocher that her mother used to color her cheeks when she was particularly pale, a vial of rose-scented perfume, and a tortoise-shell hair clip.
She felt rather foolish for bringing so many vain, feminine items, especially in lieu of the fact that she didn’t even know how to use the ocher, but she had them anyway. Just in case.
The cloak was terribly heavy as she slung it over her arm. Grabbing the small bag, she made her way to the door, her eyes lingering over her room, wondering when she would see it again.
There were so many memories that crept into her mind as she stood in the doorway; her father, her mother, Caesar, and Rebecca. So very many things, most of them happy, a few sad. And then came Christopher. It was almost as if there were two Dustins; one before the baron and one after.
With a faint smile, she closed the door, mentally trying to prepare herself for what lay ahead.
*
Edward waited for her in the foyer, helping her secure her cloak as well as any mother, making sure it was securely fastened around her neck to prevent any rain from seeping in.
Smart man that he was, he retrieved a shawl from a serving wench and tied it around her shoulders and neck before securing the cloak, adding another layer of protection.
Dustin simply stood still and let him fuss over her, glancing at his face now and again and thinking him to be a very handsome man.
His eyes were the most amazing gold color, and his manner confident and business-like.
She knew Christopher put a great deal of trust in Edward, as much as he did in David.