Chapter Eighteen #4
Marcus sent two soldiers in search of David and returned to Dustin, who was seated between Leeton and Edward, watching the dancing before her. She smiled politely as Marcus took his seat.
“Are you a dancer, my lady? Surely you must be.” Marcus didn’t want her pestering him about Christopher and immediately delved into another subject. “Edward is a fine dancer, aren’t you, de Wolfe?”
Edward waved him off. “Of course I am, but if I were to dance at this moment, my entire dinner would come up.”
Dustin shook her head. “I learned to dance as a child, like every well-bred young lady, but I haven’t danced since then. I do not remember how.”
“A travesty,” Marcus said gravely. “The most beautiful woman in the kingdom has forgotten how to dance.”
Dustin grinned and shrugged, watching the women’s surcoats twirling before her.
In faith, she would love to dance but she knew all eyes would be upon her and she would only end up embarrassing herself.
So she watched, content for the moment, and enjoyed the company.
Yet her mind was with her husband, wherever he had gone and hoping he wasn’t in any danger. Danger seemed to follow him.
Time passed and songs were played, people enjoyed themselves.
Dustin had imbibed a bit too much wine and was enjoying herself immensely, laughing and joking with the three knights at her side.
David, Dud and Trent joined the group eventually and Marcus took David aside to explain the latest developments.
David, as always, overreacted but controlled himself for the sake of appearance.
Feeling particularly protective over Dustin with his brother about, he seated himself directly behind her and kept detached from the conversation as his eyes roved the hall for John’s henchmen.
Almost as soon as David took his seat, a young woman approached the table and curtsied deeply in front of them.
They all eyed her suspiciously, except for Dustin and Edward.
Edward thought her to be quite lovely and Dustin simply wasn’t naturally distrustful.
The woman was tall and her luxurious blond hair was pulled back primly.
When she looked up, Dustin thought there something familiar about her eyes but could not place her.
“Do not you even recognize your own family, David?” the girl said. “I realize that it has been over five years, but surely I have not changed that much.”
David’s eyes widened and he shot to his feet. “Deborah!” he croaked, vaulting over the table and taking the woman into his arms. “Jesus Christ, it is you. But…we still believed you to be in Bath. What are you doing here?”
The Lady Deborah Valeria du Reims de Lohr smiled, her smile exactly like her eldest brother’s. With her lovely blue eyes and pert nose, she was a beauty.
“The tourney, of course,” she answered her brother. “I came with the earl and his wife. I only heard upon our arrival this day that you and Christopher were here. Where is our illustrious big brother?”
David was still flabbergasted. He hadn’t seen his sister since she had been twelve years old, and the gawky girl he remembered did not resemble this exquisite creature in the least. “He’s about,” he answered. “Jesus, Deborah, I still cannot believe it is really you. Christopher will be thrilled.”
“Not as thrilled as I was to hear that our Lord kept you safe in the Holy Land,” Deborah said, studying her brother’s face. “Christopher’s reputation has been a great source of pride for me. How magnificent he must be.”
David nodded, recovering his shock and remembering Dustin. “Ask his wife,” he said, indicating Lady de Lohr on the other side of the table. “This is Chris’ wife, Deborah, the Lady Dustin Barringdon de Lohr.”
Deborah’s eyes fairly sparkled as her gaze settled on Dustin. Dustin rose, feeling the love and acceptance flowing from the woman even though they had just met. It was an unusual, wonderful experience and she felt as if she should throw her arms around her newly-found sister-in-law.
“Lady Dustin, ’tis indeed an honor to meet you,” she said sincerely. “I had no idea my brother had married and I apologize that I have no wedding favor for you, a situation I will immediately remedy. But please accept my congratulations.”
“Thank you,” Dustin replied. “I am so happy to meet you, Lady Deborah. Will you be staying in London long?”
“A week or so, mayhap,” Deborah said. “Long enough for us to get to know one another. I finally have a sister!”
She clapped her hands together gleefully and the entire group laughed at her delight. David pulled up a chair for his sister and she joined their conversation, sitting next to Dustin as if she had known her all her life.
Dustin liked her immediately. She was cultured and vivacious and her blue eyes twinkled the same way her older brother’s blue ones did when she smiled.
She was very lovely in a subdued sort of way, a creamy, glowing beauty.
Dustin realized quickly that she did not want Lady Deborah to return to Bath and would speak to her husband about it forthright.
She wanted Lady Deborah to return with them to Lioncross Abbey.
The evening moved on rapidly and before they realized it, it was past midnight. Dustin was having a wonderful time with Deborah and didn’t want the evening to end, protesting loudly when Marcus called a halt to the fun and demanded to return her to her apartments.
“Marcus, you spoil my joy,” she accused with a pout, “I am not tired in the least.”
He was on his feet, giving her a fatherly-sort of reproving glance. “I am sure that is true, but your company of knights have a tourney tomorrow and would like to get their rest. The only way they might accomplish that task is if you retire for the night.”
She gave him an exaggerated frown and turned to Deborah. “I am afraid our time is ended,” she said. “Will you sit with me at the tourney tomorrow?”
Marcus cleared his throat before Deborah could answer. “You will be awarding prizes, my lady, if you will recall, and will be isolated from the crowd.”
Dustin’s face fell a bit. “Oh,” she said. “Then… I will see you tomorrow, Lady Deborah, I promise.”
The women giggled as if they were planning some sort of covert action. Marcus grasped Dustin’s arm and helped her to her feet, not an easy task considering she had had far too much wine and was as tipsy as a loon. David had his sister, escorting her back to the Earl of Bath’s group.
They were on their feet in preparation of leaving when Marcus and Edward were confronted by two young women in gaudy court surcoats, layers upon layers of fabric and embroider and their cheeks over-rouged. They were giggling as one woman put her arm upon Marcus’ good hand.
“Baron Marcus Burton,” she exclaimed loudly. “Do you know that I have waited all night for you to dance with me?”
Marcus cocked a tolerant eyebrow at the brown-haired woman. “I apologize, Lady Lucinda, truly. But I have been else occupied.”
The woman and her companion eyed Dustin openly and Dustin. Even with her alcohol-induced high-spirits she immediately bristled.
“I can see that,” Lady Lucinda said cattily. “Lovely, isn’t she? I see that she has you and Sir Christopher occupied.”
“This is Christopher’s wife, the Lady Dustin,” Marcus said, eyeing Dustin and the women, wondering if they were in for a round of punches. “My lady, this is Lady Lucinda Bartley and Lady Maryann de Bohun.”
The two women looked at Dustin with new eyes but not necessarily friendlier eyes.
“I had heard he had married,” Lady Lucinda said, “but I had no idea this lovely little thing was his wife. She’s so small.”
Dustin’s eyes narrowed. “Aye, you knew I was his wife,” she growled. “Everyone in the whole bloody castle knows it. And as far as my size is concerned, I have yet to hear my husband complain.”
Lady Lucinda curled a thin lip. “I meant no offense, Lady de Lohr. It’s just that….well, your husband is known for his appetites and you do not seem to fit the bill.”
Marcus pursed his lips and stood back; he did not want to be caught in the crossfire but he wanted to be close enough to prevent Dustin from committing murder.
Dustin put her hands on her hips, swaying. “Have you been bedded by my husband?”
Lady Lucinda looked away coyly. “Surely, my lady, I have not for I am not yet married and…..”
“Save it for your husband, if you ever get one,” she snapped overbearingly.
“If you are a maiden, then I am the Queen of France. If I were to take a headcount of all the men in the room you two sluts have bedded between you, it would most likely constitute half the room. That is, if they were brave enough to admit they touched women as ugly as you.”
Lady Lucinda and Lady Maryann were appalled and angered, emotions increased by the snickering of the knights. Dustin grinned, a humorless gesture.
“That’s what I thought,” she said smugly.
“Whores disguised as fine ladies. And let me guess, you pursued my husband relentlessly but were unsuccessful. He has much better taste.” She suddenly pushed forward and waved her hands sternly at them as if to sweep them away.
“Be gone with you, piglets. And leave Lord Marcus alone or you shall have to deal with me.”
“How dare you!” Lady Lucinda cringed but did not do as she was ordered and leave.
“You are an ill-bred little wench who was lucky enough to marry a baron, and he married you purely for the inheritance. Everyone knows that you are a simple country waif with no claim to court other than your husband.”
Dustin’s jaw ticked but she did not lose her smile. Her gray eyes bore holes into the woman.
“If you intend to spread rumors about me, then you had better get the facts straight,” she said, her delivery quiet and rapid.
“My father, Lord Arthur Barringdon is a cousin to Richard and John; my great-grandmother and their great-grandmother were sisters and my mother is directly descended from King Harold. Now, do you have any more questions about my lineage?”