Chapter Twenty-One #4
“I have traveled with you before and know what to expect from you,” he said.
“But I went on an errand this morning to a neighbor, a Lady Catteshall. She is old and matronly but, as I remember from my younger days, she is a woman of tremendous grace and wisdom. I went to ask her what I should do in order to make your travels more comfortable and she was kind enough to provide me with two of her ladies.”
Ellowyn cocked her head. “Ladies?”
He nodded and released her from their embrace.
“Lady Catteshall is well-known for schooling young women who have gone on to be fine ladies for countesses and duchesses and even royalty. Even when I was there, she had at least twelve or fifteen ladies with her. She provided me with two she feels would make good companions for you so you will not be entirely lonely.”
Ellowyn looked dubious. “Women I do not know?” she said, pursing her lips. “I do not believe that I need companions, Brandt. You will be my companion.”
He nodded. “I realize that, but there will be times when I will not be with you,” he said. “I will be away, fighting, and I want to make sure you have suitable companionship while I am away. Most titled women have ladies in waiting, and you shall be no different.”
She still looked doubtful. “Can I at least meet them?” she asked. “What if I do not like them? Can I send them away?”
He took her hand and led her towards the entry. “If you do not like them, I shall take you to Lady Catteshall and you can choose your own companions.”
It was enough to pacify her reluctance, at least until she could look the women over.
He took her from the keep, holding her hand as they moved down the treacherous motte stairs which had recently had a rope hand-rail installed.
The coach was still there, now with the gray team reattached and the baggage loaded inside.
It was ready and waiting for the determined Lady de Russe.
Brennan was standing with the driver, watching Brandt and Ellowyn descend the stairs. He could tell by their body language that things were well between them once again. He met the pair at the bottom of the steps.
“Shall I arrange for an escort to Erith, my lord?” he asked Brandt.
Brandt cocked an eyebrow. “She is not going to Erith,” he said frankly. “Did you arrange for this carriage, St. Hèver?”
Brennan opened his mouth to reply but Ellowyn cut him off.
“I ordered the carriage,” she said. “Brennan did everything possible to discourage me from going and even refused to help me find an escort. In fact, he did everything he could to prevent me from leaving, the sly Devil. He should be commended for being so loyal to you.”
Brandt eyed her. “I can only imagine how you verbally pummeled the man because he would not do your bidding.”
She turned her nose up at him, although she was smiling. “I did nothing of the sort,” she said. “Even if I did, he is too chivalrous to say otherwise.”
Brandt was still inclined to feel some jealousy over Brennan but it had been fading as of late. The more secure he felt in his relationship with Ellowyn, the more his jealousies seemed to fade. Still, he wasn’t entirely free of it. He nodded curtly to Ellowyn’s statement.
“Indeed,” he said, eyeing Brennan. “Get this damnable coach out of here.”
Fighting off a grin, Brennan did as he was told. As he whistled loudly between his teeth and ordered the carriage away, Brandt took Ellowyn by the hand and led her over towards the great hall.
It was very warm inside the hall, almost too warm on the temperate day.
A fire sputtered in the enormous hearth and the two dogs that had been up in the keep had somehow made their way down to the hall, sleeping near the fire.
Ellowyn immediately spied Dylan at one of the tables with two young women, seated and with cups before them.
Gilbert, the old servant, was filling the cups with rich red wine.
Brandt led Ellowyn to the table that was strewn with a collection of dried fruits, cheese, and bread.
“This is my wife, the Lady Ellowyn de Nerra de Russe, Duchess of Exeter,” Brandt introduced Ellowyn to the women. “Wynny, this is the Lady Annabeth du Gare and the Lady Bridget St. John.”
He indicated the lush brunette first and the pale red-head second. Both women jumped to their feet at the introduction and very gracefully curtsied.
“My lady,” they greeted Ellowyn in unison.
Ellowyn was polite as she acknowledged them. “My husband just told me I am to have ladies accompany me to France,” she said. “That being the case, mayhap we should become acquainted.”
Lady Annabeth was petite, pretty, and big-breasted. She was also very young. She smiled at Ellowyn as she moved down the bench.
“Will you sit, Lady de Russe?” she said, indicating the open spot next to her.
Ellowyn took the offered seat. When Brandt moved to sit as well, she stopped him. “Nay, husband,” she told him rather pointedly. “I will sit with the ladies alone for now. I am sure you have other duties to attend to and women talk would not interest you.”
Brandt wriggled his eyebrows and grabbed Dylan by the arm, pulling the man with him. “As you wish, my lady,” he said. “I will station a soldier outside the entry should you require anything.”
“Thank you,” Ellowyn said, smiling sweetly.
Brandt’s lips twitched with a smile as he pulled Dylan with him from the hall, basically being thrown out by his wife.
But he understood. She wanted to speak with the women alone and make her own determination as to whether or not she thought they were suitable companions.
As he reached the hall entry, Brennan, Stefan and Alex were standing right outside the door. Brandt nearly plowed into them.
“What are you doing crowded around?” he wanted to know.
Brennan looked innocent, Stefan shrugged, and Alex was the only one to answer truthfully.
“I saw the red-head, my lord,” he said. “I wanted to get a better look at her.”
Brandt just shook his head. “I brought these women for my wife, not for you,” he said, thumping Alex on the chest and turning the man around. “Get on with your tasks, all of you. You will not hound those women like dogs on the prowl.”
“A pity,” Dylan muttered. “The brunette is something to behold.”
Before Brandt could scold him, he scattered with the rest of them.
Brandt should have gone along with them but he just couldn’t seem to do it.
He stood outside of the hall entry, listening.
For several minutes it was very quiet, but soon enough, female voices could be heard lifted in humor and every once in a while someone would laugh.
Eventually, he heard his wife laughing. It was good to hear.
After what she had gone through, he was pleased to hear that she hadn’t lost her ability to laugh.
With a smile, he went about his business.