She listened to their gentle chatter as Francis took a seat on the settee beside the fire and Claudine turned to face him, their words quiet and careful, mostly about their daughter and whether or not she was finally settling down in the new house.
I wonder what it would be like to feel that way for someone...
Bernadette watched with tenderness as Francis tenderly stroked Claudine's hair, his hand so strong and yet so gentle in its touch of her. She sighed. She had seen the love between them blossom from the first days of their meeting, and had always known how fine a thing it was, how beautiful it would be.
Now, though, her heart was a little bruised. She was two years older than Claudine and, as matters stood, she was old to be unwed. Not that it mattered overmuch in her case, since, without any precedent for the matter, she owned her own home.
She did not need to wed for safety. Nevertheless, she wished to wed.
For love.
It was only after Francis had turned to her to inquire about her day and the three of them were seated with glasses of cordial and a little plate of refreshments that the footman brought quietly up from the kitchens that she realized she hadn't answered the question.
What did she think of Fraser, the count?
She had absolutely no idea. All she knew was that it was far too complicated, at this present time, for words.
CHAPTER SEVEN
A SURPRISING OCCURRENCE
A SURPRISING OCCURRENCE
Fraser read the note Francis had left. He raised a brow in surprise.
“They've gone to Evreux?”
It surprised him. He himself was intending to get to Evreux. He had to get there to warn Bernadette. Before something happened. And even without the threat, he knew, his mind would be returning to her: her sweet flesh, her sweeter smile. Her voice.
“Stop it, Fraser,” he said to himself. Alone in the solar, where he had had right now discovered their absence, his voice echoed.
This is too bad. I came here to find them, and now they've just gone to where I should be.
Coming here to Annecy had been against his judgment – he'd have much rather gone to Evreux again. And now he discovered it would have been for the best all along.
He shook his head at himself, knowing it was not the reason he wished to head back to Evreux. He was utterly fascinated by the lady.
“My lord count?”
“Oh!” He jumped, seeing the old steward at the door. “Yes?”
“Will you stay and have something to eat?”
Fraser shook his head. “I need to go. Though I'll take a pastry or two if there are any?” He grinned cheerily at the steward, who nodded gravely.
“I'll send up a hamper, milord.”
Fraser nodded his thanks and headed briskly downstairs. With the hamper in a saddle-bag, he was ready to head off again.
Out in the fields, the wind had risen, gently blowing the sun-warmed grasses. He rode with cheerful spirits, watching larks dance above the fields. He was warm and excited about the prospect of visiting Evreux.
When he finally reached the manor, it was lunch time. He hailed one of the guards on the wall.
“Remember me?” he called up in a desultory fashion.
“No,” the sentry said. He blinked.
His temper flared, but he held it in check. “Who do you...” he began, trying not to react with rage.
“I'm sorry, sir,” the sentry said dolefully. “But we can't just let you in because we remember you. If you could state your business?”
“I'm here to see Lord Francis,” he explained. “I have reason to believe he's residing with her ladyship?”
“One moment, milord.”
Fraser waited, tapping his fingers on the saddle-horn with impatience while they went into the castle to ask if he was allowed entry. When they returned, his temper was fraying thin.
“You can come in, sir,” the man said. “Her ladyship said she'd see you in the turret-room.”
Fraser felt his expression rearrange itself to one of complete surprise. She had? Why would her ladyship want to see him alone? That was surprising.
“Thank you,” he said, bemusedly.
The sentry blinked, as if hearing Lord Fraser respond with good manners was as surprising as anything.
Fraser followed him. He was led through the vast, arched entryway, past the hall and up the stairs to his right. He entered a turret-room – the manor had two turrets, one on either side of it – and stood, blinking in the orange afternoon light.
“Sir,” a voice replied.
He felt his heart twist in surprise – that was the voice that had been going round his head since he first heard it. “My lady.” He bowed low.
“Forgive me for holding you up in this room,” she said. “But I had to speak with you alone.”
“Oh?” His brow lifted. She glared at him.
“Not for whatever reason that grin suggests, no,” she said.
Fraser wiped the smile off his face, replacing it with a frown. “No?”
“No,” she said calmly. “I wished to speak with you to say that I must confront you about something.”
“Confront me?” Fraser was mystified. “Over what, ma'am?”
She sighed irritably. “Well, either you know by now or you don't,” she said.
He frowned at her. “I'm sorry, milady. You baffle me utterly now.”
Bernadette blew her cheeks out in a sigh. “Let me just say that I know what you're up to.”
“Oh?” Fraser was utterly confused now. He was not up to anything! So how could she know that?
“I know you sent spies here,” she said. “And I wished to tell you I don't like it.”
“Spies?” Fraser stared at her in horror. “My lady! I would do no such thing! I assure you! I swear on my honor.”
The sidelong glance she gave him seemed to suggest she thought little of his honor. He sighed. “I promise, milady. On my word. On my sword. Anything we both believe in. I would never have done that. Not ever.”
She let out a long sigh. “I want to believe you,” she said. “But I...if not you, then...no.”
“No?” he asked. His own heart was thumping now. Moreover, it wasn't just the desire that was pouring like wildfire through his veins being in a room with her unobserved. It was worry.
“I don't want to discuss this,” she said tightly.
“No?” he frowned. “Well, I need to ask you something,” he said, an awful suspicion beginning to grow in his mind. “If I may?”
She sighed wearily. “If you must.”
“Well, these men,” he said, noticing that her face instantly looked more interested. “Were there three of them?”
“How did you know?” she asked, grave.
“Well, because...let me just say I saw them too.”
“You did? Where?”
He sighed. “In an inn. Just along from here. Close to Annecy. And once more, in the woods.” He considered telling her exactly what he overheard but for the moment thought better of it. What if it was all wrong? But, in that case, why would Bernadette have seen them here? This was sinister. His heart thudded in his chest.
“You are in earnest?” Bernadette asked. “For if you jest, I assure you...” she began darkly.
“I am in earnest, my lady,” he said hastily. “Or how else would I know there were only three of them?”
“True,” she said.
Even angry, or aloof, or indifferent, she was beautiful, Fraser thought. With that glossed hair and that long neck, high cheekbones colored with red, she was stunning.
“What?” she said abruptly.
Fraser coughed, realizing he had been staring at her. “Sorry, milady,” he said, tearing his gaze away. He had been looking down at her bosom, which showed pale, full cleavage at the low neck of her dark brown dress.
She sighed through her teeth. “My lord, you try me sorely.”
He felt his lips quirk in a grin. “My lady, I apologize.”
&n
bsp; She gave him a look that had softened quite considerably. “I accept it, milord,” she said gently. “And the news you brought. I appreciate it.”
“Thank you, milady.”
They looked at each other in silence a while. Fraser felt his heart thump. His loins were aching and he knew that if he didn't get out of this room directly, he was going to do something he'd surely regret. He made fists and looked at the window behind her. Cleared his throat. Finally, he lifted his chin.
“My lady, I should go,” he said.
“Oh?”
“I should...I want to find out more about...this matter.”
“Oh.”
He thought he detected some peace in her countenance, as if she was relieved. He wasn't sure. He sighed. “I hope to be able to succeed.”
“Mm. I hope you do as well,” she agreed. “And...Stay safe.”
The last comment completely took him by surprise. He stared at her. “Milady?”
She sighed. “You know what I said, my lord.”
“I do,” he said. He felt surprisingly touched. “And I thank you for it. You too.”
It was her turn to stare. She swallowed hard, and then nodded. “Yes.”
He looked at her, she looked at him, and he felt his hand lift from where it hung, schooled to relaxing, by his side. He sighed. “Thank you, milady. Fare you well.”
“Fare well, sir.”
He turned in the doorway and was about to walk away when she called him back.
“Lest I forget. I am hosting an entertainment here, the day after next. If you will attend?”
He felt as if he'd been stabbed – in fact, it would have been less surprising to him had a spear broadsided him than hearing those words from her. He turned. “My lady, I am honored to accept.”
With that, heart singing, he turned and walked from the hall.
CHAPTER EIGHT
MEETINGS AND THREATS
MEETINGS AND THREATS
The day followed a pleasant turn and Bernadette had found herself finally starting to relax when evening came.
“Auntie!” Nicolene called out, running to her where she sat on the settee. The child insisted on calling her “auntie”, even though Bernadette was in no way related to either of her parents. Bernadette was very pleased by the epithet, though she tried hard not to show it too much. She didn't want to make Claudine feel sorry for her for her own lack of offspring.
“What is it, sweetling?” she asked.
“Oof,” Nicolene said cryptically. Bernadette frowned.
“What was that?”
“I think she wants to go up,” Claudine explained from across the solar, where she sat with a tapestry on her knee, working on it with a needle.
“Oh!”
Bernadette bent down and lifted the small girl onto her knee, where she giggled happily. The fragrant, heavy warmth of her in her arms wrenched Bernadette's heart. “Is that nice, sweetling?” she cooed, grinning at the little girl. “You want to see everything from up here, eh?”
Francis chuckled from where he sat by the fire. He was sharpening his dagger – something he shouldn't, strictly speaking, have been doing in the solar – but no one stood on ceremony here.
“She wants to sit on your knee,” Francis said. “If she just wanted to know what was on the table, she'd have found her own way up by now.”
Bernadette laughed. “Are you so naughty, then?” she teased the little girl.
“Woo,” the child said, making a big grin at her. Bernadette felt her heart melt.
“Woo!” she repeated, tickling her. The child started giggling.
Claudine smiled at them. “It's lovely to have someone I can trust with her,” she said. “We should consider having Bernadette to visit regularly,” she added to Francis, who laughed.
“A distinctly-promising plan,” he said. Nicolene eyed him sideways and they all laughed.
“He doesn't mean it, sweetling,” Bernadette assured.
“No,” Claudine grinned. “He doesn't. But it is lovely to see you with her.”
Bernadette smiled. “She's a lovely babe.”
Nicolene grinned at her, as if she understood every word, and then started to wriggle.
“You want to explore?” Bernadette asked. When the child wriggled in her arms, she nodded and put her down onto the floor. She walked uncertainly over to Claudine, saying something in her own cheerful way.
Bernadette leaned back and sighed. She felt safe. With her friends here, and more guests to arrive tomorrow for the ball she planned at Evreux, she couldn't feel much safer. Whatever mischief was intended, no one would seek to strike a house chock-full of nobility, protected by their respective retinues! Francis alone had brought three men with him, who were now breaking their journey in the kitchen and contributing to her house-guard.
“Now,” Claudine was saying, “before they come down I must tell you about Nicolene's new words...”
Bernadette smiled fondly. She never tired of hearing about the small girl-child and her progress. Seeing her filled her with happiness.
“And then we...oh! Francis!” Claudine glanced up, her face lit with a grin.
Bernadette felt her heart race when she saw that tender expression. It made her think, for some unfathomable cause, about her recent guest. Lord Fraser.
“Is...” She paused, suddenly not sure she wished to inquire.
“Is what, dear?” Claudine asked, lifting her daughter to sit on her knee.
“Is Lord Fraser still at Annecy?” she asked.
Francis laughed. “I think he's moving on tomorrow, or I'd have stayed on a day to say my farewells. He was out riding when your message came – we left word with Yves for him.”
“Oh. Good,” Bernadette said. She felt a little disappointed, though she'd made the wording exclude any guests except Claudine and Francis when she'd sent their invite. She didn't want that man here again.
She had to admit, in the silence, to herself, that she actually liked him. However, she wasn't about to let him know it.
“Milady?” Matthias appeared at her side, a worried frown on his face.
“Yes, Matthias?”
“If you could come quickly?”
“What?” Bernadette asked, her heart thumping with tension. “What is urgent?”
“Maybe nothing,” Matthias said when they were out in the hallway, out of earshot of her visiting party. “But there's trouble down in the courtyard. Cook said to call.”
“I'm glad you did,” Bernadette said, frowning. She knew it was irregular – highly so – for her servants to disturb her at meals like this. Nevertheless, she knew they wouldn't have unless there was some kind of danger.
“It's...remember those fellows?”
“The woodsmen?” Bernadette asked.
“Indeed.”
“What of them?” Bernadette said nervously. She knew there was something peculiar about those men! Why had she not trusted her feelings?
“Well, Cook thinks she spotted one in the storehouse earlier.”
“I knew it!” Bernadette wanted to laugh at her own shortsightedness. Why had she not said something immediately?
Well, if I had, and they'd been as they said, woodsmen heading to Montluce to do some work, I'd have felt like a fool.
“Have you sent someone to apprehend them?” she asked, struggling to keep up with Matthias, who strode resolutely ahead.
“I did. They're waiting for him to leave now.”
“Good,” Bernadette nodded. “Let's go.”
She hurried with him to the kitchen and then out to the yard beyond. She nodded, noting Henri and Ostilano in place. They had the storehouse covered. She leaned against the wall, panting, and waited to see what would surface.
“What has been done so far?” she inquired in a whisper. She was in the door of the kitchen, looking toward the storehouse on the far side of the yard, her footman with her.
“Well, milady, as you see, we have someone at both entrances, and that seems sens
ible. I think we should send in someone to stir things up. See if we can…oh!”
Then they were both left staring as the yard dissolved in chaos. Someone had fired a bow and the two guardsmen ran for shields, and then ran at the unseen foeman.
At that instant, the door of the storehouse opened and a man appeared. It was one of the men in cloaks – Bernadette recognized him immediately. In addition, he was running straight at her guardsmen.
When she saw that, Bernadette felt something snap in her brain. She didn't even think. She ran out into the yard.
She almost froze in horror as she realized what she'd done. Suddenly, all the men in the yard were looking at her. She was in the middle of the paving, unarmed, with an archer on the loose. They all stared at her and she grabbed a staff, meant as an ax-handle, to defend herself.
I have never done this before. But if they near me, I...
That was the moment when someone walked up behind her, and suddenly everything went dark.
CHAPTER NINE
TO THE RESCUE
TO THE RESCUE
The sound of chaos from the other side of the house made Fraser look up abruptly. He'd been seated on his horse, straining to catch any trace the three woodsmen's incursion on the place .
When he heard a scream, he didn't stop to think. He rode straight to the gate.
“I demand entry!” he shouted at the guard. “Move, man! I need to go in.”
The guard seemed too surprised to disobey him, especially when he rode directly at him. He moved out of the way and shouted to the sentry on the wall. “Open up, Georges.”
Fraser rode in without another challenge.
When he reached the source of the chaos, he stared. He was just in time to see three men ride away. He saw a servant or a guardsman run to give chase, but the horse outpaced him, laughably-easily.
Soul Of A Highlander (Lairds of Dunkeld Series) (A Medieval Scottish Romance Story) Page 25
