Diamantha shrugged faintly. “That is not necessary,” she told him. “You gave me that lovely necklace that belonged to both Helene and your mother. That is enough.”
He shook his head, looking away as his gaze moved out over the city looming closer. “That is not enough,” he said firmly, casting her a long glance. “I should like to give you something that no one else has owned before. I should… well, I should like to buy you a wedding ring if you will wear one.”
There was a rather gentle and appreciative expression on Diamantha’s face. He had expected her to resist outright but she didn’t. In fact, she seemed receptive.
“If it would please you, I will wear one,” she said softly.
He turned to look at her simply to see if she was being truthful. He still could hardly believe how much more accepting and pleasant she had become over the past day or two. This woman was nothing like the rebellious one he had first met at Corfe. She was kind and gracious and… beautiful. She was most definitely beautiful. Thrilled that she would agree to wear a wedding ring, he winked at her.
“It would please me if you would wear my ring,” he said, then leaned into her and lowered his voice. “If only to let anyone who might have a notion to steal you away know that you belong to me. That goes for my foolish brother as well. Has he stopped flirting with you?”
Diamantha laughed, spying Andres up at the head of the column. “Truthfully, he’s not spoken to me since yesterday,” she said. “I would tell you if he was being bold and terrible, but he is not.”
“Swear it?”
“I do.”
“Even to protect him because he is now your brother as well?”
She giggled and lifted her hand in a vowing gesture. “I swear to you, my lord, that he has not taken liberties with me,” she said, then lowered her hand and grew serious. “You will know when that happens without me having to tell you.”
He cocked his head thoughtfully. “How will I know?”
She gave him a wry expression. “Because he will be sporting a black eye the size of a melon,” she said, watching him grin. “You do not think I would let him get away with it, do you?”
Cortez shook his head, hard. “I do not,” he replied frankly. “I have said it once before, God help the man who truly tangles with you.”
Diamantha laughed again, lowering her gaze in a rather coy gesture that Cortez found utterly captivating. He would have liked to have chatted with her, and flirted with her, for the rest of the day had a call from the front of the column not interrupted him. Frustrated at the intrusion, he excused himself and charged back up to the front of the group, just as they were descending a hill that led straight to the south gate of Bath’s city walls.
There were many people on the road at that point, crowding into the south gates as the Bishop of Bath’s men inspected the flow entering the city. Cortez could see the soldiers in their green tunics, scrutinizing all who passed. He nudged his brother.
“Ride up and announce us,” he told Andres. “Tell the bishop’s men that we simply wish to stay in town for the night and be on our way in the morning. You make sure to tell him that I am the garrison commander for Simon of Ghent. They cannot refuse us in that case.”
Andres, like the other knights, wore closed-faced helmets with a hinged visor on it so they could lift the faceplate for better field of vision. At his brother’s instruction, he closed his lifted visor and charged down the road towards the south gate of Bath. It was usually a battle-ready position but in this case, he meant it to be one of command. The bishop’s men would think twice before denying a heavily-armed knight entry to the town. It was meant to intimidate, which was what Cortez required of all of his men. It was important to him, in any case, to have the upper hand.
As Andres charged towards the gates, Cortez had his knights close their visors and sling shields over their left knee for quick access. It was a battle stance. His foot soldiers, with their “kettle helmets,” packed weapons but kept them sheathed. They weren’t heading for war but they wanted to be prepared entering the rather busy and cultural city of Bath.
Diamantha, to the rear of the column, watched the preparations around her. They hadn’t prepared this much heading into Shaftesbury, but they had definitely prepared heading into Warminster. It seemed to her that after their experiences in Shaftesbury, Cortez wasn’t going to be caught unprepared again. The man would make his presence known as only de Bretagne could.
It had evidently worked. Cortez’s party never even had to stop. The soldiers at the south gate of Bath motioned them in and even bowed politely to the lady as she passed by. Once through the big gatehouse, an entirely new world opened up on the other side.
It was a world of awe.
*
Sophie awoke the moment she heard the busy sounds of the town, standing up in the wagon bed to a sight she’d never really seen. An entire world of people spread out before her, merchants and vendors, visitors and beggars, all of them bustling about on the busy street that was literally crowded to the seams.
The child rubbed her eyes, blinking sleepily as the wagon moved down the main avenue of the town. She looked at the vendors and the people, but there wasn’t much that would interest a three-year-old girl. It was mostly the noise that had awoken her. However, the moment she saw a vendor with trained dogs, performing tricks for the few coins he could collect, she nearly jumped over the side of the wagon.
“Mama!” she cried, pointing to the man with the four small dogs. “Look! Dogs!”
Riding just behind the wagon, Diamantha looked to see what had her daughter so excited. Indeed, there was a man with four small dogs and when he saw Sophie, he purposely made the dogs jump around to entice her. Sophie began screaming.
“Mama!” she yelled. “I want to see the dogs!”
She was jumping up and down, practically hanging over the side of the wagon, and the closest person to her was Drake de Winter. From the angle of his helm, he was looking down at Sophie as the child nearly came apart with delight. Diamantha was afraid her child was going to launch herself out of the wagon so she called out to Drake.
“Sir Drake?” she said politely. “Would you please grasp my child before she falls out of the wagon and is run over?”
Drake immediately reached down and picked the child up, who happily clung to him, thinking he was going to take her to the dogs. Diamantha reined her horse next to his and reached out for her child, taking her onto the saddle in front of her. Sophie was squealing happily as Diamantha reined her horse around.
“Please tell Cortez that we are visiting the dogs,” she said. “He may want to stop and wait for us.”
Drake knew that Lady de Bretagne was never to be without a knight for protection, which is why the knights took turns riding in close proximity to her. All except Andres, of course. Cortez kept his brother away from his new wife and they all knew why – the man was fond of women and more than likely not to be trusted. Therefore, Drake quickly told the nearest soldier to carry the message to Cortez while he followed Lady de Bretagne to the man with the dogs. It seemed that’s where all of the excitement was happening.
By the time Diamantha reached the dogs, Sophie was nearly mad with enthusiasm. She held her arms out to the dogs as if to hug them as Diamantha dismounted her palfrey and pulled her daughter off. Setting the little girl to her feet, she admonished the child as she tried to run at the canines.
“Careful, now,” Diamantha said cautiously. “They do not know you, Sophie. Do not scare them. Let them show you their tricks.”
Sophie didn’t go any closer but it was very difficult for her. She jumped up and down happily, clapping her hands as the dogs jumped over each other and then onto little wooden blocks the man had for them. They even jumped through a circular piece of wood. All the while, Sophie laughed happily. She was so very thrilled at something so simple and sweet.
Diamantha stood back, watching her daughter and the dogs, with Drake hovering just behind her. She co
uld feel the man’s big presence. She also noticed that Cortez’s column had come to a halt and she expected Cortez to show himself any minute. He was never far away, no matter where they were, and the thought brought her comfort. Meanwhile, she looked back at her ecstatic daughter.
“Do you have any children, Sir Drake?” she asked.
Drake flipped up his visor. “Nay, my lady,” he said. “I am not married.”
Diamantha turned to look at him, surprised. “Not yet?” she repeated. “Surely you are old enough.”
He grinned, flashing big white teeth. “I am old enough, my lady,” he said. “But, alas, I have not come across what I would consider worthy prospects. Certainly, my father has tried his best to marry me off. I am the last of my brothers to still be unwed.”
She grinned as she watched her daughter dance around in circles because the dogs were dancing in circles. “I find that shocking,” she said to him. “How many brothers do you have?”
Drake, too, was watching the little girl turn circles. “I have a twin brother, Devon, who is married and has four children,” he replied. “I also have a younger brother, Denys, who recently married, and still another brother, Declan, who was recently betrothed.”
Diamantha cocked an eyebrow thoughtfully. “I see,” she said. “And what does your mother think about the fact that you are not yet married?”
Drake shrugged. “I would not know,” he said. “I am afraid to go home and face her.”
Diamantha laughed kindly, turning to look at the man just as Cortez walked up. He started to open his mouth, more than likely to ask Diamantha why they had to stop in the middle of a busy street, but she pointed to her dancing daughter before the man could get the words out of his mouth. When Cortez saw Sophie, dancing in circles because the dogs were dancing, he grinned broadly.
“I understand completely now,” he said, resting his big fists on his hips as he watched. “We had to stop for dancing.”
“Of course we did.”
Cortez’s gaze lingered on the twirling little girl before turning to Drake. “Ride ahead to The Crystal Palace and secure four rooms,” he told him. “After that, see if you can track down a hostel or a dormitory for the rest of the men. If you cannot find either, tell them to sleep at the livery wherever we stable the horses. There should be one near The Crystal Palace. Locate it and make arrangements.”
Drake nodded smartly. “Aye, my lord.”
The man turned on his heel and disappeared. Sophie had stopped dancing at this point and was now hugging the little dogs, who were jumping happily on her. One pup in particular was licking her face and pushed her down in his excitement. The man who owned the dogs pulled the pup off of her as Cortez reached down and picked her up. Sophie wiped doggy lick off her face.
“Mama?” she said, looking at her mother. “Can I have that dog?”
She could have meant any one of the four but Diamantha shook her head. “Nay, sweetheart,” she said. “The dog must stay with his master. Those other dogs are his family. We would not want to take him from his family, would we?”
That seemed to make sense to the three-year-old mind, at least enough so that she didn’t try to argue. Cortez gave the man a few pences for entertaining Sophie and the three of them began to head back towards Cortez’s caravan, now stopped along the avenue. His soldiers were starting to wander, particularly because there was tavern up near the end of the street and wenches were lingering near the door, calling out to them. Like sirens calling to sailors, they were luring the men to their doom.
Doom in the form of Cortez’s wrath. When he saw what had his men’s attention, he helped Diamantha mount her palfrey, handed Sophie up to the woman, and then turned in the direction of his men. As Diamantha gathered her reins, Cortez emitted the loudest whistle she had ever heard, a burst that came out right between his teeth.
It was a piercing, shocking sound, but he had done it with a purpose. The reaction from his men was instantaneous. They all turned to their lord as if he had just shouted commands at them. The men who had been wandering in the direction of the wenches quickly regrouped in the column. As Diamantha calmed her startled horse, Cortez mounted his hairy charger and, motioning for Diamantha to follow, headed up to the front of the column. She took up pace behind him, now at the head of the group.
They reached a crossroads shortly and Cortez turned right. Immediately before them was a massive cathedral, with soaring walls of sand-colored stone and flying buttresses that looked like the rib bones of a great beast. It was an intimidating structure, one that did not radiate the comfort that a church should. Diamantha felt coldness from it, perhaps judgment. She didn’t like it in the least. Her astonished gaze moved over the structure.
“God’s Blood,” she breathed. “That is a very large church.”
Cortez looked it over as well. It was nearing Matins and the pilgrims were beginning to flock into the church. He acknowledged her comment with a smile but they continued past the enormous structure and onto a street that was rather narrow compared to the others they had been on. It was also well-worn in the middle and higher on the sides, as a great gutter ran down the center of it. Just as the party entered the avenue, they came across Drake heading towards them astride his red charger. Cortez threw up an arm and brought the entire column to halt as he met up with Drake.
“My lord,” Drake greeted. “The Crystal Palace is full but they referred me to lodgings across the street, a place called Lausanne. The rooms are small but clean and I secured four of them. They have a stable out back, a livery shared by some of the other businesses, and I am told we may store our horses in it. Any of our men who wish to sleep in it may do so.”
Cortez was satisfied. “Very well,” he said. “Lead the way, de Winter.”
Drake turned around and took the group down the street, almost to the end where a rather sad-looking, two-storied stone and timber building sat nestled up against other waddle and daub houses. It was painted white, even the stone was white, and there was a sign hinged to the front of it that was painted with green and red, announcing Lausanne to all who passed.
Cortez reined his charger up to the front door and dismounted, turning his horse over to a soldier as he went to take Sophie from Diamantha. As he held the little girl, Drake helped Diamantha off her horse. The street was an odd, up-sloped angle and Diamantha gathered her heavy skirts as she struggled to gain her footing. Just as they moved for the entry, Sophie pointed back to the wagons.
“I want my kittens,” she said.
Cortez sent a solder back to collect the cage in the wagon, bringing forth the two kittens, rabbit, and fox kit that were becoming rather fat with all of the eating they’d been doing over the past couple of days. But Sophie was thrilled to see her menagerie and Diamantha took the cage from the soldier. As Cortez went to enter the structure, he turned to Drake.
“I will settle Lady de Bretagne and her daughter in our rooms,” he said. “Find my brother and send him to me. Meanwhile, you and the other knights settle the men and wagons. Be prepared to leave at dawn on the morrow.”
Drake acknowledged the orders and went about his business. Meanwhile, Cortez led his new wife and new daughter into the crowded hostel that smelled strongly of rosemary. The innkeeper had it burning in every room. Not an unpleasant smell, in fact, but it was rather potent. The innkeeper was a round woman with missing teeth and a pristine white apron, which Diamantha took to mean the hostel was also clean. She hoped so, at any rate. The corridor was narrow, with the stairs made for dwarves, but somehow, they managed to make it to the second floor.
The innkeeper showed them their two rooms, adjoining, and although they were indeed clean, Diamantha thought that perhaps the entire hostel was made for dwarves because it was so very tiny. The beds, rooms, everything was small. Entering their connected rooms, Cortez took Sophie in the smaller of the chambers and set the little girl down on her feet. Sophie immediately jumped onto the bed and demanded her animals.
The mo
ment Diamantha set the cage of pets down in Sophie’s room, the little girl opened the door to the cage and began taking the creatures out, putting them upon the bed. She petted them and cuddled them, so happy to be with her friends again. Diamantha stood in the adjoining doorway and watched her child as soldiers moved in and out of her room, bringing in satchels and other possessions, which quickly filled the small room to bursting. Cortez’s red-headed squire, Peter, made an appearance with items for his master but quickly disappeared. When Cortez finally shut the door behind his men and began organizing the bags against the wall, Diamantha turned to him.
“Now what shall we do?” she asked. “Is it too late to shop?”
Cortez shook his head. “It is never too late,” he said. “We will go now.”
“But the merchants will be closed to attend Matins.”
Cortez gave her a wink. “Then I shall storm their citadels and demand entry,” he said, glancing to the door when Andres finally made an appearance. He motioned his brother in. “Ah, Andres. I have a very important task for you.”
Andres stepped into the room, his gaze mostly on Diamantha. “I can hardly wait to hear it,” he said, his eyes lingering on his brother’s lovely wife. “Pray, brother, what would you have of me?”
Cortez’s good humor fled as he watched his brother mentally undress Diamantha. His quick temper flared.
“If you do not take your eyes off my wife, you will not live long enough to find out,” he said, moving to put himself between his brother and Diamantha as the mood of the room suddenly grew dark. “I have spent the past two days watching you flirt with my wife and I will tell you now that it will stop. The disrespect you show for me with your roguish behavior is shocking, even for you. Do you truly think so little of me so that you would try to engage in some manner of inappropriate conduct with my wife?”
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