A much younger one at that, even though Kiernan was nearly a year older than she. And as for what Kiernan wanted…
Beatrice frowned. “Does Kiernan know how you feel?”
He certainly does now, she thought. “I’ve never given him any reason to think I cared for him in any other way.”
Suddenly a terrible dread filled her. Had Beatrice seen Kiernan coming in or going out of the chapel? “He and his father have arrived. Have you greeted them yet?”
“No. I’ve been here since the noon meal.” She gave Constance a wistful smile. “I feel so much better having talked to you.”
Constance felt much better knowing Beatrice hadn’t yet seen Kiernan.
“I wish I’d spoken to you sooner,” Beatrice continued. “I can’t tell you how much sleep I’ve lost worrying.”
“Then I wish you’d talked to me sooner, too,” Constance said sincerely.
Beatrice sighed again. “I do so want to love the man I marry.”
With a sudden sick feeling in the pit of her stomach, Constance wondered if Sir Henry had something to do with Beatrice’s unusually melancholy ruminations.
She shouldn’t have been so wrapped up in her own troubles that she neglected the young and impressionable Beatrice. It would truly break her heart if Henry, or anyone else, dishonored or deceived her cousin. “Is there any young man who’s come close to winning your affections?” she ventured.
Beatrice blushed and didn’t answer—a reaction that made Constance silently curse her selfish lapse. “Henry and Ranulf certainly seem to enjoy your company,” she noted, trying not to sound overly concerned.
“I enjoy theirs, too,” Beatrice readily admitted. “They’re both very entertaining, in different ways, of course. Henry’s been all over England, and much of Scotland with his brother, and into Wales, too. And he’s spent many days at court, meeting all sorts of important people.” This time, Beatrice’s sigh seemed to come up all the way from her toes. “I must seem dreadfully ignorant to him.”
Constance was well aware some men of the world liked ignorant girls, precisely because they were ignorant. “He is some years older than you,” she said, “and very pleasant and charming. Unfortunately, I fear Sir Henry is also quite capable of seducing a woman merely for his own amusement.”
Beatrice stared at Constance, amazed. “Me? You think he might try to seduce me?” she asked as a smile bloomed on her face.
This was not the reaction Constance wanted to see. “That’s not a good thing.”
Beatrice looked away. Constance couldn’t tell for certain, but she thought Beatrice was blushing as she stammered, “No, no, of course not. I just never thought…imagined…” She drew in a quavering breath. “You think that he was being nice to me only because he was trying to seduce me?”
Constance put her arm around her cousin’s slender shoulders. “I didn’t mean to upset you, and I could be wrong about him, but you’re not a little girl anymore. You’re a pretty young woman, and we don’t know much about Sir Henry—or Sir Ranulf.”
“But they’re Lord Merrick’s friends.”
“Even so, we can’t be sure of their morality, especially when you’re here to tempt them. It would be terrible if some charming, smooth-talking man dishonored you.”
“Yes, I see,” Beatrice answered softly. She threw her arms around Constance and hugged her tightly. “You areso good to me—like another mother. When you’re married and busy with your children, I’m going to miss you so much!”
Constance gently extricated herself from Beatrice’s embrace. “I’ll be married, not dead,” she said, hoping that she wouldn’t be either any time soon. “Now, come, let’s go inside. I’m sure Sir Jowan has been wondering where you are. You’ve always been a great favorite of his.”
Beatrice laughed, and merriment once more danced in her eyes. “I like him, too. He always listens to everything I say—even when it’s nonsense.”
“THIS KIERNAN FELLOW,” Henry mused aloud later that evening as he sat on his cot across the small chamber he shared with Ranulf and pulled off his boots. “What do you make of him?”
Seated on a stool with one ankle resting on his knee, Ranulf looked up from cleaning his fingernails and shrugged. “Not much. His father seems a pleasant sort, and more inclined to be Merrick’s ally than not, which is good.”
Henry tossed his boot into the corner. “I tell you what I think. The lad’s in love with Lady Constance—or thinks he is.”
Ranulf snorted as he put away his dagger. “Upon what evidence do you base this startling conclusion?”
Henry’s second boot hit the floor. “The way he looks at her. He might as well wear a placard declaring his eternal devotion.”
This was unwelcome news, but Henry was usually right about such things. He could always tell which knights and ladies were engaged in love affairs, with unfailing accuracy. “Supposing you’re right,” Ranulf said warily, “do you think she returns his affection?”
“That’s the trouble. I can’t tell. But if she does, then obviously Merrick shouldn’t marry her, dowry or not. I won’t have him wed to an adulterous wife.”
