“I’ve never seen a stained-glass window before,” she remarked, nodding at it. “I’d very much like to see it up close.”
“Yes, so would I,” Eleanor swiftly agreed. “What about you, Fredella?”
“Oh, I’ve admired it already,” she said, casting a coy glance at Uncle Fergus, who spoke without taking his eyes from her face. “You two go along and admire it all you like. We’ll wait here.”
Riona didn’t hesitate to head for the altar, and the window behind it.
“Your uncle is a very friendly fellow,” Eleanor noted as they regarded the depiction of the archangel in a flowing blue robe. “Fredella had nothing but good things to say about him, and I confess I thought she must be exaggerating. Now I see she spoke the truth.”
“He can be a bit overwhelming at times,” Riona replied. “But he’s the kindest, sweetest, most generous man I know.”
“I can easily believe it. He’s like Fredella, who’s been a mother to me since my own died.” She gave Riona a sheepish smile. “Although I must confess, I wish Fredella would stop treating me as if I were six years old. No doubt she told you I was too shy to make your acquaintance myself?”
“Aye.”
Eleanor wryly shook her head. “I was very shy when I was little. I used to hide whenever we had visitors. She still thinks I’m going to conceal myself in a cupboard when I see anyone new or unfamiliar.”
“I suppose we must accept the fancies of those who’ve raised us. Uncle Fergus thinks I’m the most wonderful girl in the world and can’t understand that everyone may not share that opinion.”
“I wish my guardian was like your uncle,” Eleanor said wistfully. “All Percival cares about is that I marry someone who’s rich, or popular at court—somebody he can boast about being related to—and the sooner, the better.”
“He could certainly brag about being related to Sir Nicholas.”
“That he could, and he would. I forget how many tournaments Sir Nicholas has won and all the prizes he’s earned, but Percival could tell you. You should have heard him on the journey here. I thought I’d scream or go mad.”
She blushed and looked away “I fear I’ve said too much. I suppose I should be grateful to Percival.”
“I don’t know about that, if he thinks of you as merely something to be rid of, and a way to add to his own reputation,” Riona replied. Once again she was grateful for her relative’s kindness and sent up a silent prayer of thanks.
Eleanor sighed with relief. “I thought you’d understand, although I probably shouldn’t be so outspoken to someone I’ve just met.”
“I probably shouldn’t have spoken to Sir Nicholas in the hall the way I did last night, either,” Riona confessed.
“Oh, I admired you for that!” Eleanor exclaimed. “I wouldn’t have been able to open my mouth in front of all those people, especially with Sir Nicholas looking at me.”
“I don’t think anyone else shared your admiration.”
“Fredella did.”
“Well, that makes two—three, if we count my uncle.”
“Four. Sir Nicholas didn’t seem upset with you.”
Perhaps he’d had notions of seduction even then.
“I had no idea he spoke anything other than French. That was one thing Percivaldidn’ttell me.”
“Perhaps he didn’t know.” Not particularly keen to talk about their host, Riona glanced back at Uncle Fergus and Fredella. They were laughing and whispering, their heads very close together. “I hate to part them, but if you don’t get to the hall, your cousin might start to wonder where you are.”
“You’re right. I do hope we can spend some more time together, though, in spite of Percival.”
“I’d like that, too,” Riona answered, meaning it. She hadn’t expected to find a friend in Dunkeathe, but she liked Eleanor.
And perhaps having a friend would keep Sir Nicholas away.
“JOSCELIND’Spaternal grandmother was the eldest daughter of the Earl of Millborough,” Lord Chesleigh said, continuing his long recitation of the ancestry of his family as he rode beside Nicholas several days later.
They, and the rest of the hunting party, were riding through a grassy meadow on the northernmost hill around Dunkeathe. Nicholas and Lord Chesleigh were trailed by Sir Percival and a somewhat sober Sir George. The rest of the noble gentlemen, save for the two who had already departed with their female relatives and various retainers, came after, along with servants to carry the animals they killed. Ahead were beaters, sent to rouse the game, whether pheasants, or grouse or, if they were fortunate, a stag.
