“Then do so. No one is to know that I’m running out of money.”
“My lord, there’s another small problem. I fear D’Anglevoix is beginning to realize that there’s something between his cousin and young Audric. He’s been asking me if I think Lady Lavinia’s found favor with you, and by his tone, he’s getting rather anxious.”
“Ever since the soup was served cold and the meat was burnt when she was in charge of the kitchen, no doubt.”
Robert confirmed his assumption with a nod. “And I must say, my lord, your attentions to her have not been, um, encouraging.”
No, they hadn’t, because he’d been distracted of late. It was all he could do to feign interest in Eleanor and Joscelind. “Is he planning to depart?”
“I believe so, my lord.”
“That may be for the best. We’re running out of money faster than I thought, so fewer guests will help. It’s less insulting to him if he chooses to go, and less humiliating for the lady,” he finished, thinking of Riona’s admonitions on that point.
She was right. He had never stopped to consider how his actions might affect the ladies who came to Dunkeathe.
He expected that the parsimonious Robert would be pleased to have fewer guests to accommodate. Instead, his steward’s face reddened and he shuffled his feet like a little boy facing a scolding parent. “You disagree?” Nicholas asked.
Robert raised his eyes to look at his master, and Nicholas was surprised by the near desperation written on his features. “My lord, I had guessed you wouldn’t be choosing Lady Lavinia, but I must ask you…. That is, I need to know if…” He hesitated, took a deep breath and hurried on. “Do you have any interest in the Lady Priscilla?”
Was it possible? Could it be? “No, Robert,” he replied. “I will not be marrying Lady Priscilla, although she did quite well when she was in charge of the kitchen. She seems a very practical young lady.”
Indeed, her meal had been plain and inexpensive in the extreme, almost like soldiers’ rations. “Will you be sorry to see her leave Dunkeathe when the time comes?”
Robert looked at the window, the table, the floor and then, finally, Nicholas. He took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling. “Yes!” he declared, like a man daring to defy the gods.
Nicholas stifled any hint of amusement at this sudden passionate outburst from the man who was both his steward and his friend.
Robert straightened his shoulders. “She only giggles when she’s nervous. When she’s with me, she’s quite different.”
I should hope so, Nicholas thought, but he wouldn’t ever say that aloud to Robert. “I assume she likewise cares for you?”
He flushed even more. “Yes.”
“What does her brother think of this?”
Robert’s resolve diminished. “We haven’t told Audric yet. She wanted to wait to see what happened with Lavinia. She cares a great deal for her brother. She’s a very loving woman.”
“If she’s earned your good regard, that’s all I need to hear. Does she fear Audric will not approve of a marriage between you?”
“As do I, my lord. I am but a steward.”
Nicholas put his hand on Robert’s shoulder. “You were born of noble blood, albeit on the wrong side of the blanket, and brother to the finest man I ever had the privilege to call my friend. You’re also one of the few people I trust. If that is not enough, do you suppose some land of your own for a small estate, like those acres in the valley you’ve always admired, will satisfy him?”
Robert stared at Nicholas, dumbfounded. “You’d do that? You’d give me that land?”
“Gladly, although you’ll owe me tithes and you’ll still be my steward, I hope.”
Not to mention, Robert having his own household would mean that the giggly Priscilla would be in Dunkeathe but rarely.
“Of course I’ll still be your steward!” Robert cried happily. “It’s been my great honor to serve you, Nicholas, and I hope I can continue to do so for many years to come.”
Pleased, Nicholas gave him a smile, which was no longer so rare a thing with him. “Why don’t you go find Priscilla and tell her the news? After that, if you’d like me to speak to Audric—”
“No, that won’t be necessary,” Robert said as he backed toward the door, a smile on his face and joy in his eyes. “I’ll do that. But I thank you for your generosity, Nicholas, from the bottom of my heart.”
After he was gone, Nicholas returned to the window. Riona, Eleanor and Polly weren’t at the well anymore.
He wished he could have heard the conversation between the three women. They were much together these days, and he thought he knew why. Riona was trying to teach Eleanor how to run his household.
