Disturbing thought. Disturbing vision of Eleanor in his bed instead of Riona. Yet so it must be, or his years of toil and suffering would have brought him no tangible reward.
He sighed, then went to find the Duc D’Anglevoix. He might not be able to marry who he’d like, but he could think of no reason Lavinia and Audric shouldn’t marry. Both had birth and property, and were of equal status.
If they were both grateful to the lord of Dunkeathe for bringing about the circumstances of their union and doing what he could to promote it, well, that was good, too.
He went first to the kitchen. After all, it was slightly possible the Norman nobleman was there.
And very possible, as he happily discovered, that Riona was, albeit looking as tense as he’d ever seen her. She was surrounded by the servants, all of them talking at once.
“What’s going on here?” Nicholas demanded as he approached the group, which scattered like a flock of birds when they heard his voice.
“I fear, my lord, that there’s been some, um, confusion about the evening meal,” Riona said.
“Is it not the Lady Joscelind’s turn to deal with such matters?” he asked, trying to sound as he usually did when faced with conflict and not betray his feelings for Riona. “Why isn’t Lady Joscelind here?”
Most of the servants, abashed, stared at the ground and didn’t answer. A few, like Polly, slid wary glances at Riona, then at their master.
“I understand, my lord, that she’s gone to select her gown for this evening,” Riona offered.
“Then somebody should go and fetch her to sort out any troubles.”
Polly took a step toward him. “If you please, my lord,” she said, her voice quivering but her gaze unwavering, “we don’t want to take orders from Lady Joscelind.”
As the other servants mumbled what sounded like approval of her sentiments, he noticed Riona sidling towards the door to the hall. Later, he’d tease her about fleeing the battle. She’dprobably get that indignant fire in her lovely eyes and he’d have to kiss her annoyance away.
He forced himself to focus on the servants. “What you want is not my concern. Myordersare that you obey her.”
Polly didn’t back down. “That may be, my lord, but she’s given all of us about six things to do all the same time and some of it don’t make sense, although it might have if she’d explained herself and didn’t just stand there tellin’ us we were stupid when we tried to ask a question.”
The other servants nodded rapidly and murmured their agreement.
“So you decided to pester Lady Riona with your questions and complaints instead?”
Polly’s face reddened and her gaze fell.
Riona hurried forward. “My lord, I believe a simple reassigning of tasks is all that’s required. I’ll be happy to assist, and then Lady Joscelind need not be troubled.”
It was like her to help even Joscelind, for the servants’ sake. But if Joscelind was responsible for the trouble, Joscelind could fix it. “I thank you for your kind and generous offer, my lady, but this is not your concern.”
He addressed Polly. “Do you all have things you can do until I speak to Lady Joscelind?”
Polly’s lips turned up with a hint of a grin. “Yes, my lord.”
“Good.” He gestured for the spit boy to come closer. “Go and tell Lady Joscelind that I wish to speak with her in my solar when she has completed her toilette, which I assume will be soon.”
The lad nodded and ran off. “As for you, my lady,” he said to Riona, “we shall speak of this matter later, but first, has anyone seen the Duc D’Anglevoix?”
“He’s gone to the outer ward,” one of the other women offered. “Leastways, that’s what Rafe said.”
Regretting he couldn’t so much as smile at Riona in front of the servants, Nicholas nodded his thanks, then turned on his heel and headed for the tents of D’Anglevoix’s soldiers, which were in the eastern part of the outer ward.
When he reached the encampment, he discovered a scene of bustling activity and raised voices, as if the men were preparing to strike their camp. Clearly, Robert was right. D’Anglevoix had finally realized his cousin would not be marrying Sir Nicholas of Dunkeathe and he was planning to depart.
It took a few questions of the Norman’s soldiers, but soon enough Nicholas found the obviously disgruntled D’Anglevoix in one of the tents, barking orders at a harried-looking man. When D’Anglevoix saw Nicholas, he scowled, then ordered the man to go and see that all was made ready to leave.
“You’re planning on leaving Dunkeathe, my lord?” Nicholas inquired with feigned ignorance and disregarding the man’s scowl.
“I see no reason to stay, as it’s become apparent to me that you have no honorable interest in Lavinia.”
