‘Twas a wonder he ever spoke or mixed with people at all.
And at last, she understood why he never smiled. How could he? How could anyone find humor after having seen something so disturbing?
And in that instant she wanted to reach him even more.
“Thank you, Beatrix.”
Beatrix nodded, then excused herself.
Emily took a seat at the dressing table as her mind came to grips with what Beatrix had told her.
He had witnessed his own mother’s murder.
“Oh Draven,” she whispered, her throat tight. Her heart ached for him. He must have hated his father for it. How could he not?
And she wondered what his mother had done to make his father so angry.
Simon, she thought with a start. It must have been when his father learned Simon was illegitimate. That would make sense.
Still, what a horrible nightmare. No one deserved such a fate.
Closing her eyes, she let her tears fall for the boys and their mother. Tears for the boy who had seen what no child should ever witness, and tears for the man he had become who now refused to love.
For over a fortnight Emily tried to find a quiet moment with Draven, but he ran from her as if she were a leper with St. Vitus Dance.
She’d finally come to the realization that any attempt to be alone with him was futile. He wouldn’t even take his meals in the hall with the rest of them, but rather stayed bolted in his room or didn’t bother to come home at all.
Emily didn’t know what he found to occupy himself. If Simon knew, he told her nothing.
But at least Simon provided some entertainment for her.
“Why do I bother?” she asked herself as she sat in the great hall, breaking her fast.
Several of Draven’s knights were around her, but none close enough to hear. She didn’t know where Simon had gone this morning and she had allowed Alys to sleep late since her maid had been up late doing something Alys refused to share with Emily.
Picking at her bread, Emily sighed.
A shuffle in the hallway caught her attention.
Emily looked up to see one of her trunks being brought down the stairs by two servants. She rose from her seat and followed them outside where they placed it into a waiting wagon.
“What goes here?” she asked one of the servants.
“Are you not ready?”
She jumped at Draven’s voice behind her. Turning around, she saw him in the doorway.
“Where did you come from?” she asked amazed a man so large could move without sound.
“I was leaving orders with Denys.”
She frowned. “Orders?”
“Your sister’s wedding is the day after next. I assumed you wanted to go. Indeed, your maid told me you were packed.”
Joy burst through her. That was what Alys had stayed up so late doing!
“I didn’t think you’d allow me to attend.”
