“Then you may sleep in safety. No harm will befall you within my walls.”
Draven nodded, then signaled his men to dismount.
Emily took a deep breath in relief. Perhaps she could bring peace between them after all.
Still, she noted the way Draven kept his hand firmly on the hilt of his sword as he ascended the steps with Simon one step behind. And the stiffness of her father’s body.
Well, perhaps peace was hoping for a bit much. At this point, she merely hoped to keep them from bloodshed.
Emily looped her arm in her father’s and led the way into the keep.
Wedding guests crowded the hall, and she noted the immediate reservation on Draven’s face, the tenseness of his body.
She stopped in her tracks. Her father hated crowds as much as Draven.
“Why so many, Father?”
“Niles wished it,” he said simply. “I had no wish to start the marriage off any worse than what has already transpired. I want only for Joanne’s happiness, so I thought it best I humor my new son.”
Someone called her father. She noted the reluctance in his eyes, but Niles insisted he join them. Her father excused himself with a promise to return as soon as he could.
Once he left, Emily turned to Draven. “I had no idea it would be thus.”
She hadn’t seen Draven so reserved and harsh since the day he first arrived at Warwick with the king’s men.
“We will make camp out?—”
“Nay.” She took his arm to keep him from leaving. “There is plenty of room here for you.”
A tick started in his jaw.
“Emily!”
She turned just in time for Joanne to grab her by the waist and squeeze her tight. “You came! I can’t believe it.”
Emily laughed and held her sister. But as she caught a look at Joanne, her laughter died. There was pinched quality to her features, and she had lost quite a bit of weight.
“Are you ill?” she asked.
“Nay. I’ve just been busy with wedding preparations.”
Joanne was hiding something. Every fiber of Emily’s body knew it.
But this wasn’t the time to confront her. Instead, Emily forced a smile to her face and introduced Draven to her sister.
“‘Tis an honor to meet you,” Draven said almost charmingly. “The lady Emily speaks of you constantly, and I can see she is quite right. You will make a most beautiful bride.”
Joanne blushed. “Thank you, milord.”
“Joanne!”
Her sister cringed at the shout from Niles. “I must be going.” She took Emily’s hand. “I shall see you later in my room?”
Emily nodded.
Once Joanne left, she looked to Draven. “So, you do know how to be charming.”
“I’m not completely lacking in manners.”
