“You seem sure,” the noblewoman stated.
Emma lifted her jaw. “Never have I met a man more honorable.”
“Patrik means much to you.” Though softly spoken, conviction weighed heavy in the countess’s words.
Feelings Emma could not deny, but her love for Patrik was private, a fact even he did not know. Tiredness slid through her, wiping away the sharp wit she desperately needed.
“Sir Patrik is a deeply caring man,” Emma said. “A man who has made errors, mistakes he regrets and sincerely wishes to repair.”
“Patrik saved Mistress Cristina from English knights several days back,” the earl said.
Temper flared. “Do not attempt to explain away my feelings as gratitude. It takes little effort to see the incredible man Sir Patrik is. His loyalty, honesty, and integrity.” Exhausted, Emma fought to rein in her anger. “Do you think ’twas easy for him to stay away, to be apart from the family, the people he loves? He has paid a great cost for his poor decisions.”
Lord and Lady Grey absorbed her outburst with quiet interest.
“In the meager time you have known him,” Lord Grey said, “you have learned a great deal about Patrik, more than most, a fact that intrigues me.”
Emma bet it did. They were insights she’d not meant to give, but neither would she allow him to disparage Patrik.
The silence hummed with tension, a wordless challenge.
After a curious glance at her husband, the countess gave Emma a kind smile. “Mistress Cristina, you must be exhausted. My husband, I will take her to a chamber to rest.”
Lord Grey’s mouth tightened.
The earl wanted her nowhere near his wife, which suited Emma’s plans fine. “It is unnecessary, my lady. I need but water, bread, and cheese and I will be on my way.”
Surprise flashed across her face. “You are exhausted, your fine gown ruined, and neither can I allow you to travel into the dangers outside the castle walls alone.”
If only Lady Grey understood the dangers she’d already faced, that she was one of England’s top mercenaries, her kindness would bcome hatred.
Emma shook her head. “No, I—”
“You will remain,” Lord Grey said. It wasn’t a request. “We all wish to know you better.”
Indeed.
“My husband,” the countess said, “it has been a hectic morn for us all. Go and see your brother, and I will ensure Mistress Cristina is settled within a chamber.”
The earl hesitated.
“Is there something wrong, my husband?”
“See me in private once you are through.”
With a frown, the countess nodded.
The earl gave his wife a hard, brief kiss, whispered in her ear, then strode toward the keep.
Emma exhaled, feeling his departure like a storm evaded. But she had not escaped, merely gained a reprieve. “Sir Patrik’s brothers do not like me, a fact you should know.”
The countess turned. “My husband and his brothers are formidable men, often hard to understand. But they care, love deeply, and would fight for one another to the end. Often, their gruff manner is but a shield.”
“Traits Sir Patrik shares,” Emma replied.
“He would,” she said, glancing toward the keep where they’d carried Patrik, “if he is anything like his brothers.”
The noblewoman’s words held conviction, an unspoken understanding. “My lady, why are you telling me this?”
