Jeniver smiled gently at the very modest warrior. “I am sure she and her father are very grateful.”
Maximus nodded. “They are,” he said. He hesitated a moment before continuing. “I will admit, I was quite astonished to know that she cooked the evening meal last night. She said she did not want her father to be embarrassed in front of his guests. She did it because it needed to be done. Most women would have lamented the fact that they had no cook and simply let everyone go hungry, but she did not.”
Jeniver could see the soft reflection in Maximus’ eyes as he spoke of de Lara’s daughter. “And you admire that?”
He nodded. “I do.”
Jeniver’s smile grew. “Is she pretty, too?”
He looked at her, then, prepared to give a vague answer but he found that he couldn’t. In all honesty, he simply couldn’t diminish a woman who, in his opinion, was quite special. She was pretty, indeed. All that and more.
“Aye,” he replied. “She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. She is excellent at conversation as well. Evidently, de Lara schooled both of his daughters in military matters and there was much that she and I could discuss. At least, a little bit. She seemed to want to speak of things like flowers and art, mostly.”
Jeniver was quite intrigued by the way Maximus was speaking of Lady Courtly and she could see that Tiberius was right. Maximus, the consummate warrior, was indeed enchanted by the woman. It warmed her heart to see it.
“I think that is marvelous,” she said sincerely. “She sounds like a wonderful woman. I would like to meet her.”
Maximus shrugged and turned back to his horse, slapping the beast affectionately on the withers. “Mayhap you will,” he said. Then, he eyed her a moment before breaking down inawkward snorts of laughter. “I will admit to you, and only to you, that I would like to see her again, too.”
Jeniver laughed softly and went to him, leaning up against his horse. “We will have to find an excuse to visit her,” she said. “Mayhap I should call upon her, as Gallus’ wife, and you can ride escort. Would you like that?”
He wouldn’t look at her, grinning like a fool. “Mayhap,” he said. “I… I was thinking of sending her some fabric and other things that ladies might like. All of her possessions were burned in the fire, you know. She hasn’t anything left to wear. She said that she does not even have a comb to use.”
Jeniver was dismayed. “Is this true?” she gasped. “Then we must go to town immediately and buy her some material. I will take it to her as a gift from the House of de Shera. It should come from me, you know, at least until you are formally courting her. Then you can provide her with all of the gifts you wish.”
Maximus looked at her, feigning shock, although he wasn’t doing a very good job. “Who said I am going to court her?”
Jeniver could see that he was very interested in the idea in spite of his protests. “Would you have someone else court her, then?” she asked in a threatening manner. “Ty, mayhap? He would willingly do it.”
Maximus’ eyes narrowed. “I would kill him if he did,” he said, watching a knowing smile play on Jeniver’s lips. He shook his head, knowing that she now understood how he felt about Lady Courtly. He had given himself away with the death threat against his brother. Therefore, he signed in resignation. “Very well, you little vixen. You may bring her the gifts and I will ride escort. But do you feel well enough to do it?”
Jeniver nodded firmly. “Of course,” she said. “I feel much better today, thanks to the licorice root and chamomile you brought me. You are a very sweet and thoughtful man, Max. Do not let Ty or anyone else make you feel ashamed because of it.”
Maximus was back to looking at his feet, away from her knowing and praising gaze. “I am not ashamed.”
“But you were ready to throttle your brother when he teased you about it.”
Maximus frowned. “That is because Lady Courtly is not to be trifled with,” he said, growing frustrated. “She is not an average woman, not in the least. I will not let Ty make sport of her.”
Jeniver patted his big arm comfortingly. “I believe you,” she said. “Shall we go into town and buy her a few things? I will take them to her with my compliments.”
Maximus was still looking at the ground, now kicking absently at it. It was a few moments before he answered. “Aye,” he said, casting Jeniver a sideways glance. “I would like to see her again today. It seems as if she is all I can think about. I could not even sleep last night because every time I closed my eyes, she was there. Truthfully, Jeni, I have never felt anything like this in my entire life. It is frightening and wonderful at the same time.”
Jeniver was thrilled by his admission. “Then I wish you the very best of luck in your pursuit of Lady Courtly,” she said. “I will do all I can to ensure there is another Lady de Shera. It gets rather lonely at times with no womenfolk to talk to. I miss your mother’s company very much to that regard.”
Maximus sobered. “I miss her very much as well,” he said. “After de Montfort’s meeting in two days, we are leaving immediately for home. Although I very much want to see to my mother’s health, now it seems as if I am reluctant to leave Oxford because Lady Courtly is here. I do not want to go away from her because I am afraid I will never see her again. It is a strange dilemma, indeed.”
Jeniver didn’t seem to take it too seriously. “Mayhap when we leave for Isenhall, Lady Courtly can go with me,” she said. “Mayhap I will speak to her father and tell him that I am in great need of a lady-in-waiting. I am a countess, after all, withonly menfolk about me. That is reason enough to ask for her to come.”
Maximus was overwhelmed with the thought. “You would do that?”
Jeniver nodded firmly. “Indeed, I would, if it will please you.”
Maximus stared at her a moment, trying to imagine returning to Isenhall with Lady Courtly as company. He was nearly overcome with the joy and excitement the mere thought seemed to provoke.
“It would,” he finally confessed. “You have no idea how much it would. But if she comes with us, then I should speak to her father about courting her. I… I do believe I would like to marry a woman such as Lady Courtly. I never imagined I would have a marriage that was anything other than a convenience, but when I see you and Gallus together, I realize that I hope for such happiness, too. Mayhap Lady Courtly would bring me such joy. It would be a miraculous thing, indeed.”
Jeniver smiled at the man who seemed to have deeper thoughts than she believed him capable of. Was it true that, perhaps, there was a bit of a dreamer in Maximus de Shera? It seemed impossible from his usually warring manner but from his words, now it was seemingly probable. She squeezed his arm encouragingly.
