Maximus knew the voice so he wasn’t particularly startled as he looked up from Courtly’s flushed face. Stefan du Bois was standing several feet away, looking rather embarrassed that he had been forced to intervene. Maximus, however, was consummately cool.
“Stefan,” he said evenly. “How did you find me?”
Stefan didn’t look at Courtly as she pulled herself from Maximus’ arms, her back to Stefan as she struggled to compose herself. Stefan, like any good knight, was focused on his liege.
“Lady de Shera has sent me for you,” he said. “She told me I could find you in or around the Street of the Merchants. Lady de Shera says that it is time to escort Lady Courtly back to Kennington.”
Maximus stood up, realizing that his manhood was a slightly aroused as the result of his heated kisses with Courtly, but he simply shifted his tunic under the guise of repositioning the sheath for his broadsword to cover it up. He was still reeling from their kiss, however, so much so that he was having difficulty focusing on what Stefan was saying. But he forced himself.
“Where is Lady de Shera?” he asked.
Stefan threw his thumb in the direction of The One-Eyed Raven. “She is not feeling well so we must return for her before we take the lady home,” he said. “She says that she must accompany you back to Kennington so the lady’s father will not think her irresponsible for leaving the lady alone with you.”
Maximus was already collecting Courtly’s possessions as the woman stood up, still wiping her lips, which were very red from Maximus’ bristly beard. Maximus took her by the elbow and politely escorted her to where Stefan was standing.
“Did you just come from The One-Eyed Raven?” Maximus asked the knight.
Stefan nodded. “Less than a half-hour ago.”
“Has Gallus returned from his meeting with de Montfort?”
“Not yet.”
“And Tiberius?”
“He and Garran went off together. They have not yet returned.”
Now that Maximus knew the status of his men and his brothers, he turned to look at Courtly, who smiled up at him wanly. She still wasn’t over Stefan having stumbled upon them. Maximus could see the embarrassment in her features and it made him smile. He found humor in her chaste shame. It was very charming. He extended an elbow to her.
“Shall we go, my lady?” he asked politely.
Courtly forced a smile, accepting his elbow and refusing to look at Stefan as Maximus led her past him. He headed for the livery, taking his blushing lady with him as Stefan followed behind. They had to cross a couple of busy avenues before they arrived at the livery, the yard of which was crowded by a merchant and his traveling party. Maximus simply plowed through the group, but they gave him a wide berth. Maximus was not a man to be ignored, in any case.
Inside the stable, the de Shera carriage had been removed when Jeniver had been taken back to The One-Eyed Raven. The only thing left was Maximus’ muscular jennet plus Stefan’s big, white rouncey. Maximus quickly realized that there was no transportation for Courtly so he sent Stefan to hunt down the livery owner. As Stefan went on the prowl, Maximus turned to Courtly.
“I should apologize for that unseemly display,” he said softly, a gentle smile on his lips. “I should not have lost control as I did but I could not seem to help it. Worse yet, I cannot promise that it will not happen again.”
Courtly broke into a bashful smile. “I suppose you must sample that which you intend to marry.”
Maximus laughed softly. “I must,” he agreed, sobering. “And I am pleased.”
Courtly gazed up at him. “As am I,” she whispered. “But… but I truly fear what will happen when you return me to Kennington. My father was clearly unhappy this morning when I went with Lady de Shera and I am afraid of what he will do upon my return. I suppose I am in for a row.”
Maximus’ expression grew grim. Deadly, even. “He would not hurt you, would he?”
Courtly shook her head. “Nay,” she assured him. “He would never do that. But he will be… angry.”
Maximus considered that scenario. Not that he blamed the man, to be truthful. His daughter had all but been wrested away from him. With a sigh, he gently stroked her hair as he leaned forward to kiss her on the forehead in a gesture of comfort.
“It is not your fault that we took you from Kennington,” he said. “But I understand your point. Hopefully my brother’s wife can soothe any anger your father might feel when we return you home, because angry or not, I intend to speak to him tonight.”
Courtly wasn’t entirely sure that was a good idea. When her father’s mood was foul, there was no reasoning with him. To broach a marital contract would certainly not be well-met. She wasn’t convinced that tonight would be the appropriate night for such a thing but, on the other hand, she supposed there would never be a good time for such a thing in her father’s eyes.
“Be mindful of his mood, then,” she said with a sigh. “I know you wish to speak with him sooner rather than later, but since you will not send your brother on your behalf, all I can say is that you must be mindful of his mood.”
Maximus eyed her with some amusement. “I believe I can handle the man.”
He was confident. Courtly appreciated a man with confidence, but she hoped he wasn’t in for a massive shock when her father denied him. In Maximus’ world, there was no such thing as a denial to his wishes. She could see it in his face. He had every confidence that he could convince Kellen to allow him to marry Courtly. She feared that would not be the case.
