Inglesbatch found the ladies in the solar some time before noon. Avalyn caught sight of him first, followed by Thel. Thel’s face lit up when she saw him, though she tried to hide it. She’d harbored a growing interest in William since meeting him, something he hadn’t paid much attention to. So she put her head back down the moment he entered the room, not wanting him to see the attraction and disappointment in her eyes.
“My lady,” William greeted Avalyn pleasantly. “How does this day find you?”
Avalyn speared the fabric with a needle, working it through. “Well enough,” she said, concentrating on not stabbing herself. “Where have you been all morning?”
William didn’t reply right away. When Avalyn looked up at him, he beckoned to her with a crooked finger and began moving to the window. Curious, she secured the needle and rose from her loom. She followed William all the way to the window. He pointed from the lancet opening, in the direction of the stables.
“I’ve been observing St. John in his dealings with a bachelor knight,” he said quietly.
At first, neither his words nor his tone registered. Avalyn peered from the window, seeing the arse of a fat dappled charger in the distance. She could see some activity around the animal, soldiers and grooms moving about, but nothing out of theordinary until a massive body moved into her line of sight. And then, it hit her. She knew that form.
In a heartbeat, her anxiety and excitement soared and she emitted a small cry. Her golden eyes were wide with astonishment.
“He’s here,” she hissed, turning to William when the figure once again moved out of her line of sight. “Is it really him?”
William nodded, shushing her. Walls had ears around this place, as he had seen in his short time here. “You must be very careful, Avalyn,” he whispered. “He has come as Sir Tygor. That is all you will know him by when you are introduced. Never mention anything else, ever. Is that clear?”
She nodded emphatically, tears springing to her eyes. Her heart was thumping loudly against her ribs, her hands shaking with anticipation. For twenty-two days she had progressively slipped into the world of despair, all to have it lifted in one swift moment. It was almost more than she could bear, and she quickly blinked away the moisture filling her eyes. She could hardly believe it.
“Have you spoken to him?” she grasped William’s hand eagerly. “Is he well?”
“I was introduced to him,” William said quietly. His round blue eyes moved to the scene beyond the window. “He came last night to beg audience from Aubrey.”
“Last night? I heard nothing of this. When did he come?”
“It was late,” he replied. “You had already retired. As we know, you do not spend an over amount of time with Aubrey if you can help it, so the baron was in the great hall with St. John and a few other men when he arrived.”
Her eyes widened. “So Barton has seen him, has he? I was not sure if he knew him on sight. Did he…?”
William shook his head, cutting her off. “St. John did not know him. All is well on that account.”
By this time, Thel and Aggie had joined them at the window. When William saw the overt attention, he quietly shooed the women back to what they were doing. Avalyn was still staring out of the window, trying to catch another glimpse of Brogan. William could see the emotion on her face, realizing he was not over his jealousy as he had once thought. He’d spent three weeks with Avalyn, sometimes spending up to twelve solid hours a day with her, and he realized that he had been very greedy. He did not want to give that up. Now he was going to have to come to grips with Brogan’s reappearance and, already, it was a struggle.
“William,” Avalyn put her hand on his arm again; he looked at the hand, fighting off the feelings it provoked. “Do…do you think it would be strange if we were to take a walk to the stables right now? Would that be out of the ordinary? We can say that I simply want to check on my colt. He’s not been happy since we arrived.”
“It would not be strange for you to check on your colt,” he said. “But you must not react to Tygor. You have never met the man. Remember?”
“I know.” She suddenly smoothed at her luscious hair, in yet another elaborate arrangement thanks to Aggie’s skill. “How do I look?”
William gazed at her; the woman had only grown more beautiful in the past three weeks. In a pale green silk surcoat that clung almost indecently to her slender waist and round breasts, she was a sight to behold.
“You look lovely,” he told her, a hint of wistfulness in his tone. He held up his arm. “Shall we go?”
With a tremulous smile, eyes alight with anticipation, she put her hand on his elbow and followed him from the solar.
The entry to the keep was a big, round room with a small alcove just next to the entry door. Dogs milled about, scattering out of the way when Avalyn and William passed through. Theearly spring day outside was bright and sunny, cool and smelling of the distant sea. When they descended the retractable wooden steps and reached the dark earth of the bailey, Avalyn spoke.
“Tell me what Charles knows of him.”
William set a casual pace; left up to Avalyn, she probably would have run the entire way. “He came last night and told the baron that he was a bachelor knight in search of a House. He presented Aubrey with an impressive letters patent, though I have no idea where he got such a thing. It says that he is a Germanic knight having served in the House of Hesse, Earl of Saxony. He told the baron that he is seeking his fortune in England.”
Avalyn shook her head. “Does he look suspicious? Knights do not normally appear uninvited and ask to swear fealty to a liege they do not know. They are referred, or gifted, or part of a legacy. How could he just show up and ask to serve Charles?”
William looked at her. “That is not entirely true. Bachelor knights do, at times, seek lieges to serve, but there is usually some condition associated with it. For instance, the man has to prove himself or come with some reference. It’s not completely unheard of.”
“So Charles believed him?”
William’s gaze left her, noting the corner of the stables was coming into view. “Aubrey was impressed with his patents, which is as good as a reference. But he has asked for a demonstration of skill.”
