“Out of the question.”
“Please, William. Make it so. I must.”
William wouldn’t look at him, not at all offended that Brogan had used his Christian name as if they were equals. He opened his mouth to staunchly refuse again just as Charles and Avalyn rounded the keep, coming from the stables. Brogan looked at her but just as quickly looked away; he was trying so very hard not to be obvious in his attention.
“Please, William,” he begged again. “Just a few moments. I swear that we shall be careful.”
William could hear his pleading, watching as Avalyn and Charles headed for the retractable steps to the keep. After a lengthy pause, he sighed heavily; he knew the moment he was alone with Avalyn that she would ask the very same thing. As risky as it was, and against his better judgment, he was resigned to the inevitable.
“Go to the stables,” he muttered. “Prepare your charger for your coming bout with St. John. I’ll come for you if I can.”
Without a glance to Avalyn, Brogan turned on his heel and entered the dark confines of the knight’s quarters. William went into the keep in the wake of Charles and Avalyn.
He had barely entered the cavernous, round-shaped entry when he heard Avalyn’s voice in the solar to his right. Peering inside, he could see that Avalyn was showing Charles the needlepoint scene she was working on. The man’s expression was wide with astonishment and pleasure.
“It’s stunning, my lady, truly,” he was saying graciously. “I am deeply touched that you would make this for me. It’s… it’s overwhelming.”
Avalyn smiled wanly, catching sight of William at the door. She waved him in. “Come in, William,” she said, almost too eagerly. “Did you get the new knight settled?”
“I did, my lady,” he stood a few feet away but had a clear view of her needlepoint. “A fine piece of work, my lady. Most impressive.”
Charles’ smile faded as William spoke. He looked at the knight as if to wish him far, far away. Though William didn’t look at him, he could nonetheless feel the man’s animosity. He cleared his throat and moved back in the direction of the door.
“If my lord and lady will excuse me,” he said. “I have duties to attend to.”
“Nay, William, do not go,” Avalyn was well aware that Charles was, by his expression, trying to chase the man away, but she would not let him leave. “I must speak to you about my colt. It seems that he has somehow injured himself. You know so much about horses; would you please take a look at him?”
William nodded slowly. “Of course, my lady. What seems to be the problem?”
“A bowed tendon, I think,” Charles spoke before Avalyn could respond. “Go and see to him now, Inglesbatch.”
It was not a request. He wanted to get rid of him. Displeased with the less than kind tone from the usually congenial man, Avalyn moved in William’s direction. “Excellent idea,” she said, to both men. “I shall go with you, William. He seems to calm when I am around him and you will be able to more carefully examine his leg.”
Charles was clearly unhappy but said nothing. He would, as always, comply with the lady’s wishes. His brown eyes watched with disappointment and frustration as Avalyn quit the solar on William’s arm. He didn’t even notice Thel and Aggie, who were still in the room as they tended to Avalyn’s sewing things. After a moment, he simply walked out.
When he was gone, Thel and Aggie looked at each other. Thel lifted her eyebrows.
“He does not like William, does he?” she whispered.
Aggie lifted her shoulders. “He does not like him so close to the lady.”
Thel nodded in agreement. She set the thread aside that she had been rolling. “Did you catch a glimpse of Brogan?” she hissed.
Aggie shook her head. “Nay. Did you?”
“Nay.”
“I wonder if we should go and find him?”
Aggie cocked her strawberry blond head. “We would not attract attention, would we?”
“I do not think so.”
“Where should he be?”
“Outside somewhere. Perhaps the barracks?”
“Then let us go. Perhaps he will give us a message for my lady.”
