Page 6 of Silent Knight: Alexander

Once again, he didn’t know how to answer.

“It doesn’t matter,” said Summer, causing him to breathe a sigh of relief. “You are here, and you will at least join us for a meal. Right, Warren?”

“Whatever my lady wants,” said Warren, leading the way back to the castle.

Not wanting to be rude, Alex turned and rode to the castle at the back of the procession. The girl named Charlotte slowed her horse and sidled up next to him.

“You never told us your name,” she said. This girl was a curious one. Perhaps too curious for her own good.

It was easier to find his tongue when he wasn’t staring at the lord and lady of the castle. For some odd reason, he felt comfortable around Lady Charlotte. “I’m Alexander Masterson.” He noticed Summer glance over her shoulder when he said his name. He cursed under his breath, realizing he should have used a different surname. Too late now.

“Masterson?” asked Summer. “I once had a guard at the castle with that surname. Perhaps you know him. His name is Crandell.”

Alex swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded. “Aye. I know him,” he answered, not wanting to lie to a woman who might be his own mother. He had to tell her about Crandell now. “He was my father.”

“Your father?” This time Lord Mowbray looked over his shoulder as he spoke. “I didn’t know Crandell had any living children. Where is the man now?” He and his wife exchanged an odd glance between them that Alex didn’t understand. Talking about Crandell seemed to make them uptight.

“I buried him two days ago.”

“Oh! Crandell is dead? I am so sorry,” said Summer in surprise.

“I would love to hear about your late father,” said Charlotte. “I lost my father recently, too.”

“I’m sorry,” said Alex, being sincere. “Were you close to him?”

“Nay,” said Charlotte with a shake of her head. “I grew up barely knowing him at all.”

“Why not?”

“Because she was raised in a nunnery,” answered Claire, giggling.

“I was not.” Charlotte’s brows dipped as she answered. “I just stayed there for a few years after my husband died.”

“I am sorry about your husband,” Alex told her.

“Seven years is not a few years,” Claire said under her breath.

“You were there seven years?” Alex asked in surprise.

“My father wanted me to stay there, but my mother brought me back to the castle after my father’s death,” explained Charlotte.

“How long were you married?” he curiously asked as they rode.

“Not long. I’ve been a widow much longer than I was married.”

“What happened to your children when you went to live at the convent?” he asked, finding this woman fascinating.

Charlotte froze up, not seeming as if she wanted to answer.

“She’s barren,” piped up Claire.

“Claire!” scolded Lady Summer. “Ride up here with me and never mind what is going on behind you.”

Charlotte could have diedfrom embarrassment when Claire shouted out that she was barren. It was the last thing she wanted the handsome man named Alex to know.

“I – I’m not barren,” she stuttered. “Not really. I am sure if I were married longer I would have had children.”

“Of course,” answered Alex, not trying to get away from her like she expected him to do once he found out her story. Surprisingly enough, he didn’t even seem to care. That got her wondering if he had a wife at home.