Page 29 of Sweet Mead for Lady Martine

Chapter 8

It had been a week now since David saw Martine at Blake Castle. Every time the door to the tavern opened, his gaze shot across the room hoping to see her walking back into his life. But she didn’t. What the hell had he done? He’d let his last chance slip through his fingers to tell her how he really felt about her. The pain was too much. He did everything he could to stay busy to keep his thoughts off of the lady he fancied and would never kiss again.

“David, do you want me?”

He felt an arm slip around his waist as he served men ale and whisky at the drink board.

“Cinnamon, get to work,” he said, not even stopping to look back at the whore.

“That’s what I’m trying to do.” She pressed her body up tight to him while one hand slipped down the front of his breeches. She tried to get a rise out of him. At other times this might have worked, but not today.

“Stop it,” he said, pushing her hand away. “I’m not interested.” He picked up a few dirty cups and dunked them into a bucket of water to clean them.

“You used to be interested, David. What’s changed with you?” Cinnamon pouted and continued to touch him.

The door to the tavern opened and the room suddenly became quiet. That could only mean that nobles had entered his establishment. He looked up to see a crowd of people gathered around the door. Cocking his head, he tried to see who had entered. Then he noticed the jet-black hair of Lady Raven. No one could miss the sword she carried at her side either. This was Lord Corbett Blake’s only daughter. A daughter who fought as well as any man.

“David, they’re here to collect the rent,” shouted Dirk from across the room, making David cringe. Dirk had a big mouth. David didn’t want all his patrons knowing his business or his problems.

“Get back to work,” he told the whore, stepping around her and hurrying over to tell Lady Raven the bad news that he couldn’t pay. “I’m sorry, my lady, but I don’t–” He stopped speaking as he pushed through the crowd and saw Lady Martine standing next to her cousin. He hadn’t expected this. It made his heart race.

“I’m here for the rent,” said Raven, taking a ledger that her guard handed her. She opened it to a page and scanned down it with the tip of her finger. “It seems you are delinquent by four months. That’s not good. Not good at all. Do you have the money owed?”

“Can we please speak about this in private, my lady?” asked David, noticing everyone staring and listening.

“Go into the kitchen. It’s quieter in there,” instructed Uncle Joe from his chair at the entrance.

“Nay, here is fine. I’m in a hurry,” said Raven. “I have a lot of stops to make today. Now do you have the money or not? My father has written here that he’s allowed you extra time but will not do so again. Therefore, if you cannot pay all that you owe, my father has instructed me to close down your business and take it from you.” There were surprised and concerned mumbles from the commoners who had heard this.

“Please, if we could just talk in the kitchen,” begged David, wanting to try to barter for more time. But Lady Raven was stubborn. He didn’t think she’d give him another chance. Not after her father wrote right in the ledger that no more chances would be given. However, Martine was with her. Hopefully, she would help. David looked over at Martine in a form of silent pleading to convince her cousin to let his family keep the inn.

“Raven, I will handle this. Why don’t you move on to the next stop so we can finish soon?” said Martine.

“And leave you here unguarded?” Raven made a face. “Nay, I can’t do that.”

“I assure you, Lady Martine will be safe,” interjected David, really wanting Raven to leave. “She’ll be in my care until your return. I promise you that no harm will come to her.”

“His family has already proven their worth when they took us in from the storm and helped Sage with birthing her baby,” Martine reminded her cousin. “I’ll be fine, Raven. Continue collecting the rents and then stop back to get me on your return to the castle.”

“Are you sure about this?” asked Raven, looking first at Martine and then over to David and then back to Martine again.

“I’m sure. Trust me. I will handle this,” she told Raven.

“It’s against my better judgment, but I have no time to waste today. Besides, I’m not feeling well.” Her hand went to her belly. “I’ll go, but I’m leaving the guard with you.”

“Raven, you have the money box, not to mention you are feeling ill. It would be wiser if the guard went with you instead,” said Martine.

“I’ll help protect Lady Martine.” Dirk walked up and crossed his arms over his sturdy chest. “You have our word she will be safe, my lady.”

David realized Dirk was helping him when his cousin looked over and winked, silently saying he knew David had feelings for the girl.

“Go on,” Martine told Raven with a jerk of her hand. “I’ll be fine. We both have work to do.”

“Well, I guess it will be all right.” Raven looked at one man and then the other. Then, she shocked them all when she drew her blade and held the tip out, pointing directly at David and his cousin. Both he and Dirk jumped back, not wanting to get hit. “I warn you, if a single hair on Lady Martine’s head is harmed, I promise you I’ll lop off both of your heads without even blinking an eye or asking questions. Do you understand?”

Both the men silently nodded.

“Good.” Raven sheathed her sword and turned and left the tavern with the guard dogging her heels.