Page 31 of Ladybird

“Her name is Clotilda.”

“Is she married? Does she have children?” He asked the questions he normally asked on a thief finding mission.

“Nay. She’s an older woman with no family remaining,” said Sage. “She has no eye for baubles. As a matter of fact, Clotilda always tells me that jewelry is naught but a distraction from a lady’s true beauty and charm.”

Hunter looked over to Regina again who wore no jewelry at all. Then again, she didn’t need it. Baubles would only take away from her natural glow. “I have to agree with the handmaid,” he said, staring at Regina the entire time he spoke. Her eyes lifted and when she saw him looking at her she quickly lowered her gaze.

“It was a brooch that looked like a hawk flying in air,” Sage continued. Martin fussed, reaching for the cat that Luke played with next to him. She put the boy down and he crawled over and tried to grab the cat’s tail. “There were diamonds in the tips of the bird’s wings and its eye was a ruby. It meant a lot to me.”

“It sounds like a precious and expensive piece,” commented Hunter.

“It was,” Regina spoke up. “I helped Robin choose the brooch that he gave Sage for their wedding anniversary just last year.”

“Of course, you did,” he said, thinking Regina would be the only person he knew to suggest someone wear a brooch that looked like a bird of prey.

“Do you think you’ll be able to find it for Sage?” asked Regina. “I’d hate to think something that means so much to her might be lost and gone forever.”

“I’ll do my best,” said Hunter. “After all, that is what I’m here for.” Some fool notion caused him to wink at Regina. That only seemed to startle her and he regretted the action as soon as he did it. Her cheeks flushed. She once again looked down to her lap rather than at him. Slowly, she wiped her fingers on a cloth.

“I had a scare today,” mumbled Regina, surprising all of them with her words.

“What?” Hunter sat upright. “Was someone giving you a hard time? Tell me who it was.” Since he knew about the ladies gossiping about his naked ass, he now felt bad that he hadn’t returned to his chamber for a bath that night like Regina had suggested. After all, the last thing he wanted was to ruin her fine and unblemished reputation.

“Nay, no one tried to harm me if that’s what you want to know. What I meant was that I thought one of my birds had been stolen.”

“What are you saying?” This got Robin’s attention quickly. “Has the thief struck again? Please tell me this isn’t so.”

“Nay, Robin, please calm down,” said Regina, keeping her emotions steady. “Everything is fine. What happened was that Roger came and got Cloud from the mews and told Cassian he was taking the bird to fly him. Of course the old man is so deaf that he didn’t hear him. That is what caused the misunderstanding.”

“I swear, I should have let that man go like I wanted to when I first took over as lord of the castle,” said Robin, getting up and brushing crumbs from his tunic. He reached down and picked up Martin just as the boy was about to pull the cat’s tail. “Cassian’s not any value to me at all. He can barely do the menial tasks you ask him to do, and he cannot hear worth a damn.”

“He was the master falconer before Regina, right?” asked Hunter, gathering more information.

“Yes, he was,” answered Regina. “I felt bad that Robin made me master falconer and took the position away from him. That is why I convinced Robin to let Cassian stay on and live in the small room just off of the mews that is used for storage. This way he could still help out whenever I needed him.”

“Does he resent it?” asked Hunter, finishing off his ale and putting the cup down on the blanket.

“I don’t know,” said Regina. “He’s never mentioned it if he does.”

“I’m sure he’s not happy about it,” said Robin. “But as Lord Shrewsbury now I don’t care. I can do whatever I please.”

“What can you tell me about the stable groom, Alfred?” asked Hunter.

“Alfred the old or the young?” Robin asked, taking Martin and putting the boy on his shoulders. Martin laughed and pulled at Robin’s hair.

“Old,” said Hunter.

“I don’t know much about him,” Robin admitted. “He was the castle’s groom when I took over and he seemed to do a good job. So I didn’t change things where that was concerned.”

“I see.” Hunter stood up as well. The women cleaned up the food, putting the remnants back into the basket along with the blanket they’d sat on.

“I’m going to take Inky down by the creek for a drink of water,” announced Luke.

“I’ll go with you. I could use a walk,” Hunter spoke up.

“Nay,” spat Luke. “You will probably drown her.” He hugged the cat closer in a protective manner, causing the animal to feel trapped and making her try to get away. The boy seemed to be resenting Hunter lately and that did not sit right with Hunter at all.

“God’s eyes, Luke, what has gotten into you?” growled Hunter. “You are more obstinate now than ever before. You never acted this defiant, not even on any of our missions.”