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Chapter 9

Sabine walked into the hall like a woman who had never once doubted herself, head held high, auburn hair flowing in every direction. Her husband must have done something to upset her because she swatted his hand away as they wound their way toward the head table for the evening meal.

“Well met, Guy,” Terric said from his position on the other side of Roysa. Cait sat beside her too, with two empty seats on her left. She imagined they were for the couple who strode into the hall now, attracting attention from everyone, including her. “How is it possible someone so lovely would willingly marry you?”

Cait tried to smile but could not. Although she hadn’t looked at Conrad directly since taking a seat, she was conscious of him all the same. After their failed talk, he’d disappeared for the remainder of the day. Cait had spent the afternoon with Roysa and Idalia, getting a tour of Licheford Castle and the grounds. Her sister-in-law had also relayed the distressing news that Conrad had failed to mention earlier, that the men would be leaving in two days. Cait had hardly spoken since then. Both Roysa and Idalia had asked, of course, if she were well.

Nay, she was not well at all.

Conrad was leaving, and they’d barely had a chance to speak. If their conversation in the buttery were any indication, coming here had been a mistake. He was unlikely to forgive her. But she refused to accept defeat just yet. She would get him alone again.

“Apologies, Lady Cait,” Sabine said, sitting next to her. “We’ve hardly had an opportunity to speak since you arrived.”

Cait didn’t know what to say, so she blurted out the truth.

“You are very beautiful.”

Had she really just said such a thing to a perfect stranger?

“Not so much as you, to be sure.” Sabine leaned toward her. “I’m told you forced your brother Rory to take you to England with him, just as Dromsley Castle was under attack?”

She seemed mesmerized by the idea, so Cait hated to dissuade her. But that was not quite true.

“I did follow Rory, against my mother’s orders, but I didn’t know how much danger lay ahead. My brothers tell me little.”

She picked up her goblet of wine, the noise from the hall increasing as retainers and servants filled it to near capacity.

“Good,” Sabine said, seemingly satisfied.

Cait stared at her in confusion, but Sabine leaned over to address Roysa.

“Two of four?” she asked, winking to her.

Roysa frowned. “Aye. Two of four. He still says no,” she whispered, looking back to see if her husband had heard. Terric seemed to be intent on his stew, though he did appear suspicious of Roysa’s glance.

Sabine made a sound of disgust in her throat.

Cait looked back and forth between the women.

“Two of four?”

Sabine glanced at her husband, and when she did, Cait could not help but follow her gaze—right past Guy and down to Conrad.

Damned if he wasn’t looking directly at her.

She nearly smiled at the thought of how Terric or Rory would react to her silent sentiment, even though she’d not used the word aloud. Her brothers could swear, bed women, and risk their lives in battle. But if she dared to say “damn” or used any other such words, her brothers would immediately threaten to tell her mother.

And if there was one thing Mother did not tolerate, it was language that did nothing but “put your ignorance on display.” Thankfully, it was the one instance in which she did not discriminate between Cait and her brothers. On more than one occasion, Cait had gotten them into trouble for their own bad language. Oh, how much fun they’d had.

Another memory, one of words Conrad had written, suddenly came to her.

They look to me to replace both of them, Father and Mother. I fear no one, including myself, could possibly be both. Some days the expectations of an entire earldom weigh heavy.

It had been three years since he’d written those words. The Conrad she watched now bore no resemblance to the one who worried about his ability to lead Licheford. This man led a country.

Cait tore her gaze from him, chastising herself for being a fool. For thinking he could forgive her for having abandoned him.

“Lady Cait?”