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Chapter Sixteen
Ivy
Her brother did not say a single word to her the entire trip back to Elix. Not a single word. He simply rode at the head of the procession, pointedly ignoring her. Every time she tried to strike up a conversation, he would turn away and begin speaking to somebody else. It was perhaps, one of the most childish things he had ever done. Which, given his history, was saying something.
His petulance was irritating to her, but she was not going to play his game. If he wanted to act like a child, she was not going to indulge him in it. She’d had quite enough of his boorishness.
When they arrived back at Elix, Ivy sequestered herself away in her bedchamber. She had taken a long, hot bath, and had changed into a comfortable dress. Now that she was clean and feeling fresh again, she was in a much better mood. Ivy was not a woman who enjoyed being filthy and covered in road dust.
“So, what is this I hear about you and some rather large Scottish fellow?”
Ivy turned to see Mira stepping into her bedchamber with a wide smile on her face. Mira had been her handmaiden since they were young girls. They had grown up together and were more like sisters than anything. Mira was a beautiful girl with hair the color of gold and eyes a dazzling shade of blue. She was tall, her skin was flawless, and the color of cream and she had the sort of curves that made grown men blush.
Ivy had always thought that Mira was one of the most beautiful women she had ever known and envied her beauty. She had always felt positively plain when she stood next to Mira. But she was the best friend Ivy had in this world, and she treasured her. Ivy flashed her a smile as Mira closed the door behind her and skipped across the bedchamber to her.
“What is it you are hearing?” she asked.
“That you were cavorting with that big, handsome Scotsman.”
“You are not supposed to be listening to rumor and gossip.”
Mira laughed. “I do not seek it out. It seems to find me wherever I go.”
“Uh-huh,” Ivy laughed. “Some people just do not know how to keep their mouths shut when they should not be speaking out of turn.”
“You know how people are,” Mira replied. “People talk. People will always talk.”
“You mean, people will always gossip.”
“That too,” she chirped. “Now tell me about this Scotsman.”
Mira took her by the hand and led Ivy over to the sitting area beneath the stained glass windows. The sunlight filtering through the windows cast the area in hues of red and blue - an effect that Ivy had always loved. It was almost as if she had a rainbow in her room. Together, they sat side by side on the cushioned couch, and Mira turned to her, a wide, expectant smile on her face.
“There really is nothing to tell,” Ivy said.
“That is not what I am hearing,” she replied. “I am hearing that you and he spent much time together. Some of it sequestered away by yourselves.”
Ivy laughed. “People will make up the silliest things.”
“So, none of that is true?”
A small smile touched Ivy’s lips, and she looked away. A moment later, she giggled and shook her head. Mira’s eyes widened, and her mouth fell open, her expression moving between shocked and scandalized, which only made Ivy laugh harder.
“It is not true in the way people are talking about it,” Ivy said.
“But there is a rather large and handsome Scotsman in this story?”
Ivy laughed. “Yes, and his name is Fin. Finlay Begbie,” she said. “The Baron of Westmarch sent him to York to find the assassin.”
A small frown flickered over Mira’s face. “Terrible business that,” she said. “Why would somebody want to kill the Duke and his daughter?”
Ivy shook her head. “Fin believes they were trying to assassinate the Baron, not Gillian,” she said. “She just had the misfortune of taking Col’s wine.”
“She is a lovely woman,” Mira said. “That is unfortunate.”
“She is very lovely, and I hate that this has happened to her.”
As she spoke the words, the memory of her last conversation with Fin echoed through her mind. She was still infuriated by his suggestion that her brother was in any way involved with these near tragedies. But she shook off the feelings and pushed away the thoughts. She cleared her throat and looked up at Mira, who’s eyes twinkled mischievously.
