Between bites, he interrupted her to ask, “What do you do every day?” He was just finishing the soup — he didn’t want to waste a drop — and started on his bread.
“Oh, I like to ride my horse, Blüte, which is ‘Bloom’ in English. She is a sweet, gentle mare, but I would dearly love to ride my father’s new stallion. My father says no, that the horse is too wild for me, but I know he likes me. I always bring him a carrot or an apple, and he lets me pet him and never bites me. He bit my brother so hard he drew blood. But he likes me, so I’m sure there is no danger.
“I also like to read and study languages. I like music too — we are a musical family. My father plays the lute and we all sing. Although some of my brothers sing badly. And for the last year, my father has been trying to find me a suitable husband.” She paused long enough to let out a sigh. “Until now, I haven’t liked any of my suitors. But I must marry, so that my younger sisters can get their chance to make a good match.”
That she had not married yet was surprising. Her beauty should have attracted an abundance of eligible suitors, and she was the oldest daughter of one of the most powerful dukes in the German regions. Although the fact that she prattled on so often might have driven off a few.
“But my current suitor seems very kind. He brings me gifts, and I could learn to like that. Also, he talks so much that I am learning to listen and not speak so much myself.” She sighed again. “My father says he would be a suitable husband, as he is an English earl, and he stands to inherit a second earldom not far away, a region adjoining Hagenheim.”
Colin began to feel ill, and it wasn’t from overfilling his stomach.
“My father says if I marry Lord Claybrook, I will be able to stay near — ”
“Claybrook.” Colin ground his teeth. “Marry Claybrook.” He sat straight up and threw his legs over the side of the bed. His empty soup bowl and spoon clattered to the floor.
Lady Margaretha jumped up from her stool and backed away.
All he could see was red, like a film of blood over his eyes. That devil was here! He was here wooing Lady Margaretha. And she was considering marrying him! She had no idea what a cruel, heartless murderer he was, what danger she was in!
He stood up and his head seemed to drift right off his shoulders. His vision started to go dark. He grabbed for the wall but missed and fell back onto the bed.
“Frau Lena!” Margaretha came toward him and helped pull his feet onto the bed.
He could barely see her for the darkness coming over him.
“Curse this weakness!” he muttered. He put his hands on his head, trying to make it stop spinning. If he were fully recovered, he’d go find Claybrook and fight it out with him once and for all. And probably get himself killed. For if he knew Claybrook, the man would have plenty of men around him to protect his worthless skin.
But at least Colin knew Claybrook was here. And as soon as he was able, he would bring his enemy to justice. He couldn’t let him get away a second time. And he couldn’t let him hurt Margaretha or her family. If only he wasn’t so weak.
Chapter
6
Margaretha called for Frau Lena, and she came hurrying down the stairs.
“What is it?”
“He became extremely agitated, jumped up, and nearly fainted.”
Frau Lena approached the bed where Gawain lay mumbling and moaning, his hands on his head. Frau Lena felt his cheek. “He doesn’t seem to have a fever any longer. What was he so agitated about?” She bent down and picked up the bowl and spoon from the floor.
Margaretha thought back to what he had said. “I was telling him about my new suitor, and when I said his name” — Margaretha mouthed the words “Lord Claybrook” so as not to send the young stranger into another frenzy — “he became extremely agitated and kept repeating it. His face turned red and he was clearly disturbed. What could have caused him to behave in such a way?”
Frau Lena looked thoughtful, touching her finger to her chin. “Did he say anything else? Did he say only the name,” and Frau Lena whispered, “Lord Claybrook?”
The stranger moaned again and Margaretha placed her finger to her lips. “He did say one other thing. He said, ‘Curse this weakness.’ What do you think it means?”
Frau Lena shook her head slowly. “I can only think of one thing: He must be in love with you, and the mere thought of another suitor sends him into hysterics. He must regret he is too weak to challenge your suitor.”
“Oh no.” Margaretha sighed. “I wish it were not so, but I’m afraid that is the only explanation for such a wild reaction. He was calm before I began talking of my new suitor.” Margaretha clicked her tongue against her teeth. “His mind seemed to be improving. He ate his soup and bread and seemed perfectly sane when he asked me to get him some clothes that didn’t make him look ridiculous.”
At the moment, he was lying perfectly still on the sick bed. One would never know he was insanely jealous of Margaretha’s suitor.