I paused in mid-step. Sebastian was out behind the hen house with Daveed, his handsome friend from the guards, the one who didn’t like me.
“When should I push you?” Daveed asked, sounding petulant. “I never see you anymore, and you spend every night with that slip of a girl.”
“She’s my wife. What would you have me do?”
“You said she’d never choose you.”
“Because I didn’t think she would! What young noble woman wouldn’t choose Rolf? He’s the eldest son. But for some reason, she did pick me.”
“Then don’t pretend you’re not enjoying it.”
“Daveed! Not today. I mean it.”
They both fell silent
A feeling of discomfort grew in my stomach. I didn’t understand this conversation. What did Daveed mean by accusing Sebastian of spending his nights with me, as if this were something wrong?
Footsteps sounded, and Sebastian came around the side of the hen house. At the sight of me, he didn’t even break stride.
“Megan, where are the Monvílles?”
“They’ve gone.”
“Are you looking for me?”
“No, I was just walking, but I’m glad to see you.”
Reaching out, he grasped the back of my head. “You’re the only one who never asks anything of me. Why is that?”
“I love you,” I answered simply.
“You do, don’t you?”
Letting go of my head, he offered me his arm, and I took it. But as we walked back toward the keep, two things troubled me. First, he hadn’t even mentioned checking on Lavonia or letting her out. This was both a blessing and a concern to me. Second, I couldn’t stop thinking on his strange conversation with Daveed.
The following morning, Jarrod and Rolf prepared to ride out. Apparently, the night of the disastrous dinner, they’d made a plan to meet Lord Allemond to inspect some trees in regards to the upcoming land deal.
Sebastian, Kai, and I walked out to the courtyard with them. Ten of our guards were already mounted and waiting. Daveed was among them.
Wearing their chain armor and swords, Jarrod and Rolf looked every inch the hardened men I thought them to be. I hoped they might find some middle ground to form at least an outward-appearing friendship with a man like Lord Allemond, but it didn’t seem likely.
Jarrod swung up onto his horse, and I stood below him.
“Should we wait dinner for you or should I just have Ester keep something warm?” I asked.
“We’re meeting in the north sector of his lands,” he answered. “It’s almost a half day’s ride out and then back again. If we’re not home by dinner, go ahead and eat.”
I nodded and stepped back, but as I turned, I saw Sebastian standing beside Daveed’s horse. He had one hand on the horse’s shoulder, and Daveed was leaning down so they could speak without being overheard.
There was nothing unusual about this. It was common for a lord of any keep to speak with one of the house guards. Still, the discomfort in my stomach rose up again. They both looked so intense.
Finally, Sebastian patted Daveed’s leg and stepped away. “All right,” he said. “I’m sorry again, and I’ll see you tonight.”
Rolf was watching them. Then he looked at me. I held his gaze without flinching.
Jarrod wheeled his horse and the entire contingent cantered toward the gate.
Kai, Sebastian, and I remained in the courtyard until they were out of sight.
“Well, we have the place to ourselves,” Sebastian said. “Rather a pleasant thought. What shall we do with our day? How about a game of cards?”
I smiled. “You two play. I thought I’d see about hanging some wildflowers to dry. That way, next winter we can have a little color on the table when we need it. Also, I need to make sure Betty and Matilda have seen to cleaning the guest rooms.”
“Industrious thing,” he teased.
He and Kai headed off together, and I went to my duties.
The day passed slowly for me as I alternately dreaded and expected Sebastian to give an order regarding the fate of Lavonia. He never said a word. Even though I’d already ensured her safety, it troubled me that to his knowledge, she’d been locked in a room without water since the night before last. Had she still been in there, she’d be suffering terribly. How long could a person live without water?
Not long past dusk, I met Sebastian and Kai in the great hall.
“Your father said we should go ahead and eat if they hadn’t returned yet, so I’ve ordered dinner be brought in.”
Kai nodded. “I am getting hungry.”
I was gratified that relations between him and myself had improved somewhat, though we still seldom spoke. When we were in a room together, he often followed me with his eyes, but he was no longer hostile. I believed in time, he and I could be friends.
The three of us sat down at the table.
Betty and Matilda carried in trays of beef, potatoes, and carrots. As the beef was left over from the dinner party, I thought it might jog Sebastian into mentioning Lavonia. It didn’t.
“Betty, is there bread?” Kai called.
“Yes, my lord. I’ll fetch you some.”
She had just turned away when a loud crashing sounded from somewhere at the front of the keep. It took me an instant to realize it was the front doors being opened hard and fast enough to slam against the walls.
“Sebastian!” a male voice nearly screamed. “Sebastian!”
Everyone in the hall froze for a second or two, and then Kai was running. Sebastian was on his heels and I ran after, down the passage for the front doors.
We reached the open doors to find Daveed on his knees panting for breath. He was bleeding from a wound on the side of his head, but he saw us coming.
“Kai . . .” he managed say. “Your father . . . get your father.”
Kai ran past him as Sebastian skidded to a stop and dropped to his knees. “Daveed, you’re bleeding.”
I hurried after Kai, thinking to find the contingent in the courtyard and learn what had happened. But there was only one foaming horse waiting, with Jarrod draped over its back. Other guards from the barracks were running out by now.
Kai got to Jarrod first. “Father!”
Reaching up, he struggled to lift Jarrod’s prone form off the horse. Once he’d done this, he dropped down while holding his father in his arms. Jarrod was unconscious and his skin was nearly white. There was an ugly slash across his stomach. His chain armor hadn’t protected him.
As the other guards reached us, several knelt to see if they could help Kai with Jarrod. I knew a few of them by name.
Captain Marcel swung his head left and right. “Where’s Lord Rolf? Where are the rest of our men?”
“We need to get Lord Jarrod inside and into a bed,” I said.
Kai’s face had turned nearly as white as his father’s. “Captain, take him. Do as your lady says and get him inside.” He jumped up and ran back to the open doorway. “Daveed, where is Rolf?”
I came up behind Kai to see Daveed’s anguished expression.
“I’m sorry,” Daveed choked. “He’s gone. They’re all gone. We were ambushed.”
“Gone?” Sebastian repeated.
Several guards came up behind us carrying Jarrod, and I moved forward, going with them to the tower and then up to Jarrod’s room.