“I’ll be downshortly.”
“Aye, Captain.”
“Captain,” Talon grumbledas he rose from the bed and pulled his tunic on.“Would that I werestill only a captain.Then I wouldn’t be leaving my comely wife’sbed to sit through a day’s worth of complaints.”
“Says the captain whoswore to follow his king’s laws to the letter,” Lara reminded him.“And the king’s laws say that the count of a province must ruleover Mallus.And so, you will leave your wife’s bed to go do yourduty, sir Count.”
“So I will.”Talon pulledhis breeches on over his disappointed cock, then glanced at Isabeauasleep in her crib.“Unless you wish me to stay?”
Lara followed his gaze.“No.I’m sureyou’re right.My dream was me reacting to her absence from our bed.It’s the first time she hasn’t slept part of the night beside mesince her birth.”She gave Talon a tremulous smile that told himshe too had mixed emotions over this milestone.“Besides.”Hersmile brightened.“What would you do all day at Marta’s with agaggle of women and babies?Even Denys is fleeing with Willem andWyatt to Tent Town for the day.”
“Maybe we’ll ride withthem into town then.”Talon strapped on his belt.“Willem may knowsomething of this tinker’s complaint against the silversmith inTent Town.I’m to hear their case today.”
Tent Town was the name given the fieldoutside of Oloron Manor where the tents of traders and tinkers andtradesmen had sprung up as word of the new count and countess hadspread through the lands of western Gaul.They’d come looking for achance at fair work and trade and had brought with them newcommerce as well as new problems.
Lara rose up onto her knees andsmoothed his jerkin.“I know you prefer to be prepared for yourbattles, Captain.As I know you do just as well when meeting themhead on.I have faith you’ll figure it out and deal with themfairly, though I will say I’ve heard the silversmith called anhonest tradesman by more than one person in the valley.”
Between her smile and how the bedlinens pooled at her knees, Talon was sorely tempted to makePhillipe and the others wait.After all, being count had itsadvantages.Mallus couldn’t start without him.He started tounbuckle his belt when Isabeau let out a lusty cry, letting theworld know she was awake and ready to start her day.
“Damn.”He planted a kisson Lara’s lips.“Until tonight, wife.I promised Anglbert that themen and I would stay for supper after Mallus.I think he misses ourcompany, though he’d never admit it.”
Lara smiled as Isabeau started tofuss.“Until tonight, husband.”
Talon gave Wolf a hearty thump on thechest.“Keep a watch out, old man.I’ve got to go bepolitic.”
***
Lara
Lara sat at the table along withBerta, Enid, Patience, and Doralice under the shade of the old oakand handed Marta the package wrapped in linen, grinning inanticipation as Marta unwrapped her present.
“Oh Lara.”Marta rubbedher fingertips over the star of green silk sewn onto a square ofwhite velveteen, then laid it over her belly, six months swollenwith child.She and Denys had been married on Christmas Eve at thekeep, and she’d become pregnant almost the same night.“It’s sobeautiful.Is it silk?”
“It is.Talon bought it inTours.”
“I can’t accept it, then.”Marta laid the square back on the table, its top covered in squaresof linens, wools, and stuffing for the quilt making.
“Yes, you can.I haveplenty more.”
“You do?”Patience said.“I’ve never seen you in a gown made of this.”
“Nor will you,” Lara saidmeaningfully.The green silk had been made into a low-cut,body-skimming nightgown that she wore only for Talon.
“Do tell.”Patience hidher grin behind her drink of cold cider.“We are all friendshere.”
Lara glanced at Doralice, whose cheekswere flushing pink.“But not all are married.”
All attention turned to Doralice, whoflushed bright red.
“What’s taking that man solong?”Berta sorted through the squares of cloth as birds sang fromthe oak’s branches above them.“According to Anglbert, Phillipe’sbeen smitten from the moment he laid his pretty blue eyes onDoralice.”
“Oh he’s smitten, sure,”Lara said.“He’s just reluctant to admit it.Still, when he does,and he will—” She smiled kindly at poor Doralice, who was obviouslyas smitten as Phillipe but too shy to do anything about it.“—he’llhave been worth waiting for.”
Doralice sat pink-cheeked andtongue-tied, and Lara reminded herself that she was still young,only seventeen, and had been raised by her widowed father since shewas six years old.Lara had been twenty-two when she met Talon, anold maid by most standards, and she’d had Sophie to guide her.Shegazed at the grassy mound that was her Tante’s final resting placeand gave silent thanks to her, for her.It was Sophie who’d keptLara’s true lineage a secret.Sophie who’d kept Nithard at bay withher curse.
Lara looked around Marta’s outdoortable at her dear friends, old and new, at Issy playing in thegrass with Wilric, at the new house built over the ruins of her andSophie’s old house: a testament to the tenacious strength of thewomen enjoying the day and each other’s company.And the Midereds’deceit and spite.She pressed her lips tight, refusing to think anymore today of Nithard or Ranulf or Ravenna.Or the steward Roumeland his two blonde daughters who’d stayed in the valley after theMidereds had left, and who’d been nosing around her and Patience amonth ago market day when they’d bought the tinker out of his boltsand scraps of cloth for the quilt making today.
“Mark my words,” Bertatold Doralice.“You’ll not have to wait much longer for your man toget down on bended knee.”She winked at Lara.“I’m sure thecountess would be happy to supply you with a vial or two ofSophie’s love potion.”