Page 8 of Wolf's Prize

“Farren Beauchene, I am granting you the lands and monies once held by your nephew, Gaharet d’Louncrais.”

Startled gasps and a low muttering skittered about the hall. Kathryn, wide-eyed, turned to her father. His stunned expression matched her own incredulity.

“But…Mon Seigneur Comte… What of Seigneur Gaharet?” asked her father.

Comte Lothair waved a dismissive hand. “Gaharet is not your concern.”

Gathering himself, her father bowed his head. “As you will, Mon Seigneur Comte.”

“I have organized men from my guard to escort you to the d’Louncrais demesne,” said Comte Lothair. “I expect you to take up residence there today.”

Kathryn fidgeted beside her father, the envious and calculating stares from the throng of courtiers and chevaliers disconcerting. In her wildest dreams, she could not have foreseen this. Her marriage prospects had certainly improved. But at the expense of her cousin? Why? She opened her mouth, but her father’s warning glance had her clamping it shut.

Comte Lothair rose and stepped away from the dais, coming to stand before her. Taking her chin in his hand, he tilted her head from side to side. Kathryn’s body trembled with the effort to not snatch her face away. Her father’s hand settled on her arm, cautioning her against any rash action.

“I expect you will see many a man eager to take advantage of your change in fortune, looking to secure your daughter’s hand in marriage.” His voice barely above a whisper, the comte addressed her father, not her. “You will turn them all away.”

Heat burned Kathryn’s cheeks, and her nostrils flared.

Her father nodded. “As you wish, Mon Seigneur.”

No! Why? What does the comte want from us? From me?

“With the exception of Gaharet’s vassals. Should any of them call upon you, and I suspect they will, I will know of it immediately. You may allow them to court her, but you will make no agreements without my consent.”

Kathryn wrenched her face from his grip and glared at the comte. How dare he take her choice away? One she clung to with every breath in her body.

“Kathryn.” Her father’s tone brooked no disagreement. “Come. We have a household of belongings to prepare. By your leave, Mon Seigneur.”

Comte Lothair nodded, a sharp intelligence glittering in his eyes. She would have considered him handsome if not for his mocking smile. Kathryn gave a perfunctory curtsey before turning on her heel to follow her father from the hall. Shoulders tense, she strode past Manette, too incensed to gloat over the woman’s chagrin.

Pushing through the doors and out into the bailey, she halted and took a deep breath to reassert calm. Her father took her elbow and led her from the keep grounds toward the home they were to vacate. She suspected he wanted a bit more privacy before she vented her feelings.

“This is not what I would have wanted for you, Kathryn, but you yourself had set your sights on one of Gaharet’s men. You should be happy with our change of circumstances.”

“Happy?” Kathryn glared at her father, her nostrils flaring. “Yes, I want access to Gaharet’s circle, to his vassals, but I also want the right to choose. Now the comte has taken that away.”

“Keep your voice down, Kathryn.”

She pursed her lips but acknowledged his caution with a stiff nod. “Why has he done this, Father? Why has he given us Gaharet’s estate? And what has happened to Gaharet?” She blew out an unladylike sigh. “Clearly, Comte Lothair has some plan that involves his vassals. Did you see them leaving as we arrived?”

“I did. Did you also notice Ulrik’s absence?”

She shook her head. Heat burned her cheeks. No, she had not. She had been too busy focusing on one vassal in particular.

“Something is most definitely afoot. Granting us Gaharet’s demesne was done with a very specific purpose in mind. Lothair could have bequeathed it on any of one of Gaharet’s vassals had he chosen to, yet he did not. My guess is he wishes to see which one of Gaharet’s vassals is ambitious enough to take the bait.”

“And I am the bait?”

“In part, yes.”

Kathryn’s shoulders slumped. Her father halted and took hold of her hands.

“Though I would never have chosen one of Gaharet’s vassals for you, all is not lost, Kathryn. You wanted their attention. Now you have it. The comte may wish to be informed if any of them come calling, but we have some control over who we allow to spend time with you.”

“But Comte Lothair said to make no agreements without his consent.”

“So, we ensure only one vassal has access to you.”

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