Page 60 of The Trials of Alaric
Then Eloise spoke. “Lord Lucas, were the other cupboards you opened carved inside, as well as out?”
They all turned to look at her. Then Luke reached out to stroke one of the details on the inside of the door nearest to him. His touch was almost tender, as if the carving were a baby animal or a beloved woman. “No,” he said. “No, they were not.”
Ellie stated the obvious, her voice full of awe. “These ones are.”
Both carvings seemed more modern than the rest—the wood less discolored by time, the proportions of the scenes closer to real life. They both showed lovers. Alaric squinted at the edge of the door nearest to him, and sure enough, he could tell that the inner carved panels were applied to the doors, and not an integral part of them. Indeed, the doors were remarkably thick for cupboard doors—perhaps as much as an inch and a half.
On the left-hand door, two people in the long chainmail hauberks of medieval knights stood hand in hand. One wore padded leggings and a conical helmet with a nose piece. The other was a woman, her long gown showing under the hauberk and her plaits tied in a crown of hair around her head.
On the right, the embracing lovers were from the late medieval. Alaric guessed the era from the high-waisted gown and elaborate head dress on the lady and the hip-length doublet that showed under the robe worn by the gentleman. Their robes, capes, and hats appeared luxurious and ornate, and they were hung about with jewels.
The background of both panels showed crops being harvested, boats coming ashore laden with fish, and simply dressed people dancing.
Bea touched the nearest lady with gentle reverence. “Brede daughter of Fergus, and first Lady of Claddach,” she said. She moved her hand to the knight. “Turstin son of Waudrile. Her consort.”
The others stepped out of her way as she moved to the second panel. “Lulach FitzWaudrile, Second Lady of Claddach. JamieMcAllister. Her consort. The panels show the first two Ladies of Claddach and the men who loved them.”
“But where is the gold?” Eloise asked.
As if light suddenly poured into his mind, Alaric knew. The secret gold of which the verses spoke was the Lady of Claddach. The two depicted, and the one beside him, who did not yet hold the title but would in time to come.
And then he suddenly understood the last two lines. He said nothing, however. How could he? To announce such a thing in public, even to dear friends, before he had told the two people who most deserved to know?
As the others discussed the images and the rhyme, Alaric realized that Bea also remained silent.
*
Her father wasa cunning man. Bea had always known that. Known, too, that he was proud of her. It was only today that she realized how much he loved her. She had solved the last riddle, and she was almost certain that Alaric had, too. He went very quiet, and he kept looking at her when he thought he would not be noticed.
Did he truly understand? Every few minutes he would smile, as if he were full to the top with joy that bubbled from within and had to be released, or he would burst in front of the whole house party. Or perhaps she was putting her own feelings on to Alaric.
Time would tell. She had a visit to the ancient abbey to conduct, and Alaric was off to answer her father’s questions. But afterward! Afterward, if she was right about what Alaric thought and intended, she would be able to pick up all the dreams she had set aside when she agreed to choose her husband through the trials.
Afterward.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Alaric found himselfon his own in the study with Lord Claddach. He had not felt this way since he had last been sent to the headmaster at his school, not conscious of any major sins but certain he was about to be lectured, beaten, or expelled.
It didn’t help to remember that, on that occasion, the headmaster’s purpose had been to tell him his mother had died, and he was being sent home. Claddach did not keep him waiting long but entered after only a few minutes that Alaric had spent in anxious waiting. Fairweather was not with him.
“Mr. Fairweather has gone to see the abbey,” Claddach told him. “He could see no point in answering my questions. He thinks you have won already, Redhaven. Are you of the same opinion?”
“No, my lord,” Alaric answered. “I am of the opinion you will not entrust the Heart of Claddach to any man who is not worthy of her, and of the island she will rule.”
Nervous though he was, it pleased him to see the earl’s eyebrows shoot up in astonishment. Not for long. Claddach had his expression under control again when he said, “The Heart of Claddach, Redhaven?”
“It is part of the solution to the sixth verse,” Alaric explained, confident of his reasoning. “Bea—I mean, Lady Beatrice—is the secret gold and Claddach’s heart.”
Claddach nodded thoughtfully. “You call her ‘Bea.’ And yet you say you have not won?”
“I have not asked her to marry me, my lord, if that is what you mean. I will not, until you give me leave.” He shrugged, trying to find the words to explain his thoughts. “It would not be fair to her, for she will not marry where you do not approve. Her sense of duty is too strong.”
“Very well, Redhaven. You have answered well. Let us see what you do with the rest of my questions. First, the trials. Why did I set you to an archery contest?”
Alaric had thought about this a lot. The trials were not just a contest to narrow down the suitors. They allowed the earl, often through the servants and the islanders, to get to know the suitors. “I think, sir, you were looking at sportsmanship and focus.”
“Hmmm. And the steeplechase?”
