Page 55 of Knight of Chaos
Theobald scowled. “Are you telling this story, or am I?”
Richard gave a jaunty salute. “By all means, continue.”
Theobald ran his hand across the back of his neck. “Suffice it to say, I winked at one of the young women present. The two others became upset…”
A giggle left Ingrid. “Naturally. I cannot blame them.”
“…a scuffle broke out between them, and they bumped into me when I had tossed the knife again into the air. I lost my balance, the knife came down, and I missed the blade. However, the steel did not miss me with its downward plunge. It cut open my cheek and I have had the scar ever since.”
“The ladies must have loved it,” Ingrid said with a smirk. “It makes you appear dangerously roguish.”
“Roguish or foolish. I only remember the pain when the blade slashed my face.”
Richard laughed again. “Aye, he was also in too much pain to appreciate the women who began to coo all over him. If I recall, he wished to have nothing to do with them afterwards, saying they were bad luck.”
Theobald cursed again. “They went on to others without much hesitation on their part, proving to me they were not worth my time.”
“You must have been young,” Ingrid replied since she could see the scar was not something that recently happened.
“’Twas from my youth when I was trying to prove my worth and place in life. My older brother, Wymar, had always sworn we would remain together once our parents passed away. He kept us together for many years until but recently. Now we will be scattered to the four corners of England.”
“Unless the Empress ends up back in France,” Richard said mumbling a curse. “I must admit, I have no desire to return there.”
Ingrid patted his arm. “And yet I know your devotion to our Empress will take you wherever she may ask you to go.”
Richard gazed down upon her before he nodded in acceptance. “Aye. You are right on that account.”
Ingrid returned her gaze to the keep. “I suppose we can no longer put off the inevitable.”
Theobald pointed toward the entrance as the wooden portal opened and a man came forward to stand near the steps leading up into the keep. “As you can see, my dear, they are well aware we have arrived. Let us go announce ourselves. Hopefully, they will have had bedchambers aired out for us.”
Theobald offered Ingrid his arm, and she took it as they made their way up to the front of the keep.
Ingrid stepped forward. “I am Lady Ingrid Norwood, formally de St. Maur.”
The man wearing simple garments, bowed. “We have been expecting you, my lady. I am John Roberts, the steward of Penhow Castle.”
“A pleasure, sir. This is my husband Theobald, the earl, and a dear friend Lord Richard Grancourt.”
John bowed again. “My lords… Come in, come in. I am certain you are weary from your travels.”
They entered into the foyer where the keep felt cool after being outdoors with the warmth of the afternoon sun. Torches held in ordinary sconces on the walls lit the interior but there was not much in the way of decorations to prove this was a house of a noble. Considering the splendor she had witnessed in Gloucester, Ingrid had expected to see at least costly vases with small golden trinkets adorning the tables. There were no portraits hanging on the walls showing her ancestors. In truth, it looked so bare that it had her concerned. She could see where thingshadhung, where there had been decorations at one point, but all was gone now. Ingrid gave a quick glance toward Theobald and he, too, wore a frown of disapproval. There was much going on here that the Empress had not warned them about. Or mayhap she had not known of the conditions into which she would send them.
A woman appeared, mayhap from the kitchen since she had flour on her gown and was wiping her hands on a towel she had tucked in a belt at her waist. John introduced her as his wife, Lena. The woman bobbed a curtsey before calling to another servant who quickly ran up the wooden stairs to light fires in what would be their rooms.
John began to usher them toward the stairs. “Once you are settled, we can talk in the solar. Then I can inform you of all that has happened recently at Penhow and Calbridge.”
“The place appears as though it has fallen onto hard times,” Ingrid stated the obvious.
“As I said, ’twas but a recent occurrence but with no one here with authority to govern the estates… well… I will not burden you with the details until you have rested from your journey.”
John halted at the first door. “You can use this room, Lord Grancourt. The next is somewhat larger and reserved for the lord and his lady.”
Richard nodded, and Theobald reached over to lay his hand upon his friend’s shoulder. “We will see you shortly.”
Once Theobald and Ingrid were in the privacy of their bedchamber and the bolt had slid into place, she threw herself into Theobald’s arms. The strength he exuded wrapped around her, making her feel safe, and she breathed a sigh of relief that he was here with her.
“Barely in the front door and already chaos is following us here,” she murmured into his chest.
