Page 19 of While Angels Slept
As Val burst out in giggles, Cantia went on the attack, however in jest. “She should be married to a fine lord and have many children about her. Why are you so selfish that you would force her to bear arms? Haven’t you enough men at your disposal that you do not need to force your sister into armed servitude?”
As Val hooted, Tevin threw up his hands as if to defend himself. “My lady, if you have any ideas on how to get my sister out of armor and into feminine garments, I am at your mercy. Perhaps you can succeed where I have failed.”
Cantia fought off a grin, winking at Val as the woman stifled her snorts in her hand. “You are a wicked brother, my lord. See how your sister suffers because of you.”
Tevin, too, was fighting off a grin. He simply shook his head and turned away knowing that any further words from him would only be twisted by Cantia’s humorous tirade. On the other hand, he was perfectly willing to be a target if it would help her forget Charles Penden’s brutality. Moreover, this was the first light moment they’d had since his arrival to Rochester. He was discovering that she had a delightful sense of humor.
Cantia, for her part, had indeed forgotten her cut lip. The levity of the moment was helping her mood for the first time in days. And she was pleased to see that the viscount also possessed a sense of humor, a surprising factor given the man’s warring nature. As he walked away from her, smirking, she found herself admiring his broad back. It was a rather nice back. But the uninvited thought shocked her, sickened her, and she abruptly lost her humor. She suddenly felt very ill at ease, desperate to get out of the room and away from the inappropriate thought that had unexpectedly entered her mind.
“I will fetch your meal, my lady.”
Val watched her nearly run from the room, her own humor fading at the swift departure. She looked at Tevin, who himself had only caught the tail end of Cantia’s garments as she fled from the door. He met Val’s gaze.
“Why did she leave so swiftly?” he asked.
Val shook her head. “I do not know.”
Tevin nodded his head, wondering if he should go after her. Val, not surprisingly, could read it in his eyes. And having known her brother her entire life, she could read something else, something she had never seen before. But just as quickly, she chased those thoughts away. It was impossible. Still…
“Why don’t you go after her,” she suggested, watching his expression carefully. “If we somehow offended her, then we shouldapologize.”
Tevin didn’t say a word. He merely nodded his head and left the solar. Val sat there for several long moments, entertaining thoughts that she had never before considered. There had never been any need. If she hadn’t known better, she would have thought her brother held some interest in the lovely, grieving Lady Penden. For Tevin’s sake, she sincerely hoped not.
Tevin caught up to Cantia just as she exited the keep into the kitchen yard. Dogs scattered in front of her and much activity went on all around them. Hunt was running in her direction, splashing the contents of the wooden pitcher he held, and Cantia directed her son to take the liquid to the lady knight. As the boy ran on, Tevin came up beside her.
“Is something amiss, my lady?” he asked.
Startled at his voice, she nearly tripped on her skirts. He had to grab her to keep her from falling. “Nay, my lord,” she said.
“You left rather quickly. We were afraid we had offended you somehow.”
So she had made a fool of herself yet again. Cantia thought she was the only one who had noticed her swift flight. It seemed that all she did was make a fool of herself in front of her liege. Gazing up into his dark eyes, she began to feel extremely foolish.
“Of course you did not,” she said. “You could not possibly do anything to offend me. Even if you did, I would forgive you. But I am truly sorry if I seemed rude or abrupt. I did not mean to.”
Tevin gazed into her beautiful face, feeling a pull he’d never felt before. It was enough to seriously disturb him, for whatever pity or compassion he had been feeling for the lady over the past few days was transforming into something that seemed to be affecting his mind as well as his tongue. He should have fought it with all his strength, but at the moment, he couldn’t seem to. All he knew was that any time he spent with Lady Penden, however brief or trivial or emotional, was unlike any time he’d ever spent before, with anyone.
“Say no more,” he said. “As long as all is well, I shall leave you to your duties.”
She nodded, watching as he excused himself. Cantia stood there a moment, observing his powerful form stroll across the yard and back into the keep. She’d never seen a man move with such strength before, with such commanding presence. It was interesting to compare it to Brac’s presence, which was by far more relaxed and easy. Brac had never radiated the power that Tevin did. It was curious. Turning for the kitchen once again, she went about her business with a good deal on her already-strained mind.
CHAPTER FIVE
Myles had beenon duty constantly since Brac’s passing. Though he rode with Viscount Winterton on the second raid to retake the Dartford Crossing Bridge, he’d spent the majority of his time patrolling the walls of Rochester and trying to keep an eye on Charles. With Brac’s passing, Myles would assume what responsibility he could. He owed it to Brac, and to Cantia, to do so.
Now, he was taking a much deserved rest in the knight’s quarters. All of Viscount Winterton’s men had temporary quarters here, and he knew them all from the past years of battle. He knew and liked Simon Horley; the man was fierce, bold and, strangely, thoughtful. John Swantey was also a reputable man that he was comfortable with. Dagan Sutton and Gavril de Reigate were latecomers to the viscount’s corps, having been gifted to the viscount from the Earl of Norfolk for services in battle. They were a quiet pair and he did not know much about them, but he had seen that they were courageous fighters.
Myles sat at the table in the small gathering room of the knight’s quarters, contemplating the last of his wine and thinking he should probably try to get some sleep. But he seriously wondered if he should check on Lady Penden and her son first. Though the lady’s outward grief had not reached the fevered pitch that Charles’ had, still, he could see how devastated she was. Myles knew very well that Cantia and Brac had been fond of each other.
As he contemplated his thoughts, the door to the knight’s quarters flew open and Charles stomped in. Myles looked up to see that the man was in a serious degree of madness, mumbling to himself and looking around the room as he was searching for something. It seemed that he didn’t even see Myles until the knight spoke.
“Is there something I can do for you, my lord?”
Charles froze, looking at Myles as if startled to see him. Then he marched straight to him and slammed his hands on the table.
“A weapon,” he growled. “I need a weapon.”
Myles did not like the sound of the request. “Why?”
