Page 82 of While Angels Slept
As Hunt charged from the solar with the yellow dog trailing after him, hoping for some crumbs, Tevin and Myles entered the keep. Hunt smacked into Tevin’s leg, leaving a smear of butter on the leather breeches, but barely stopped to apologize as he raced up the steep spiral stairs. Lips twisted wryly at the butter splotched on his leg, Tevin entered the solar and pointed at his leg.
“I would ask for some bread to put this on,” he said to Cantia.
It took Cantia a moment to realize what he meant. She fought off a grin as she stood from her chair and grabbed the hem of her surcoat, bringing it up to wipe off the white paste.
“He was in a hurry,” she said apologetically. “I am sorry.”
Tevin watched her clean him up, his twisted lips turning into a smile. “’Tis of no matter,” he said, kissing her on the cheek when she finished. His dark eyes glimmered warmly at her. “In fact, I have a lull in my duties and thought I would come to keep you company but I see you already have companionship.”
Cantia grinned at him and wound her hands around his big forearm affectionately. “You may take me for a walk around the grounds. Iam sure Val does not need us or want us here at the moment.”
Tevin lifted his eyebrows questioningly when he realized Myles was in the room as well. Clearing his throat as he became aware that perhaps Val and Myles should like to be alone, he turned to leave the room.
“Behave yourself, de Lohr,” he said as he passed through the doorway. “I have eyes and ears everywhere.”
As Val giggled, Myles simply shook his head. “As you say, my lord.”
In the entry, Cantia called back to them. “Pay no heed, Myles,” she said. “I will keep our lord occupied. He will not have time to worry over you.”
Cantia grinned as she listened to Val’s laughter. As Tevin, somewhat disapproving that she had circumvented his authority with Myles and his sister, opened the entry door for her, Cantia sweetly patted his cheek and led him down into the bailey.
It was a mild afternoon of lazy clouds and bright sun as they began their walk across the grounds. Cantia had her left hand lodged in the crook of his right elbow and Tevin had a firm hold of her as they headed towards the gatehouse. He forgot all about Val and Myles, consumed with the feel of Cantia by his side. He had missed it.
“When were you planning on burying Geoff?” Cantia asked, shielding her eyes from the glare of the sun as she gazed off towards Rochester’s soaring cathedral. “You’ve not said a word about it.”
Tevin glanced off towards the cathedral as well. “That very subject has been one of the things that have occupied my attention,” he replied. “I have had to send word to Saxlingham Castle to see what Geoff’s mother, my aunt, would do. She may want him returned to her. I have not yet heard from her so Geoff’s body remains at the cathedral stored in an unused vault.”
Cantia glanced up at him. “I did not know his mother was still alive.”
Tevin nodded. “She is very old, but still alive. I have not seen her in years.”
Cantia nodded in understanding. “I see,” she said, glancing at the gatehouse as they drew close. That inevitably brought about thoughts of Charles, bricked up in the depths, and she couldn’t help but shudder. Her thoughts shifted quickly from one to the other. “I cannot help but wonder what Brac would say to all of this.”
He glanced down at her. “All of what?”
She tilted her head in the direction of the gatehouse. “His father,” she said quietly. “I know you did what you had to do to protect us, but somehow I still feel such sorrow for Brac’s sake.”
Tevin knew that. He’d seen it from her for the past few days, and his manner grew subdued. “Let me ask you a question.”
“Of course.”
“If Brac was still alive and his father behaved threateningly towards you, what would the man have done?”
“I told you before. To spare me, he would have killed him.”
“So why do you feel sorrow?”
Cantia sighed heavily. “I am not sure,” she admitted. “Perhaps because Charles’ madness would have hurt him so. Brac and his father had a good relationship. Charles thought the sun rose and set on the man. It saddens me to see it all deteriorate so badly, not only for Brac but for Hunt’s sake as well.”
“Has he asked about his grandfather?”
“He has, a few times, but I simply changed the subject. I cannot keep avoiding it forever, however.”
Tevin sighed knowingly. “Then I will explain the situation to him. Perhaps I will tell him that his grandfather has simply gone away and leave it at that.”
“You would lie to him?”
“How do you think he will react if he knows the truth? He is a young boy and impressionable. He will not understand why I have done what I did, so in order to spare him for the time being, I will omit certain truths. When he is older, I will tell him everything and pray that he understands my reasoning.”
