Page 384 of Historical Hotties
Sparrow giggled. “I will take your challenge, my lord,” she said. “Pray you can make good on it.”
Braxton’s eyebrows lifted in outrage. “You saucy wench,” he said. “Do you dare to dispute my game skills?”
“I do,” Sparrow said sadly. “It is with great regret that I do. Who have you been playing lately? Imbeciles?”
Gisella giggled as Braxton struggled to hold a straight face. “I shall win and then I shall take a switch to you,” he told her. “Collins! Where is that man? He will know where the Chess set is.”
As Gisella and Sparrow laughed at Braxton’s animation, Collins entered the reception room.
“My lord?” he greeted.
Braxton pretended to be quite serious. “Collins,” he addressed the man. “Do you recall where the Chess set is?”
Collins nodded. “It is in the solar,” he replied. “Shall I retrieve it?”
Braxton nodded firmly. “Bring it here,” he demanded, pointing at Sparrow. “I must teach this young woman a lesson.”
Collins could sense the good humor and he nodded, grinning, as he turned for the door. But he abruptly stopped and focused on Gisella.
“Lady de Russe,” he said. “Supper is almost ready to be served. Where would you have it set?”
Gisella looked at Braxton and Sparrow before responding. “It is just the three of us,” she said. “Can you bring it in here and set it upon the big table?”
Collins nodded and shuffled out of the room, leaving Braxton to shuffle through the big deck of cards, trying to figure out why he kept losing, as Sparrow stood up and stretched her legs. Then she rubbed her arms, as the warmth of the day had quickly faded and the coolness of the night was settling.
“It will be a lovely night,” Sparrow said to Gisella, who was moving back to the window that overlooked the courtyard. “Mayhap we will take a stroll in the moonlight through the garden after supper.”
Gisella’s gaze moved over the landscape beyond the window. “How romantic,” she said drolly. “If I am going to stroll in the moonlight with someone, I would rather do it with my husband.”
Sparrow giggled as she came upon Gisella and laid her head on her friend’s shoulder. “And I would rather do it with your brother,” she whispered. “Has he said anything to you about me?”
Gisella shook her head. “There has not been the opportunity,” she said. “I have been with Bastian most times and when I have seen Gannon, it is in passing. But I will ask him if you want me to.”
Sparrow lifted her head, smiling demurely. “He is so strong and handsome,” she said. “I will never forgive you for not telling me about your wonderful brother. I have known you for two years and you have never made mention of him other than briefly.”
Gisella made a face. “That is because I do not look at my brother as strong and handsome,” she said. “He is simply mybrother, the wicked boy who used to torment me when we were younger.”
Sparrow laughed softly but was cut short of replying when the soldiers near the gates of Braidwood began to take up a call. Curious, both women peered through the lancet window in time to see the gates opening wide. Men began pouring through, men bearing the colors of Gloucester, and the smile faded from Gisella’s face.
Gloucester had arrived and she knew, instinctively, that his presence was not a welcome one. His men were kicking up dirt in the bailey, shouting to one another, and she could already sense the tension. She turned to Braxton, who was still fussing with the cards.
“Sir Braxton,” she hissed. “Gloucester is here.”
Braxton lifted his head, looking at Gisella with a surprisingly calm expression. But it was clear he was mulling over the man’s arrival. The calm mood of the evening shifted, now becoming tense and curious at the unexpected arrival of Gloucester. Gisella and Sparrow came away from the window, heading for Braxton.
“He is here to stop Bastian from riding to Wallingford,” Gisella said to the man, but suddenly looked stricken. “Or he is here to take the king back to the Tower. God’s Bones, what will he do when he finds out the king has gone with Bastian?”
Braxton reached out and grasped her arm, squeezing it firmly. “There is nothing he can to do except follow Bastian to Wallingford, in which case Bastian will deal with the man,” he said calmly. “For now, we will welcome Gloucester and ask him to sup with us. But you and Lady Sparrow must remain gracious and calm, no matter what the man says. Is that clear?”
Gisella and Sparrow nodded solemnly. “Of course,” Gisella agreed.
“And you will let me do the talking.”
Again, the women nodded in agreement. Braxton patted Gisella on the cheek with his big, rough hand.
“Good lass,” he said. “Now, let us welcome our guest. Lady Sparrow, go and tell Collins that we may have guests for supper.”
Sparrow fled the room, leaving Gisella with Braxton to face Gloucester alone. The old man could see how nervous she was, and rightly so, and he reached out to take her hand, holding it gently. Gisella squeezed his big fingers, taking comfort in Bastian’s wise father. She was coming to like him a great deal.
