Page 105 of Raven's Rise
Chapter 30
Rafe was still overwhelmed bythe news he’d received the day before, and he wanted to tell everyone he’d ever met. In particular, he wanted to hear more of what Angelet had to say. He knew that he couldn’t court Angelet, much as he wanted to, until his status was known more generally. Still, he could talk to her. After hearing that she was awake and working in the orchard he decided to find her, but he was intercepted by Alric.
“Well?” the other man asked bluntly. “What was the news? Rainald can be an oyster when he wants—won’t let a word slip about his plans.”
“He told me about my family,” Rafe said.
The surprise on Alric’s face was completely authentic. “Your family?”
So Rafe shared the story once more. He’d tell it for the rest of life and not tire of it. Alric sat back in amazement and listened to it all. At the end, he said, “That’s a marvel. A tragedy for your parents, but still a marvel. That you should have gone so long without knowing, just because of all the obstacles fate put in the way.”
“Better late than never.”
“Who else knows?”
“So far, I only told Angelet.”
“Ah.” Alric crossed his arms, and looked intolerably smug.
“What’s theahfor?”
“The woman you insisted was just a client was the first person you told. Interesting.”
“Well…” Rafe didn’t have an answer. “Yes. I did. But it doesn’t mean anything.”
“No? My mistake. Come, you need to tell Cecily what’s happened.”
So Rafe was dragged along to tell Cecily. Then Rainald joined them, and talk turned to the more legal ramifications of Rafe’s new status. Rafe was jolted when servants brought in some food for a midday meal—he’d got lost amid the swirl of discussion about what he should do next.
Alric thought he should petition the king for the privileges that had been his father’s. Cecily suggested he travel to find his mother’s people. Rainald also offered a few ideas for Rafe to take advantage of his legacy. Rafe nodded and listened to them all, but the only thing he could think of was the fact that he was now elevated to a station just high enough so he could ask Angelet to marry him without being rejected out of hand. Granted, she’d still want to speak to her family and he’d need to prove himself worthy of them. And they still needed to get her son back to her. Would Angelet’s being married again actually help with that? Possibly.
He just wished he could feel more certain about Angelet’s response. She’d seemed a little strange the previous night, especially with the suggestion that—how had she put it?—he’d resent any choice that wasn’t his own. Why had she said that? She’d meant that if their relationship became common knowledge, marriage would be the quickest path to restoring reputations. But why would Angelet think he’d resentherfor it? Even with his parentage known, Rafe would still be the one ascending in rank by wedding her, a truly well-born woman. Perhaps she just hadn't been thinking clearly when she spoke. After all, Rafe had done his best to keep her mind occupied elsewhere.
“Rafe?”
“What?” He looked up to see the others watching him. It was Cecily who’d asked him a question. “Yes?”
“Did you want to send word to Luc? To help you craft a petition for the king. You know Luc has the most experience at court—he’ll know just what to say.”
“I need to speak to Angelet,” he said, not quite following.
Cecily glanced at Alric, then they both smiled knowingly. Cecily said, “Perhaps that’s best. I’ll ask for her to come here.”
She called for a servant, then gave the order. They sat waiting. Rafe tried to ignore Alric and Cecily’s smug expressions, which was difficult, since they sat directly across from him. Rainald, in the large, padded seat close to the fire, hummed to himself, then said, “That was the song they played at my wedding feast! Never forgot it.”
Rafe rolled his eyes. So he was beset on all sides. “You did tell the servants to bring her here, didn’t you?”
Cecily nodded, but then looked to the door. “I do wonder what’s keeping her. It’s been long enough.”
But Angelet did not come. Another quarter hour passed. Rafe stood up. “Something’s wrong.”
“Don’t be silly.” Cecily rose to her feet. “She’s probably just freshening up. I’ll go to her room and see.”
Cecily left, but Rafe didn’t sit back down. Alric watched him pace. “Aren’t you overreacting? What could possibly happen inside the walls?”
“She could have had another seizure, like the one she was suffering from when she came here.”
“Then we’d have heard about it,” Alric said. “Someone would have come to Cecily immediately.”
