Page 5 of Peregrine's Call
“Never mind. I have to get back,” she said breathlessly. “I’ll see you at supper.”
She turned and left, closing the door behind her. Tav let out a breath. What had he just done? He’d managed to turn an innocent kiss of friendship into something else entirely.
He’d never thought of Robin as dangerous before—at least, not due to her being a woman. When she chose to launch a volley of arrows, then she was as dangerous as any archer he’d confronted. But she was still the same sweet and innocent girl he knew. He saw her expression after the lightning-quick kiss. The confusion on her face. She must be wondering if he’d lost his mind.
A short rest restored Octavian’s sense of equilibrium. He changed from his dirt-stained traveling outfit to a clean tunic and hose.
He’d been gone a long time, and that accounted for his reaction to Robin. When he saw her next, he’d be prepared for her appearance. Children grew up, after all. Robin wasn’t going to remain a girl forever. She’d become a young woman, and that had nothing at all to do with Tav. Alric was practically a brother, which made Robin almost a little sister, or a niece.
Supper was served in the great hall. The family all seated themselves at the high table near the massive fireplace while the servants and residents of the manor gathered at the long tables on the lower part of the floor.
As a guest, Octavian was seated by Lady Cecily while Robin sat on the other side, next to Alric. Tav was glad for the slight separation because as it turned out, hestillwasn’t used to seeing Robin in her new guise.
Stop it.
“She’s grown up,” he said in French.
Cecily nodded. “At last! I think she’s finally accepted her role as a lady. She’s learned so much. Granted, hawking and riding are her best accomplishments, and I fear I could never present her at court, but she’s no longer the wild creature she was when my father took her in.”
“She looks like a lady tonight,” Octavian said, choosing his words carefully now. “And she could ask for no better guardians than you and your father.”
“Thank you, Tav,” Cecily said, clearly pleased. “I do hope we’ve done the best for her, giving her the upbringing she deserved, despite her childhood. And we look forward to her marriage.”
He paused just as he was about to drink his wine. “Her what?”
“It’s not official yet, but we expect that she’ll marry Geoffrey Ballard soon. The match would be a good alliance for our families, but Robin seems to look favorably on him too. He’s got several falcons and will use any excuse to go for a hunt.”
And Robin loved a hunt. Well, if she found someone she wanted to marry, Tav was happy for her. Except that he didn’t quite like the idea of her marrying at all. “Isn’t she a little young?”
“You just said how much she’s grown,” Cecily replied. “And my father won’t be at ease until we know there is someone who will care for her and see that she’s happy. One can’t thrive alone.”
Then she put a hand to her mouth, her eyes rounding. “Oh, forgive me. I’ve been preaching about family and home to you of all people. And here in England you have neither.”
He said reasonably, “I chose my life. I chose to follow my lord from the Holy Land to France, and then here. I knew what the life of a soldier in a lord’s service would mean.”
“Do you miss the Levant?”
“In winter,” he said with a wry grin, “I miss it very much, and wonder what madness led me here to the freezing north.”
She laughed. “And yet, winter after winter, you stay. Why is that?”
“I serve my liege lord and his liege lord,” he said simply. “And the war is not over yet.”
Cecily’s good humor faded. The war between Stephen and Maud seemed interminable. Though the past two years had been relatively quiet compared to the preceding five, there was no guarantee that violence would not flare up again. The empress’s faction held a part of southwest England while Stephen held much of the east. The region where Cleobury sat had been in Stephen’s control for some time, and Alric would hold the manor for Stephen if he had to. Or, more likely, he’d march to wherever the next battle threatened.
“Will they never cease fighting?” Cecily said. “Cousins should not be enemies.”
“Not in an ideal world. But this world is not ideal.”
After supper, Alric nodded to Octavian, wordlessly inviting him to follow him to a smaller room where Alric often conducted the business of the manor.
A high-backed bench stood near the fireplace. Octavian sat on the cushion while Alric ordered one of the servants who’d trailed behind to bring them mulled wine. The boy nodded and dashed off.
Octavian stretched his hand toward the flames. Alric chuckled.
“It’s only autumn, friend. What will you do when winter comes?” he asked.
“Move closer to the fire,” Tav muttered. “And stay there till spring.”
