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Here she sits,Nicholas thought in grudging admiration as he swallowed the last of the ham,in a serving woman’s homespun, within as poor and humble a cottage as any in the land, and she moves and speaks and looks every inch a noblewoman.
A beautiful noblewoman.
The last thing he intended to do was allow her to put herself in danger, and setting foot inside Castle Doom would be perilous indeed.
It was with great doubt that Arianne accompanied him shortly thereafter to the manor house of one of Dinadan’s nobles.
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” she murmured as they traversed the hilly ground leading to the gates.
“Sir Castor was the one person who believed in me when my father banished me, the only one who came forward and told me that he suspected what I knew to be true: that Julian had somehow conspired to ruin me in the eyes of my father, to turn him against me. I sent a message ahead to him before embarking on my journey to Dinadan. He’s expecting me.”
Sir Castor was a bowlegged, hawk-nosed, robust old knight whose black mustache and whiskers matched his deepset eyes. As he came striding into the hall, he looked as if he would be far more at home on the fighting field than here in his richly embroidered tunic and fur-lined surcoat. At sight of Nicholas, he froze.
“By all that is holy, itisyou!” Joy suffused his fierce pink face. “Lord Nicholas, at last. Ah, my boy, at last!”
Arianne had no doubt of his loyalty when she saw the way he greeted Nicholas and ushered him through the great hall, then called for food and wine.
She was introduced and warmly greeted. Then the two men talked long and hard.
But Sir Castor frowned when Nicholas informed him he intended to enter the castle as soon as possible.
“Why not wait until you can be sure of a stronger force behind you, my lord? My men, of course, will follow you. I will assign them as you say, but alone they’re no match for those black-masked troops of Julian’s. Now if Lady Arianne could summon forth her brother’s knights to join with mine, then we would have a real army. But they may not come in time…”
“We’ll send word to Galeron’s captain this day,” Nicholas replied curtly, “but we cannot wait. We cannot wait even for my men, those I have attempted to summon during my journey.”
Sir Castor gazed at him inquiringly. “Your men?”
“Those soldiers for hire that I trained and led into battle during my years away from home. My lieutenants are assembling the men-at-arms even as we speak.” His tone was grim, and he flicked a glance at Arianne before continuing quietly, “Count Marcus is being starved and has probably been beaten. In a matter of mere days he is scheduled to hang. It’s possible that my men and Galeron’s will arrive by then, perhaps even sooner—but I’m taking no chances. I want him out.”
“As do I,” Arianne said tautly, rising from the gilded bench near the window and approaching them.
Sir Castor smiled at her when Nicholas told him he wished Lady Arianne to be hidden here at the manor and given every protection and comfort until the business was ended.
“Of course. My lady, you are most welcome. My wife will be pleased to—“
“You are all consideration, my lord. But I am going into the castle this very day, with or without Lord Nicholas. I have as much right to protect my brother’s life as he does—no,more.”
Sir Castor appeared astonished. He turned toward Nicholas, waiting for him to contradict her.
But Nicholas was watching Arianne closely. The strength of her resolve was not lost on him. He made a sudden decision.
He knew something of injustice, and it struck him suddenly and forcibly that it would be injustice indeed to confine her to this house while matters so important and so close to her heart were being decided.
Besides, it was true that she could prove helpful to him. Two heads were better than one. Two of them working together within the castle might move things along with the speed that was needed.
“The lady speaks with courage—and conviction.” He gave her a curt, unsmiling nod, hoping he wasn’t making a terrible mistake. “You may come.”
Arianne’s relief nearly made her dizzy. She quickly recovered and with grave dignity held out her hand to Nicholas.
He raised it to his lips and kissed her fingers lightly. All the while, he held her gaze. It was suddenly all Arianne could do not to tremble as his lips brushed along her skin.
“You have made a wise decision, my lord.” Arianne struggled to concentrate as he continued to hold her hand in his. “It’s apparent that you will govern sagaciously when Julian is overthrown and you take your rightful place as Archduke of Dinadan,” she added with a smile.
But then she saw the ready, answering smile freeze upon his lips. Sir Castor made a coughing sound.
“I will never rule in Julian’s stead.”
Nicholas’s tone was calm and level, yet Arianne heard the quiet pain beneath it and felt her heart constrict.