Page 31 of While Angels Slept (de Lohr Dynasty #1)

C antia looked very calm, Tevin thought. Much calmer than he felt. As he entered the solar where Val had convalesced, his gaze was entirely on his cousin. He was afraid to linger on Cantia, afraid that Geoff would read emotion in his face. He was terrified he would give something away.

Geoff had a smirking grin on his face as he caught sight of his massive cousin. Leaning casually against Charles’ enormous desk, he waved a hand at Tevin.

“Come in, cousin,” he sounded suspiciously as if he was gloating. “See who I have found? Why, it’s the lovely Lady Penden. Shame on you for keeping her locked up in her room. Why on earth would you be so cruel?”

Tevin cocked an eyebrow. “Because she is in mourning for her husband. It is not proper for her to be socializing and well you know it.”

Some of the grin left Geoff’s face. He wasn’t expecting that answer.

His gaze moved to Cantia, raking over her in a manner that made Tevin’s blood boil.

“Mourning?” he repeated. “Why should she do that? Penden has been dead over a month. She’s far too young and lovely to waste her life in mourning. ”

Cantia had been watching the exchange on pins and needles.

The moment Tevin walked into the room, she felt a sense of relief and joy that she could not begin to describe.

It was as if her savior had walked into the room and it was all she could do not to run to him for protection.

But in the few short sentences exchanged, she immediately understood where Tevin was leading the conversation.

He was trying to help her in a way that no one could dispute, not even Geoff.

Being the sharp woman that she was, she would help her own cause.

She knew what she had to do, and she had to do it quickly.

With a muffled sob, she suddenly put her hand over her face and turned away from them. The soft sob turned into a flood of larger ones, pitiful and deep. It was drama at its very best. Geoff stood up from the desk, his dark eyes wide with surprise.

“What’s this?” he demanded. “Why is she weeping?”

Tevin couldn’t tell if the tears were real or not, but he was thankful either way. It made his reasoning much more stable. He sighed heavily as he looked at his cousin.

“Geoff,” his voice was low with admonishment. “The woman is distraught. You really should have been more considerate. She is in no condition to entertain you.”

Geoff lost all of his smugness. “I did not ask her to entertain me. I simply asked to be shown Rochester. It is my holding, after all.”

“And I could have shown it to you.” Tevin moved towards Cantia and gently took her by the arm. “She was in her chamber for a reason and you really should not have taxed her so. I am taking her back to her room and you will leave her there to properly deal with her grief.”

Cantia was sobbing as if her heart were broken. Tevin had a good grip on her as he led her towards the door. Geoff just stood there like a dolt, watching the scene with a mixture of outrage and astonishment.

“She was fine until you came into the room,” he told his cousin. “Why did she suddenly burst into tears when you appeared?”

Tevin cast him a long look. “She more than likely kept her composure simply not to upset you. But she can control it no longer.”

Geoff’s brow furrowed. “I do not want her to mourn any longer. It has been long enough. She must sup with me tonight and I will have no more weeping. I do not like it.”

The problem was that Geoff meant every word. He was childish and demanding in such ways. Tevin continued with Cantia towards the door.

“Have pity, cousin,” he said steadily. “The woman has lost her husband and her grief has not spent itself. Allow Brac Penden that mercy before you seek to erase him from her mind.”

Geoff pursed his lips and put his hands on his hips. “I am not attempting to erase him, for God’s Sake. I just want to talk to the woman.”

“There will be other time for that,” Tevin was through the door. “Go entertain yourself elsewhere. Leave Lady Penden to her sorrow.”

Geoff would not be quashed so easily. He went to the door, hovering in the archway with an imperious stance as he watched Tevin gently help Cantia up the steps.

“And don’t think that I am not aware that you hid Val from me, either,” he yelled after him.

“Do you hear me? Do not hide her from me again!”

Tevin didn’t say a word. He didn’t have to. When he was out of sight, Geoff went back into the solar and, in a fit of rage, smashed Charles’ big oak desk with the hearth shovel.

Tevin heard the sounds of crashing furniture as Geoff’s temper tantrum gained speed. But he maintained a steady grip on Cantia as they reached the third floor landing.

“Are you all right, sweetheart?” he asked quietly.

She stopped weeping in an instant, the violet eyes turning to him without a hint of redness. “Of course,” she replied, her gaze moving back down the stairwell towards the sounds of anger below. “But thank God you came when you did.”

Tevin didn’t like the sound of her voice. “Why do you say that? Did he move against you somehow? Did he try…?”

She shook her head, winding her hands around his forearm and laying her cheek against his enormous bicep. “He did nothing. In fact, he was quite friendly and curious. But the way he looks at me… I feel as if he is undressing me with his eyes and I want no part of the man. He makes my skin crawl.”

Tevin’s recently abated anger threatened but he fought it. Silently, he took her to the fourth floor, knocking softly on the bolted door. A demanding little voice shouted at him from the other side.

“Go away!” Hunt roared. “I won’t open this door! ”

Tevin looked at Cantia, who couldn’t help but grin at her son’s bravery. He fought off a smile as well.

“’Tis me, Hunt,” he said quietly. “You may open the door.”

It was several long seconds before the bolt was thrown, with some effort, and the door creaked open. Hunt’s big eyes peered at his mother and Tevin before he allowed them inside. Tevin lifted an eyebrow when the boy slammed the door behind them and shoved the bolt into its socket.

“You make a fine sentry,” he told the lad. “A man would think twice before crossing you.”

Hunt gazed up at him, his face suddenly slack with surprise. “Really?” he asked, awed. “Did I thound fearsome?”

“Terribly.”

He grinned proudly, looking over at Arabel to see if she heard. But the young girl with big black eyes was looking at her father.

“Where is Cousin Geoff?” she asked.

Tevin went to sit on the bed next to her. “He is down in the solar,” he replied, taking Arabel’s hand and kissing it sweetly. “I have decided to send you and your Aunt Val and Lady Penden on an adventure. Would you like that?”

She took the bait of the swift change in subject. “An adventure? Where?”

He smiled at her enthusiasm, his dark eyes twinkling at her. “To a faraway castle. You can pretend you are the Princess Fair and hide away from the evil dark knight who wishes to abduct you.”

She grinned at her father. “Can I give this castle a name?”

“I suppose so. What would you name it?”

Arabel’s eyes were alight. “Castle Mandragora!”

Tevin’s eyebrows lifted. “Mandragora? Where did you hear that?”

The girl giggled nervously, looking between her father and Cantia. “I heard someone speak of it once,” she said. “’Tis another name for mandrake. I just like the name. It sounds mysterious.”

Tevin cast her a reproachful look. “Mandrake is used by witches and half-wits. What would you know of it?”

Arabel shrugged, glancing down at the big yellow dog when it brushed against her. “Some of the servants at Thunderbey were speaking of it, once. One of the women wanted it for her husband. She said it was an apro… aprodisiac. I did not ask what it was. Do you know?”

Tevin cleared his throat and averted his gaze, glancing up at Cantia with a pleading expression. Cantia could see the panic in his eyes at the young girl’s question and she fought off a grin.

“I believe it has something to do with medicinal purpose,” she said evenly, answering for the stricken father. “But I like the name, too. It sounds very powerful.”

Arabel was successfully diverted from any more questions about aphrodisiacs. “Are we going soon?”

Cantia nodded. “As soon as I can pack a few things.”

Arabel’s expression was aglow with the possibility of another adventure. She’d spent most of her life safely locked away at Thunderbey and now she was about to have two great adventures all in the span of a couple of weeks. It was the stuff that young girls’ dreams were made of.

“The sooner the better,” Tevin grasped Cantia’s arm gently and their eyes met. “Hurry and pack. I would have you gone within the hour.”

Cantia gazed steadily at Tevin, not voicing what she was thinking.

When will I see you again? But she smiled after a moment, nodding obediently as she moved for the wardrobe and pulled out two large traveling satchels.

Tevin watched her, thinking the same thing she was, his heart squeezed with sorrow.

She began shoving garments into the bags and he tore his eyes away only to see that Arabel was watching him intently.

He felt a jolt, as if she could read his expression and know what was in his heart. He smiled warmly to cover his thoughts.

“We do not have to pack for you, I would wager,” he went to her, laying an enormous hand on her blond head. “You’ve hardly been here long enough to unpack. Where is your baggage? ”

“On the wagons that Cousin Geoff brought with him,” she told him. “But what about Gerta and Mary? Will they come, too?”

She was referring to the two maid servants who had tended her since birth. Tevin thought a moment before shaking his head. “I think not,” he stroked her head gently. “I must get you away quickly and those two will only slow you down. They will be safe here.”

“But who will take care of me?” Arabel asked.