A SURPRISING OCCURRENCE
Fraser read the note Francis had left. He raised a brow in surprise.
“They've gone to Evreux?”
It surprised him. He himself was intending to get to Evreux. He had to get there to warn Bernadette. Before something happened. And even without the threat, he knew, his mind would be returning to her: her sweet flesh, her sweeter smile. Her voice.
“Stop it, Fraser,” he said to himself. Alone in the solar, where he had had right now discovered their absence, his voice echoed.
This is too bad. I came here to find them, and now they've just gone to where I should be.
Coming here to Annecy had been against his judgment – he'd have much rather gone to Evreux again. And now he discovered it would have been for the best all along.
He shook his head at himself, knowing it was not the reason he wished to head back to Evreux. He was utterly fascinated by the lady.
“My lord count?”
“Oh!” He jumped, seeing the old steward at the door. “Yes?”
“Will you stay and have something to eat?”
Fraser shook his head. “I need to go. Though I'll take a pastry or two if there are any?” He grinned cheerily at the steward, who nodded gravely.
“I'll send up a hamper, milord.”
Fraser nodded his thanks and headed briskly downstairs. With the hamper in a saddle-bag, he was ready to head off again.
Out in the fields, the wind had risen, gently blowing the sun-warmed grasses. He rode with cheerful spirits, watching larks dance above the fields. He was warm and excited about the prospect of visiting Evreux.
When he finally reached the manor, it was lunch time. He hailed one of the guards on the wall.
“Remember me?” he called up in a desultory fashion.
“No,” the sentry said. He blinked.
His temper flared, but he held it in check. “Who do you...” he began, trying not to react with rage.
“I'm sorry, sir,” the sentry said dolefully. “But we can't just let you in because we remember you. If you could state your business?”
“I'm here to see Lord Francis,” he explained. “I have reason to believe he's residing with her ladyship?”
“One moment, milord.”
Fraser waited, tapping his fingers on the saddle-horn with impatience while they went into the castle to ask if he was allowed entry. When they returned, his temper was fraying thin.
“You can come in, sir,” the man said. “Her ladyship said she'd see you in the turret-room.”
Fraser felt his expression rearrange itself to one of complete surprise. She had? Why would her ladyship want to see him alone? That was surprising.
“Thank you,” he said, bemusedly.
The sentry blinked, as if hearing Lord Fraser respond with good manners was as surprising as anything.
Fraser followed him. He was led through the vast, arched entryway, past the hall and up the stairs to his right. He entered a turret-room – the manor had two turrets, one on either side of it – and stood, blinking in the orange afternoon light.
“Sir,” a voice replied.
He felt his heart twist in surprise – that was the voice that had been going round his head since he first heard it. “My lady.” He bowed low.
“Forgive me for holding you up in this room,” she said. “But I had to speak with you alone.”
“Oh?” His brow lifted. She glared at him.
“Not for whatever reason that grin suggests, no,” she said.
Fraser wiped the smile off his face, replacing it with a frown. “No?”
“No,” she said calmly. “I wished to speak with you to say that I must confront you about something.”
“Confront me?” Fraser was mystified. “Over what, ma'am?”
She sighed irritably. “Well, either you know by now or you don't,” she said.
He frowned at her. “I'm sorry, milady. You baffle me utterly now.”
Bernadette blew her cheeks out in a sigh. “Let me just say that I know what you're up to.”
“Oh?” Fraser was utterly confused now. He was not up to anything! So how could she know that?
“I know you sent spies here,” she said. “And I wished to tell you I don't like it.”
“Spies?” Fraser stared at her in horror. “My lady! I would do no such thing! I assure you! I swear on my honor.”
The sidelong glance she gave him seemed to suggest she thought little of his honor. He sighed. “I promise, milady. On my word. On my sword. Anything we both believe in. I would never have done that. Not ever.”
She let out a long sigh. “I want to believe you,” she said. “But I...if not you, then...no.”
“No?” he asked. His own heart was thumping now. Moreover, it wasn't just the desire that was pouring like wildfire through his veins being in a room with her unobserved. It was worry.
“I don't want to discuss this,” she said tightly.
“No?” he frowned. “Well, I need to ask you something,” he said, an awful suspicion beginning to grow in his mind. “If I may?”
She sighed wearily. “If you must.”
“Well, these men,” he said, noticing that her face instantly looked more interested. “Were there three of them?”
“How did you know?” she asked, grave.
“Well, because...let me just say I saw them too.”
“You did? Where?”
He sighed. “In an inn. Just along from here. Close to Annecy. And once more, in the woods.” He considered telling her exactly what he overheard but for the moment thought better of it. What if it was all wrong? But, in that case, why would Bernadette have seen them here? This was sinister. His heart thudded in his chest.
“You are in earnest?” Bernadette asked. “For if you jest, I assure you...” she began darkly.
“I am in earnest, my lady,” he said hastily. “Or how else would I know there were only three of them?”
“True,” she said.
Even angry, or aloof, or indifferent, she was beautiful, Fraser thought. With that glossed hair and that long neck, high cheekbones colored with red, she was stunning.
“What?” she said abruptly.
Fraser coughed, realizing he had been staring at her. “Sorry, milady,” he said, tearing his gaze away. He had been looking down at her bosom, which showed pale, full cleavage at the low neck of her dark brown dress.
She sighed through her teeth. “My lord, you try me sorely.”
He felt his lips quirk in a grin. “My lady, I apologize.”
She gave him a look that had softened quite considerably. “I accept it, milord,” she said gently. “And the news you brought. I appreciate it.”
“Thank you, milady.”
They looked at each other in silence a while. Fraser felt his heart thump. His loins were aching and he knew that if he didn't get out of this room directly, he was going to do something he'd surely regret. He made fists and looked at the window behind her. Cleared his throat. Finally, he lifted his chin.
“My lady, I should go,” he said.
“Oh?”
“I should...I want to find out more about...this matter.”
“Oh.”
He thought he detected some peace in her countenance, as if she was relieved. He wasn't sure. He sighed. “I hope to be able to succeed.”
“Mm. I hope you do as well,” she agreed. “And...Stay safe.”
The last comment completely took him by surprise. He stared at her. “Milady?”
She sighed. “You know what I said, my lord.”
“I do,” he said. He felt surprisingly touched. “And I thank you for it. You too.”
It was her turn to stare. She swallowed hard, and then nodded. “Yes.”
He looked at her, she looked at him, and he felt his hand lift from where it hung, schooled to relaxing, by his side. He sighed. “Thank you, milady. Fare you well.”
“Fare well, sir.”
He turned in the doorway and was about to walk away when she called him back.
“Lest I forget. I am hosting an entertainment here, the day after next. If you will attend?”
He felt as if he'd been stabbed – in fact, it would have been less surprising to him had a spear broadsided him than hearing those words from her. He turned. “My lady, I am honored to accept.”
With that, heart singing, he turned and walked from the hall.