Dark Destroyer (29 page)

But more than anything, Gates had been witness to how she had defended him against Linley’s accusations. She had been poised and collected, and she had ably defended him when another woman would have run. Was it possible, then, that she had meant what she had said? That his past didn’t matter to her? Only time would tell, as this was only the first test out of what could possibly be a few. Perhaps she would continue to defend him… or perhaps she would come to understand just how terrible his past had been.

He began to pray it wasn’t the latter. He was starting to see that, perhaps, she was true to her word.

Gathering the reins of his steed and her palfrey, he followed without another glance to Linley, still in the mud.

It was a cold, blustery day nearly a week after the return from Shrewsbury. The snows had virtually vanished, leaving a winter-dead landscape that was icy and brown. Spring was on the horizon, but not close enough.

Wrapped up in her lavender wool surcoat and heavy fur cloak, Kathalin stood out in a walled area with Rosamund’s maid, a small, plain-looking woman named Mary. She was very kind and had a terrible stutter, which made her rather quiet. It was difficult to get answers from the woman, or any kind of information, even though Rosamund had sent her maid to assist Kathalin in her new life here at Hyssington. So far, the little maid had been a good deal of help.

Today, they were out in the small walled garden that Kathalin had seen from her window. She walked around the garden, kneeling down next to plants that were desperately trying to come back to life in the cold, as Mary followed closely.

“An herb garden, you say?” Kathalin asked to clarify what she’d been told about the walled section of dead foliage in a very small area next to the kitchen yard. “Is this for the cook or is it used for medicinal purposes?”

“The c-cook planted the garden, my lady,” Mary said. “She d-does not have m-much time to keep it up, however.”

Kathalin squatted down next to a host of dried, dead plants that were starting to show signs of green, new growth now that the snow had melted away and the sun had come out. She bent down, examining the plants because she knew a good deal about herbs and flowers from St. Milburga’s extensive garden. Breaking off a piece of greenery, she smelled it.

“Rosemary,” she said. “It will grow up in bushes. What’s this?”

She rubbed her fingers along a hint of greenery on the plant further down the line, bringing her fingers to her nose to smell. She inhaled deeply.

“Sage,” she said.

Mary, following behind, pointed to an entire section over near the wall. “L-lavender grows there, my lady,” she said. “It will grow m-most year around although the s-snows have c-curbed it somewhat.”

Kathalin stood up and went over to the lavender area where she could see dead sprigs intermingled with new growth. She smiled in approval.

“This is lovely,” she said. “There will be many wonderful plants to come. I will cultivate this garden as my own. Do you think the cook will mind?”

Mary shook her head. “N-nay, my lady.”

“Would you mind asking her for me?”

“N-nay, my lady.”

Mary scurried off. Pleased, Kathalin moved to another section of the garden, finding some other new, green growth and smelling it.
Thyme
, she thought. It seemed as if there was an abundance of growth coming forth that simply needed to be cultivated and weeded, and she was more than up to the task. It was something she had done back at St. Milburga’s and she was well versed in gardening. Additionally, it gave her something to occupy her time and mind. It was a diversion that was very much needed.

It was the fifth day after her return from Shrewsbury and the fifth day that Gates had stayed away from her. Well, that wasn’t entirely true, because she had seen him on occasion when she had been walking the grounds under escort, which Gates had thoughtfully arranged, and last eve she had eaten her first meal in the great hall with Jasper and Gates had been there. His eyes had been warm upon her but his conversation had mostly been with his men and his knights, in particularly Stephan, Tobias, and Alexander.

Alexander, in fact, had spoken to her more than Gates had. He was young, and rather arrogant, but he was a well-read and well-educated man, and able to discuss a variety of subjects, including horticulture and biblical stories. Kathalin had found the man rather interesting and she appreciated that she’d had someone to talk to, but the entire time, her attention had been on Gates.

Sitting across the table from her, he and Stephan had been in deep conversation most of the night. In fact, Kathalin was hurt that he hadn’t chosen to speak with her. He didn’t go so far as to ignore her, but he definitely didn’t want to converse overly with her. Sad, Kathalin had been forced to speak with Alexander, who seemed to want to discuss the morality of the tale of Job. Not exactly what Kathalin wished to speak of but she was able to keep pace with Alexander and his quick mind. The man talked very fast and she simply went along with him.

But the evening had been pleasant and she had retired with quiet young Tobias escorting her to the keep. After sleeping soundly in the new chamber she had been moved to, across from her mother’s chamber, she had awoken to a view of a dead garden and that was where she now found herself. She was in her element now and feeling more cheerful than she had in quite a while.

Pacing the garden, she was making a mental note of where the herbs were located. She would ask her father if he would provide her with a couple of servants to help weed out the garden and till the soil. She needed to remove the new, green sprigs that were popping up so that she could replant them once the soil was tilled and broken. She had big plans for the garden, already laying out where she planned to plant things, when the garden gate screeched open.

Hearing the noise of the old iron, Kathalin turned to see Alexander enter. Dressed in heavy wool and mail against the cold temperature, he smiled brightly at her when their eyes met. Kathalin smiled weakly in return, wondering what he was doing here. He was a handsome man with his blond hair, blue eyes, and white smile and the truth was that he was rather charming, but she simply wasn’t attracted to him, not when her heart belonged to Gates. He lifted a hand as he approached.

“Greetings, my lady,” he said. “I had heard you had come to the garden on this fine day. Not much of a garden, however.”

Kathalin’s smile turned genuine as she looked at her surroundings. “It will be when I am finished with it,” she said. “I plan to grow it into a fine, proud display.”

Alexander came to a halt a respectable distance away, looking at the dried weeds around him. “Is that so?” he asked. “I wish you luck, then. You will need it.”

Kathalin turned to him with a mock scowl. “Did you come to criticize my project?”

He laughed softly, shaking his head. “I did not, in fact,” he said. “I came because one of the palfrey’s is about to give birth and Gates thought you might like to claim the foal for your own. You do not have a horse and he thought you might like this one.”

Kathalin’s face lit up. “I would, very much,” she said. “Is she giving birth now?”

Alexander nodded. “She is trying to,” he said. “I will let you know once the foal has been born.”

Kathalin was already moving around him. “I want to see the birth.”

He reached out to stop her. “A nasty business, my lady,” he said. “The mare is well-tended. You do not need to be present.”

Kathalin puckered her lips at him wryly. “Do you think I have never seen a birth before?”

“Have you?”

She looked at him as if he were mad. “Of course I have,” she said. “Many times. St. Milburga’s is a healing order and that also means birthing children as well as birthing animals. I have seen quite a few in my time.”

Alexander smiled, his gaze on her in an appraising fashion. “My, my,” he said, rather teasingly. “Aren’t we an accomplished lady? Not only do you plant gardens, but you birth children. My mother will be most impressed with you.”

Kathalin cocked her head curiously. “Your mother?”

Alexander nodded, looking off over the garden as he spoke. “Aye,” he said. “My parents have been invited to the celebration that your parents have planned in your honor. They should be here any day. My mother, in fact, is an avid gardener. She will like to speak to you of herbs and flowers and other things that are green. I hope you will indulge her.”

Kathalin nodded. “I would be honored to,” she said. “Does your mother have a garden, then?”

Alexander lifted his eyebrows as his focus returned to her. “Massive,” he said. “It is four times the size of this little plot. She spends a good deal of her time tending it.”

As he looked at her, Kathalin could feel something odd radiating from his eyes, something warm and curious. It occurred to her that she’d seen the same expression in Gates’ eyes, too, but in his case, she had been receptive to it. In Alexander’s case, she was not. Quickly, she averted her gaze and moved away.

“Then I look forward to showing her this garden and asking for her suggestions,” she said. “I tended the herb garden at St. Milburga’s but I was only one of many. I have never had a garden of my own.”

Alexander watched her as she walked away, studying the dried weeds at her feet. “I am sure she would be more than happy to comply,” he said. He hesitated a moment before continuing. “I… I would like to hear more of your plans for your garden. I would consider it an honor if you would allow me to take you on a walk where you can tell me of all of your great hopes for your plants. There is a fine walk next to the stream nearby and I noticed this morning that all of the snow had melted down there. It would be a fine place to walk.”

A warning bell went on in Kathalin’s head. She could just hear the interest in his tone, interest that went beyond mere politeness. She was very careful in how she responded, not wanting to offend him, for she truly liked Alexander. He was a pleasant and humorous man. But she was not interested in him romantically.

“I am honored, my lord,” she said. “But not today, if you do not mind. My mother has asked to speak with me later this morning, so I will be occupied.”

It was actually the truth and she was relieved that she had an excuse. Alexander simply nodded his head.

“Of course,” he said. “Mayhap another time.”

“Mayhap.”

An awkward silence fell as Kathalin crouched down next to another plant, seeming more interested in the dead growth around her than in Alexander. He sensed that, of course, and tried not to feel slighted by it. It was time for him to leave.

“Then I shall look forward to it,” he said. “Good day to you, my lady.”

Kathalin looked up from her plant. “Good day, Sir Alexander.”

He forced a smile and turned on his heel, heading out of the garden and feeling embarrassed about her rejection. He tried to tell himself that it was because she was in new and uncertain circumstances, but something told him that was not entirely true. He had been watching the interaction between the lady and Gates for several days now and the harder they tried to ignore each other, the more obvious it was that there was something between him. He didn’t know why he felt that way, but he did. Lost in thought, he had just reached the garden gate when it swung back and nearly hit him.

Gates stepped through the opening, moving aside when he saw Alexander coming through. “There you are,” he said. “I have been looking for you.”

Alexander paused, his hand on the iron gate. “I came to tell the lady about the foal,” he said. “What did you wish of me?”

Gates threw a thumb towards the gatehouse. “A party has been sighted about a mile out,” he said. “They are flying the blue banners and yellow lion of de Lohr.”

Alexander grinned. “My mother and father approach?”

Gates nodded. “They do,” he said. “I thought you would want to ride out to greet them.”

Alexander fled from the garden without another word, rushing in the direction of the stables. Gates paused a moment, watching him go, before inevitably turning his attention towards Kathalin, who was crouched down next to some dead plants, scratching at the dirt.

Alone.
He was alone with her and the weight of the situation wasn’t lost on him. He hadn’t seen the woman alone in five days but now, here they were, just the two of them. Alexander was occupied, as was Jasper, but he knew that his time with Kathalin was limited. As soon as the House of de Lohr arrived, Jasper would want to show her off. He didn’t blame the man. Therefore, he had to speak to her privately before she was taken from him.

There was much he had to say.

Five days of reflecting upon Kathalin’s interaction with Lord Linley and five days of reflecting upon all they had said to one another in Shrewsbury had been weighing heavily on him. He couldn’t think of anything else. He went to sleep at night with Kathalin on his mind and woke up the next morning with the same if, in fact, he was lucky enough to sleep at all. The woman was occupying his every moment, like a ghost talking over his body and filling him until he could hardly breathe.

Five days of weighing his options, of wrestling with his fears, of imagining a future with and without her. God, there was so much he wanted to say to her that he hardly knew where to begin. But he had to start somewhere.

He made his way over to her.

“Good morn to you, my lady,” he said pleasantly.

Kathalin looked up from the dead weeds in her hand, her eyes lighting up at the sight of him. “Good morning, de Wolfe,” she said. “I hear that I am soon to have a new foal.”

He nodded, watching her as she fingered some tiny, green sprouts coming out of the dead earth. “Indeed,” he said. “Did Alexander tell you?”

She brushed off her hands and stood up. “He told me that a mare was giving birth and that you offered the foal to me,” she said. “I accept. May I go and see the birth? Alexander seemed reluctant to take me.”