Debra Kay Leland (22 page)

Lydan eyes lifted at the other man’s words and he glanced at his uncle curiously.  
“She is with child?”

“Aye.  William’s only heir and my only grandchild.”  He took a sip of his wine before he co
ntinued.  “She is nigh seven months now, Garrick.”  He glanced towards the now empty stairway as he continued.  “…The girl, though she is common born has nothing common about her.  …Beauty, grace, a sweet spirit, and it has been a joy to have her in my home.  I find myself looking forward to those soft sweet smiles of hers, though there has not been much for her to smile about of late.”

“William was a lucky man to have such a b
eauty in his bed.”

They both looked at Lydan’s blunt words.  He flushed uncomfortably and tried to amend himself then.  “…I—I only meant that—that the girl ‘tis of e
xceptional beauty of course.”

Edmund cleared his throat and picked up a piece of meat with his knife and studied it before he ate it slowly.  “…Indeed, she may be of common birth, Lydan, but she is now as titled as ye are.  And—
every bit a lady I assure ye.”

The younger man glanced between the two men seated across from him and smiled nervously. 
“…Of course.”

Edmund switched the topic then, but Garrick’s thoughts were still on the girl and the man seated across from him.  He knew if Lydan was left to himself that the girl would in no wise be s
afe from his blatant advances.  He glanced around the table and wondered about his uncle’s men also; as an uncomfortable feeling seeped into his heart though he wasn’t sure why it had bothered him at all, for indeed it was no concern of his...

Miranda sank into William’s comfortable bed, her voice soft as she spoke, “...I knew it was no accident.  I only wish that Edmund would not have insisted I dine with them!”

“And the othe
r man?  Was he also so crude?”

Miranda sighed and closed her eyes as she answered.  “…I don’t know, he kept glancing at me…  Do I not have the
right to refuse to see them?!”

Amelia sat on the edge of the bed and laid her hand over hers.  “I am sure that Lord Sheridan was aware of it all and shall speak to his nephews in private about the matter.   Now, m’lady, just rest
and all shall be well.”

She laid there quietly till her maid left, hugging William’s pillow, knowing
that he would have protected her if he were here...

Chapter Eleven

T
he men had retired to the solar and sat reclined in high back chairs with silver goblets in their hands and smiles on their faces.  The conversation was of stories long since gone and each man laughed…  It was close to midnight when Lydan finally excused himself and sought his chamber; his room was on the other side of the great hall in what used to be the woman’s chambers and wondered after it.  The servant informed him that the lady Miranda stayed in her husband’s chamber and that Lord Sheridan had requested that the men stay in the others.   He smiled at the thought of the pretty young widow.

Down in the
solar, Edmund and Garrick continued to talk, their conversation drifting to the loss of his own wife not three years before, and then to William’s widow also…  “She’s too young to be a widow, Edmund.  Ye should take care with her; I noticed how thy men and even young Lord Hastings looked at the girl.”

Edmund frowned, more than careful with his words now.  “…Aye, I too have noticed it.  But there is little I can do until the girl is wed.  She is lovely though, so it shouldn’t be hard to find a suitor for her after she has
given birth to my grandchild.”

Garrick swirled the wine in his cup as he spoke not lifting his eyes.  He didn’t agree with his uncle
, but it was no concern of his.  In his mind, the girl had lost her husband and should not be pressed into another marriage, but yet it was not his place to say so.  “That much is true, but perhaps he girl would not agree with thy plans.”

Edmund smiled and took a sip of his wine before he spoke, “Agree or not, it is for the best.  I shall not be around forever to protect her.”

Garrick considered his words with a frown.  “Aye, ‘tis true.  Indeed, it would have to be the right suitor or ye could well find thyself losing thy hold on Whittington altogether.  Can any of thy men be trusted with the task?”

Edmund looked up at his words.  “My men?  Aye, some I suppose; though I
would never leave the girl go off alone with them no matter how trustworthy they are.  I am no fool, Garrick.  To some she is just a just a common lass—beautiful, but common.  To others a young widow whose favor may be gained and with it land and gold, but to me…  Well, I love her as if she were my own daughter.  I would never let anything happen to her.”  He paused with a smile, “…Garrick, what of ye, why have ye not taken a wife?  It has been nigh three years since Sarah has passed on.”

Garrick
stiffened and drew a slow breath at his words.  “Nigh three years and still it feels like it only happened but yesterday.  Nay, I fear I cannot bring myself to even think of another woman but Sarah…”

“And thy holding and title?”

“All shall go to my sister’s son; I have already decided to name him as my heir.  It was not a decision lightly made, Edmund, so do not look at me so!  Even when Sarah was yet alive and we had been wed for nigh ten year without a child of our own, I had little choice in my actions then, and even less choice now.”

“But y
e are still young enough to be a father, Garrick.”

“
Yet, I find no desire to wed.”

He looked at his nephew intently.  “I would offer Miranda to thee—if
I knew ye cared for the girl.”

Garrick smiled, not looking at his uncle as he lifted his cup to his lips and took a long drink then set it down again.  “Nay, uncle, not that it is not a tempting thought, mind ye—for the girl would tempt any man, but I am too old for her and have no desire to f
ind another wife, beautiful or not.”

His uncle shrugged gently.  “As ye wish, but ye would be ideal for the girl.  I fear a man would want her only for her beauty and dowry alone, and not because she has found favor with him.”

Garrick laughed and finished his cup.  “It shall not be hard to find a suitor, uncle; they shall pound down thy door.”

“Aye… that is what I fear…”

He frowned at his uncle’s words that bothered him more than he wanted them to.  But reassured himself that he had always been one to care for those in need, and all he felt was concern for the poor girl.  For he had his own estate and own problems to deal with without worrying over hers also.  His uncle loved the girl and would see that he did well by her and he would leave the whole thing in his hands. 

It wasn’t long after that he excused himself, yet despite himself Garrick went to bed that night thinking of the young widow with
the beautiful sad eyes and the unfortunate position she was unknowingly in...

The men were kept busy in the days that followed and Miranda purposefully kept herself busy too as she sat plying needle and thread and listening to the women around her talk.  She glanced at their faces as they spoke; she felt more at ease with the servants here than any other—but Edmund himself.  Even now, she wasn’t sure how she was to fit into life here or what would happen after the child was born…  She hesitated, finding herself praying for their uncertain future, and in the back of her mind always wondering what William would have wanted for them… 
Would his wishes have included them coming here…?
She just didn’t know.

It wasn’t until the evening that she again saw the men, and it was then that she was seated aside Lord Hastings
again
.  She almost cringed as she felt his leg brush hers softly; wishing that the two would finish their business at Whittington and then leave!  Her father-in-law seemed oblivious to it all and drew her into conversation about her day as if nothing had happened, yet through it all Lydan continued his coy advances.  She answered softly glancing between the three men then lowered her gaze again.  Lydan, himself never made it a point to address her at all, though he thought nothing of brushing his hand against hers as the meal ensued.  She glanced up only to meet Lord Farrington’s intense gaze, his mouth drawn taunt as he stared at her.  She blushed and lowered her eyes again without a word wishing more than ever that they would just leave!

“…Uncle, may I take
the lady Miranda for a walk on in the gardens, her maid may follow if ye choose it to be so.”

Edmund looked up at his nephew’s words and smiled, Miranda did the same—but no smile graced her soft face.  “Aye, a walk would do her good.  Miranda, ye may go with Lord
Farrington.  Nigel, go with them if ye please.”

She glanced between the two men a
nd blushed.
“…I—nay, m’lord.”

Garrick was on his feet already expecting her rejection as he came to her side;
ignoring her quiet refusal and took her arm gently, helping her to her feet, then placed her hand on his when she did not do so herself.  He bowed to his uncle and strode towards the door with her reluctantly at his side.  She lifted her skirt with one hand and tried to keep step with his long strides as she glanced over her shoulder at her father-in-law with pleading eyes, but he would not even look at her and she felt an angry flush redden her cheeks.

Lydan’s mouth dropped open as he stared after
them.  “… Uncle—is it wise of thee to let the girl go off like that?”

“I trust my nephew.”

Lydan glanced at him, and then at the girl and felt a jealousy that surprised him.

“Am I walking too fast thee, my lady?”

She glanced up at the man beside her whose voice took her away from her wayward thoughts and blushed even harder.  “I—I fear I do not have as long of legs as ye.”

He smiled at her Celtic tone that had a harmony to it that was pleasing to the ear.  “Then
, I shall slow my pace, is that better?”

She nodded wordlessly, but didn’t meet his gaze this time, instead glancing over her shoulder at her father-in-law’s Stewart who followed not but a few paces behind them.  Garrick smiled at her shyness; the girl hardly seemed like a widow except for her sad eyes.  “I have a confession to make.”

She glanced at him warily.

“
Ye see, I had cause for asking thee to walk with me.”

She pulled her hand away lightly, but he held it in place with a smile.

“Nay, my lady, ye need not worry so; I but asked thee to walk with me for I could no longer stand to watch Lord Hastings and the displeasure of it in thine eyes.”

She glanced at him with wide blue eyes and frowned.  “Ye—ye knew?”

He smiled softly at her and then turned his gaze away purposefully.  “Aye.”

She stopped for a moment and looked down.  “It—it would have been improper of me to bring it to Edmund’s attention, yet I could not stomach his coyness any longer!  I—I suppose I should thank ye.”

He smiled not looking at her purposefully.  “I suppose ye should.”

She smiled then at his teasing words and he saw the delightful dimples that brightened her beautiful face.  It was a smiled that would make a man do anything only to get her to do it again, and he returned it with a soft laugh.  “Ah, the dimples thy uncle spoke of...   Those alo
ne would break a man’s heart.”

She laughed softly despite herself and lowered her eyes, not at all sure of what to think of the man who had seemly rescued her from Lord Hastings
, and yet also seemed to disarm her so easily.  They walked on and she found herself pulled away with her own thoughts.  Truly, she wanted to be as uncomfortable and wary of this man as she had been with Lydan, but in truth—she wasn’t.   Though, it was also true that he had
yet
to do something to offend her, but ‘yet’ was the word.  Right now, she had her child to think of—but if he indeed intended to befriend her in truth, then surprisingly she would be pleased.  She did not understand why, but somehow she enjoyed his company though she didn’t want to.