Lords of Darkness and Shadow (81 page)

Strange that his gesture did not shock her.  She had heard tale of men of the church seducing women and had seen a few questionable actions in her lifetime, enough to know that these men were not entirely celibate.  It was well known that they could be quite corrupt.  She casually shifted so that her leg was not within reach of his dirty toes, but it seemed the bishop had long legs and managed to stroke her ankle once again with his cold digits.  When she cast him a baleful glance, he ran his tongue over his lips and grinned.

Disgusted, she rose from the table with the whispered excuse to Jocelin that she was in need of the privy.  She couldn’t even look at the Bishop of Coventry, infuriated that his leering attention had forced her from the table. He had managed to unnerve her enough so that she needed to collect herself.  That was not a usual occurrence with her; Sheridan was normally steady in a world filled with flighty women. But the events of the day and the excitement of the evening had shaken her otherwise steady constitution.  She needed a breath of air.  When Neely tried to follow her, she called him off.

She walked from the warm, fragrant hall and out into the corridor. It was several degrees cooler in the long hall. There were an abundance of guards and servants about, each one of them asking to assist her. Sheridan shook the first two off but allowed the third, a young lad dressed in red bloomers, to show her to the door.  He took her to a small exit seldom used that led out into the yard just south of the Tower.  Long, stone steps led down to the dirt below.

The moonlight illuminated her way, a bright silver disc against the night sky. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she glanced up to admire the evening. It was a lovely night and she inhaled deeply of the winter fragrance. From the cloying warmth of the hall to the airy chill of the evening, it was refreshing. She thought over the bishop’s actions for a moment longer before putting it out of her mind.  The man was a supporter of their cause and she could not let anything interfere, not his apparent lust or her distain. If it happened again, she would be forced to speak to him in no uncertain terms. She hoped it would be enough.

It was actually quite cold for January and Sheridan was without her cloak. But she enjoyed the cold, unlike most. She found it invigorating.  She moved away from the steps, strolling into the yard and gazing at the Wakefield Tower several hundred yards to her right.  It was a massive cylinder framed against the black sky.  Now and again she could see the guards upon the wall walk, going about their rounds.  It was a busy place, this living, breathing heart of England.  Another few steps had her at a large oak tree that stood solitary and alone in the vastness of the empty yard.  Glancing into the thick branches above, she heard a voice behind her.

“My lady is without a cloak,” the tone was so low that it was a growl. “’Tis cold this eve to be taking a stroll without cover.”

Startled, she whirled around. De Lara was standing a few feet away. She had never even heard him approach. All of the things that Jocelin had told her about the man suddenly came crashing down and it was an effort to keep steady.

“I… I enjoy the cold, my lord,” she hoped her voice didn’t sound as startled as she felt. “This is nothing but a balmy eve.”

Sean stood his ground, his clear blue eyes focused on her face. Never did they wander in an evil or suggestive manner. Nevertheless, Sheridan was on pins and needles as they confronted one another.

“Bravely spoken,” he said. “Where is your cloak?”

“Inside.”

“Then I shall go and retrieve it for you.”

“That is not necessary, my lord,” she said quickly;
too
quickly. “I shall return to the hall. You needn’t trouble yourself.”

The glimmer in his eyes changed, though his expression remained unreadable. “No trouble at all, Lady Sheridan. ‘Twould be my pleasure.”
Sheridan could see that he would not be deterred. Remembering Jocelin’s words, panic began to snatch at her.  “No need, I assure you. I shall return to the hall this instant.”

She was half way to the steps by the time he replied. “Why would you want to return to that den of depravity and gluttony? You are in much better company out here with the moon and stars.”

She paused although she knew, even as she did it, that she should probably continue running and never look back.  “It is a lovely evening, of course.”

He began walking towards her, slowly. “Then why do you run like a frightened rabbit? This is not the woman I met this afternoon. She was far more controlled and coherent.”

The panic that pulled at her suddenly gripped her full force. She threw out a hand as if to stop his forward progression. “Come no closer. If you try to take me to the king, I’ll scream as you have never heard screams before. I’ll fight as you have never seen a woman fight. I’ll… I’ll kill you if you try, do you hear me?”

It all came out as a rapid stream of high-pitched threats. Sean stopped in his tracks and his eyes widened. After a moment, he broke out in laughter.  In all his years, he’d never seen or heard anything so hilarious.  For a man who had not openly laughed in ages, it was a liberating experience.

“So that is why you run?” he said, sobering. “My lady, I assure you that I have no intention of taking you to the king.”

Sheridan’s heart was thumping in her chest. She could hardly catch her breath out of sheer fright. But above her racing emotions, she realized one thing; de Lara had an amazing smile. His straight, white teeth were bright against the moonlight and dimples that carved deep channels into both cheeks. Had she not been so terrified, she would have been completely entranced.

“What…?” she swallowed, torn between wanting to trust him and the inherent instinct to run. “You mean you have not come here to abduct me for the king’s… the king’s…?”

He shook his head. “Nay.” His voice was a rumble. “I saw you leave alone. I came to make sure that you did not come to harm.”

There was something in his manner that put her at ease. It was probably foolish, but she felt it nonetheless.  “But I am not your concern, my lord. Why would you do this?”

“Because a woman wandering alone is not safe,” he said. “However, after your threats of great bodily harm, I would hazard to say that you are no ordinary female.”

“I am not.”

“You can more than likely take care of yourself.”

“I have been known to win a fight in my time.”

“Is that so?” He appeared genuinely interested. “Against what mighty warrior, may I ask?”

She pursed her lips reluctantly. “Only my sister. But she packs a wallop.”

“Of course, I have no doubt,” he said sincerely. “She seems the fighting type.”

“She is.”

The conversation died for the moment, but it wasn’t an uncomfortable pause. Sean stood several feet away, watching the reflection of the moon off the lady’s fine features. As he had noted in his initial impression of her, there was nothing imperfect about the woman.  He shouldn’t have followed her outside, he knew that; but he had seen her from the moment he’d entered the great feasting hall and, try as he might, he couldn’t seem to ignore her.  When she left, he had followed. He didn’t know why. He didn’t even know what he was going to say to her should he have the chance. But here he was and the conversation had come easily.

“Are you really going back inside?” he asked.

She shrugged. “I probably should. My family will wonder what has become of me.”

“I would be deeply honored if you would walk with me for a few moments.”

If you see the man, run
. She couldn’t shake Jocelin’s words. But the knight standing before her didn’t seem the death and destruction type, at least not at the moment. His manner was quite gentle. It emboldened her. Never one to shy away from the truth, she looked him squarely in the eye.

“For what purpose?”

He was silent for a moment. Then, a well-shaped eyebrow slowly lifted. “Because it is a lovely evening and I should enjoy the company of a lovely lady.”

She considered his kind request. “Won’t the king be looking for you? I am told that you are his protector.”

He could see where this was leading and he wasn’t surprised. For the first time in his long, illustrious and hazardous career, he felt a twinge of shame. For once, he wished he could keep his chosen profession out of this. He’d never wished that before and it was a strange awareness.

“Our king is amply protected,” he said simply.

He extended an enormous mailed elbow. She gazed at it a moment, her deliberation evident. Then, she looked at him. “May I ask a question?”

“If that is your pleasure, my lady.”

“Very well. If I was your daughter and a man of your reputation asked permission to take me on an unchaperoned walk through the Tower grounds, what would you, as my father, say?”

A twinkle came to his eye. “What do you know of my reputation?”

“Probably more than I should.”

He didn’t lower his elbow. “Walk with me and we shall discuss it.”

“We shall discuss it now or I will go back inside.”

The twinkle in his eye grew and he lowered his arm. “As you wish, my lady. What would you like to know?”

She felt comfortable enough to ask him. Besides, she was still close enough to the Tower to make a run for it should she anger him. “Are you really as malicious as I have been told?”

His expression didn’t waver. “I would not know. What have you been told?”
She didn’t want to offend him. But she wasn’t sure if she trusted him, either. Surely Jocelin would not lie to her. Brow furrowed in thought, she began to walk. Sean took pace beside her.

“We must be honest, my lord,” she said after a moment. “It would appear that you and I are on opposite sides.”

“’Twould seem that way.”

“Then I am your enemy.”

“In theory.”

“I had not heard of you before this day. What I was told was quite unflattering.”

“To you or to me?”

She looked at him. “To you, of course. I was told that you are not only the king’s protector, but that you assist him in his… his dastardly and distasteful deeds. Everyone is afraid of you. Is this true?”

He drew in a long, deep breath. Thoughtfully, he gazed up at the sky. “It is far more complicated than that. Politics always are.”

“But you are kind to me. I do not fear you even though I am told that I should.  Why are you kind to me?”

“Because you were kind to me.”

She stopped walking, lifting her hands in a confused gesture. “How would you know that? I only met you this afternoon. I said but a few sentences to you.”

He looked down at her, so diminutive and sweet against his massive size. “It wasn’t what you said, but how you said it. Your manner was kind.”

There was something in his expression, barely perceptible, that brought her an odd sense of pity. “You are unused to people being kind to you.”

His reply was to lift an eyebrow.  When he put his elbow out, this time, she took it. They resumed their walk.

“I suppose there are those that would call me foolish for even speaking to you,” she said.

He was enjoying the feel of her on his arm. It had been ages since he’d last experienced such satisfaction. “Absolutely.”

“And if my family were to see me at this moment, I would be in for a row.”

He glanced at her. “They will not beat you, will they?”

She met his gaze. “That is a strange question coming from a man…”

“Of my reputation.”

She smiled sheepishly. “I should have worded that more carefully.”

He just smiled at her and they resumed their walking in silence.  Sheridan was beginning to grow cold in spite of her assertion that she was immune to such a thing.

“You did not answer my question,” she said.

“What question was that, my lady?”

“If a man of your reputation were to take your daughter on an unescorted walk, what would you do?”

“Kill him.”

He wasn’t joking. She knew from the tone of his voice that he had never been more serious. It wasn’t a boast, but a fact.  In that statement, she could see that everything Jocelin had told her about him was true. He was a man of deeds bred of evil.  Still, she did not sense that Sean was an evil man.  In their first meeting and now their second, she had never received such an impression. 

But the mood threatened to grow odd and strained. She did not want that.  Instead, she chose to make light of his comment.

“Do you plan to kill yourself, then?”

He gave her a crooked smile. “Nay, my lady. I intend to behave as a chivalrous knight should.”

She stopped walking again and looked at him with the utmost seriousness. “Sir Sean, you have been nothing but chivalrous since our first meeting this afternoon.  And for saving my sister, I will always show you kindness no matter… well, no matter what our politics.”

Sean was genuinely touched. His life was full of subversion and deadly threats and he truly couldn’t remember, in recent times, when he’d had a moment that had been even remotely pleasant. There was no comfort in his life. As wrong as it was, he was finding comfort with an enemy.