“MY LADY,” WALTER SAID AS HE TOOK JUDITH’S HAND and kissed it. She kept her eyes lowered, as if in shyness. “It has been a long time since I saw you last, and you seem to have grown more lovely. Come and sit at the high table with me. We have prepared a late supper for you.”
He led her to the long table set on a platform. The tablecloth was old and spotted, and the dishes were of battered pewter. When they were seated, he turned to her. “Your chamber is comfortable?”
“Yes,” she answered quietly.
He smiled, puffing his chest out a little. “Come, my lady, you need not fear me.”
Fear you! she thought furiously, her eyes meeting his. Then she recovered herself. “It is not fear I feel, but wonder. I am unused to the company of men, and those I have known…they have not been kind to me.”
He took her hand in his. “I would amend that if I could. I know a lot about you, though you know little of me. Did you know I was a friend of your brothers?”
“No,” she said in astonishment, “I didn’t. Was it then my father pledged me in marriage to you?” she asked in wide-eyed innocence.
“Yes-no-” Walter stuttered.
“Ah, I understand, my lord. It was after my dear brothers’ untimely death.”
“Yes! It was then,” Walter grinned.
“My poor brothers had so few friends. It was good they had you for a while. And my father! I would not speak ill of the man, but he was forever misplacing things. Perhaps he misplaced the betrothal agreement between us.”
“There was no—” Walter began, then took a drink of wine to stop his words. He couldn’t admit there had been no such document.
Judith put a tremulous hand on his forearm. “I have said something wrong? You will beat me?”
He quickly turned back to her and saw there were tears in her eyes. “Sweet Judith,” he said as he kissed her hand passionately. “What is wrong with the world that a lovely innocent such as you is so terrified of men?”
Ostentatiously, Judith wiped a tear from her eye. “Forgive me. I have known so few and…” She lowered her eyes.
“Come, give me a smile. Ask some task or gift from me, and I will give it.”
Judith looked up immediately. “I would like to have better quarters for my mother,” she said firmly. “Perhaps on the floor with me.”
“My lord!” Sir Arthur interrupted from Judith’s other side. He had been listening to every word of their conversation. “There is too much freedom on the fourth floor.”
Walter frowned. He wanted very much to please his sweet, shy captive, and being reprimanded before her by his man was not a means to that end.
Instantly, Arthur saw his mistake. “I meant, my lord, only that she should have a trustworthy guard near her, for her own sake.” He looked at Judith. “Tell me, my lady, if you had only one man to guard you, whom would you choose?”
“Why, John Bassett,” she said quickly. She could have bitten her tongue as soon as the words were out.
Arthur gave her a smug look before returning his gaze to Walter. “There. From the lady’s own mouth She has chosen the guard for Lady Helen.”
And leave me without help should I try to escape, Judith thought. Sir Arthur looked at her as if he could read her thoughts.
“An excellent idea!” Walter said. “That pleases you, my lady?”
She could think of no reason to give for keeping John to herself, and perhaps his absence would give her more freedom. “That would please me greatly, my lord,” she said sweetly. “I know John will care for my mother well.”
“And now we may turn to more pleasant matters What do you say we ride out and hunt tomorrow?”
“Hunt, my lord? I…”
“Yes? You may speak freely to me.”
“It is a silly wish.”
“Come, tell me,” Walter smiled tolerantly.