Something passed through his eyes, and then abruptly he stood up and walked over to his grandfather.
‘Papi! I’ve got some news! Something I want to share with you!’
Looking up, Janos chuckled and shook his head slowly. ‘I knew there was something. I don’t know about a wolf, but you’ve been like a cat on a hot tin roof all morning! Come on, then—out with it. What’s your news?’
‘Kajan is here!’ Laszlo spoke softly but his eyes were bright.
Prudence smiled politely. She had no idea who Kajan was, but his arrival was obviously welcome, for both men were beaming at each other.
‘He arrived last night, after you’d gone up to bed. I helped him set everything up in the top field. Everyone else should be arriving today.’
He hesitated and Prudence felt her scalp begin to prickle, for she could hear the pent-up excitement in his voice.
‘Mihaly wants to christen Pavel this weekend. And they’ve asked me to be his godfather.’ Then he grinned as Janos stood up shakily and pulled his grandson into his arms.
Watching them together, Prudence felt suddenly utterly out of place—as though she had gatecrashed a private party. Inside, her heart felt leaden. Lying in his arms that morning, her body aching and sated, their closeness had felt like the natural, unfeigned intimacy of any normal couple—it had been easy to pretend to herself that theirs was just an ordinary relationship.
But now, like a spectator watching from the sidelines, she felt a stab of despair. Who was she kidding? She had no right to stand up and congratulate her lover with a hug. Nor would she ever see his godfathering skills put into practice with their own children.
Forcing herself to push away that troubling thought, she smiled brightly and said, ‘Congratulations. That’s wonderful!’
Releasing his grandfather, Laszlo turned towards her. She was about to repeat her congratulations when something on his face stopped her.
‘Thanks.’
He stared at her with such bleakness that she felt cold on the inside.
And then his face twisted into a smile as his grandfather patted his arm and said shakily, ‘I’m very, very proud of you. I’m sorry, my dear!’ Janos glanced at Prudence. ‘It’s just that this is quite a moment for both of us.’
She smiled at Janos. ‘Of course it is! And I’m very pleased for both of you.’ Her gaze flickered towards Laszlo and she said carefully, ‘What are your duties? Is it quite a hands-on role?’
His eyes fixed on her face and she saw a ripple of some nameless emotion stir the surface.
Then, glancing away, he shrugged and said stiffly, ‘It can be.’
His voice was flat, with no trace of his earlier joy, and she could almost see him withdrawing from the conversation—withdrawing from her. She stared at him in misery and confusion.
‘I’m sure Mihaly will want you to be involved,’ she said slowly. ‘He obviously thinks a lot of you.’
He shrugged. There was a short, tense silence and then, not looking at her, he said coolly, ‘I’m his cousin. Relatives are always chosen to be godparents.’
‘I didn’t know,’ she said stiffly.
‘Why should you?’
The coldness in his voice held a warning. It felt like a slap to the face and, biting her lip, she looked away. She felt suddenly foolish and tired—for how could she ever have imagined that they were close?
Oblivious to the tension in the room, Janos beamed. ‘He’s following a great tradition, Prudence. Both his father and his father’s father had many godchildren between them, and I know Laszlo will be the same. He is much loved.’ His face softened and he glanced at Prudence conspiratorially. ‘And this will be good for him. Being shut up in this castle with only an old man for company has made him far too serious about life.’
Avoiding Laszlo’s gaze, Prudence licked her lips. ‘He can be a little intense,’ she said carefully.
Janos snorted and Laszlo looked up and shook his head. ‘I am still in the room, you know,’ he said drily.
Prudence eyed him sideways. His mood seemed to have shifted again, and not for the first time she wondered what actually went on inside that handsome head of his. She watched in silence as he sighed in mock outrage.
‘Some of us don’t spend all day just looking at pretty pictures, Papi. So, now that my character is slain—laid bare and lifeless for all to see—can we move on? I’ve got a lot to organise.’
He was smiling again and Janos laughed.