Lord Liar Part 7

Chapter Four

Later, Ranulf thanked G.o.d for G.o.dric's unexpected appearance, for if Aldyth's elder brother had not come, he thought he might very well have stopped Aldyth from going and confessed the whole ruse to her.

"Aldyth? My lord? Is ... aught amiss?" G.o.dric asked, his eyes narrowing as they shifted from his obviously distressed sister to Ranulf.

By the rood, it was fortunate that the youth wore no sword, for it looked as if G.o.dtic would like naught better than to run him through.

"Nay ... n-nothing," Aldyth stammered.

"I pray you would excuse me, my lord," she added, then dashed past G.o.dtic and out of the stable.

"My lord?" G.o.dric persisted.

Ranulf knew he must a.s.sume the demeanor of the languid courtier immediately if his disguise was to be maintained.

He didn't trust G.o.dric any farther than he could throw him. The youth may have gulled Lord lfienne into believing he was reformed, but Ranulf knew G.o.dric still hated anyone and anything Norman, and he was clever enough to figure out what had happened from his sister's appearance.

He would have to watch his back with this English c.o.c.kerel, Ranulf thought with regret.

"Yes, my good fellow?" he drawled, brazening it out and watching the young man's lip curl with ill-concealed disgust.

G.o.dric evidently decided to be content with Aldyth's departure.

"I...

uh, that is, my lord, I was told you were displeased with the care of your mount. I came to tell you I would be correcting it immediately. "

Ranulf stared him down, his gaze as chill as G.o.dric's. Warin had obviously encountered G.o.dtic on the way back into the hall and had told him Aldyth was alone in the stables with Ranulf.

"How very good of you, but such diligence is quite unnecessary, I do a.s.sure you," he said with an elegant gesturing hand.

"Thank you, but I'm sure my lord father has other tasks more suited to his personal squire." He nodded dismissively.

G.o.dric bowed.

"Very well, then, my lord. As Lord ltienne has indicated he has no need of me for a while, I will spend some time with my sister." He stared at something near Ranulf's foot, then leaned over and picked it up. It was Aldyth's sheer sc.r.a.p of a veil, which had come off during their pa.s.sionate embrace, Ranulf realized with dismay.

The youth gave Ranulf a look eloquent with warning, then turned on his heel and left.

"That filth! What did he do to upset you so, Aldyth?" G.o.drio growled when he found Aldyth in her chamber, crying her eyes out.

"Did he--I swear on our mother's grave, I'll run him through if he's despoiled you."

"Nay, of course not," she said quickly, frightened at the livid fury on her brother's face.

"He merely told me a very sad story... about someone we both knew who had died."

"Don't play me for a fool, Aldyth," G.o.dtic snapped.

"Your lips did not get bruised and swollen listening to a sad story--and here is your veil, which I found at Lord Ranulf's so elegant feet!"

"All right, G.o.dric," she said with a sigh, accepting the wrinkled veil, which still had a wisp of straw clinging to it, "but calm down. He flirted with me and kissed me... and then he, well, he just forgot himself. He meant nothing by it, G.o.dric. Wooing a maiden is as natural to a handsome young lord as breathing, don't you see? But I slapped his face and made it very clear I was not to be toyed with." She studied G.o.dtic to see if her truth altering had worked.

It had, at least partially. G.o.drio made a visible effort to slow his breathing.

"Thank the saints. I would have killed him for your honor's sake, never doubt me, Aldyth. Wasn't last night's exhibition enough to teach you to stay well dear of that demon? Now that you understand, don't ever let him get you alone again! I might not come along at such a fortunate time on. another occasion, and I don't put anything past that scoundrel, even rape of a va.s.sal's daughter."

She didn't believe she had ever been in danger of Ranulf ravishing her--why should he? He could have any woman he wanted. But, she reminded herself sadly, she had also thought she had known Ranulf's truest self.

"Yes, brother," she said, suppressing the urge to argue against G.o.drie's authoritarian tone.

"Do not worry. I shall never let that snake within striking distance again."

Her brother sighed.

"I'm sorry, Aldyth. Perhaps you think I usurp our father's role. I merely would not see you hurt." He held out his arms and she went. into them, steeling herself not to weep again, as much as she wanted to. She could only hope G.o.dric believed the danger was over so that he would not do something foolish, like pick a quarrel with his liege lord's heir. If that happened, Lord ltienne might very well remember they were only English, after all, and cast her father, who was no longer a young man, G.o.dric and her upon the road.

Suddenly she longed for the peace of Sherborne. At home she would not have to worry about such things. It was clearly best that she forget Ranulf, and the sooner she left Kingselere, where she was likely to meet him in any corridor, the easier that would be.

The next day, Aldyth was pondering how to persuade her father to take her home, when the midday meal was interrupted by a messenger. The man, still dusty from his ride, brought the rolled vellum with its dangling ribbons and heavy wax seals to Ranulf.

There was a hush at the high table as Ranulf broke the seals and studied the brief message. Aldyth noted with a perverse stab of pride that he did not hand the letter to the priest sitting next to him to read it to him; unlike many Norman n.o.bles, Ranulf was educated, as were his siblings. "It's from the royal court, which lies at Winchester now,"

he said.

"I'm commanded back to his grace the king's presence as soon as may be."

"Oh no, Ranulf," sighed the countess with a mother's regret.

"You've only just arrived! What could be so important that you must leave tomorrow?"

"My lady mother, I fear I must leave within the hour," Ranulf corrected gently.

"There's probably nothing more pressing than Rufus's desire for all his favorite hunting companions to be present. But I am his to command, you know."

"Indeed," the earl snorted, the one-word comment speaking volumes.

Ranuif favored his father with a mildly indignant look. "Royal favor is nothing to be sneezed at, my lord father,"

he protested with another of the studied gestures that made his father visibly stiffen.

"Mother, Father, I pray you would excuse me. Mayhap a longer visit next time. Sir Nyle, Aldyth, my apologies for shortening your time with Warin.

Warin, make your farewells--then make haste to pack your things, boy."

Warin was clearly thrilled rather than disappointed to be departing with Lord Ranulf sooner than he had expected, but he suffered through his sister's kiss with good grace. While he was being embraced by Sir Nyle, however, he noticed Aldyth's eyes were on Ranulf.

Ranulf gestured for the enormous Breton who was his squire to join him.

Aldyth watched as he kissed his mother, bowed stiffly to his father and departed the hall with a few economical, yet supremely graceful motions. He did not look in her direction. She could not look away, though, however much the sight of him made her heart ache.