Page 86 of Feathers in the Wind
Dearest daughter, I trust this letter finds you and your sister in good health. Reports of Sir Richard Farrington’s increasing movements in the area of Kinton Lacey has caused me some concern, so I am sending one of my best men to you to reinforce the garrison and command the defences in the event of an attack by the King’s men. I trust you to defer to Captain Collyer in all matters military. I feel more certain in my mind knowing you and my beloved Kinton Lacey are in a man’s hands.
“There you are,” Penitence commented. “Father is quite explicit. Your Captain Collyer is here to take command.”
Deliverance sniffed and continued, her eyes widening as she silently read the next sentence.
Deliverance, daughter, I must warn you that Captain Collyer has something of a reputation and an eye for a pretty face, so I trust you to see to the protection of your sister’s honour and to report to me should any indiscretion occur. Yr loving father JF.
She set the letter down, wounded by the tone of the letter, particularly her father’s last words. Beautiful, gentle and serene Penitence would always be considered the one worthy of protecting, never her.
“What’s the matter?” Penitence, always intuitive to her sister’s moods, looked up, her brow creased with concern. “What else did Father say?”
Deliverance folded the letter and tucked it into her skirts. She forced a smile. “Nothing. Just sent us his love.” She ran a hand across her forehead. “It has been rather a trying day.”
“Deliverance?” her sister prompted.
“I should be grateful to Captain Collyer for relieving me of the terrible responsibility of the castle’s defence. Grateful? This is my home, my castle…”
As Deliverance paced the floor, Penitence bent her head to her embroidery. Deliverance heard her sister murmur as she stabbed the needle through the cloth, “Poor man.”
Chapter 2
This is quite good,” Ned remarked as he bent over the plan of the defences that Deliverance had shown them the night before.
Luke spun the paper to face him. “Humph,” he agreed grudgingly. “They would be fine if we had unlimited men, supplies and time, but as we lack all three, a little more practicality is called for. Pass me that pen.”
“You better not let Deliverance catch you tampering with her plans.”
At the sound of a woman’s voice, both men looked up. Penitence stood in the doorway, a smile playing at the corner of her luscious lips.
Luke cast his friend a quick sidelong glance. Ned’s mouth had fallen open as he stared at the lovely Mistress Felton.
“Ned,” he said in a low voice. “Remember our conversation with Sir John.”
Ned’s mouth clamped shut.
Luke glanced up at the portrait above the fireplace. The man glared down at him with such severity that he shivered. What Sir John lacked in height he made up for in force of character, and Luke could still feel the painful clench of the supposedly friendly hand the man had lain on his shoulder.
“Collyer, Barrett,” he had said, his tone exuding calm and bonhomie. “I know your reputations. If so much as a whisper reaches my ear that either of my daughters has in any way been compromised by your attentions to them, it will be my personal pleasure to detach you from a certain part of your anatomy with a blunt knife and then hang you from the nearest tree. Do I make myself quite clear?”
Looking into the man’s eyes, Luke knew that Sir John meant every word and gave his solemn oath on the spot.
He shuddered at the memory and bowed respectfully to Sir John’s youngest daughter. “Good morning, Mistress Felton.”
Penitence responded with a graceful curtsey and an inclination of her head. “I trust you slept well? I am afraid accommodation within the castle is a little short.”
As they had been assigned Sir John’s own bedchamber, neither man had any complaint about the accommodation.
“Oh, there you are, Pen,” Deliverance Felton appeared at the door beside her sister. She looked into the room and scowled. “Good morning, gentlemen,” she said, her tone icy.
Luke acknowledged her unenthusiastic greeting with a deep bow.
“And a good morning to you, Mistress Felton. We were just looking at your plans for the defence of the castle.” Feeling he may have got off on a bad footing with the formidable Mistress Felton the previous night, he tried to make amends. “Your work is commendable.”
Deliverance Felton’s face brightened. “So, do we start this morning?”
An awkward silence fell on the room as Luke and Deliverance met each other’s gaze.
“Collyer…” Ned prompted him.
