Page 48 of A Second Chance for Carys
“I’m sorry, I can’t,” came the hesitant answer, as if going to hell was a real option and Gilbert would have liked nothing more than to obey but could not. He looked ill at ease. Evidently, he’d guessed he’d interrupted a tryst. James stepped away from Carys, who had removed her hand from his groin.
“Well, what do you want?” He didn’t turn around, for the blasted green tunic was shorter than his usual black ones and did not cover his raging erection.
“The king’s nephew, the Earl of Lancaster is here. His lordship is still in Wales and Lady Branwen is resting. So it will be up to you to welcome him.”
James and Carys stared at one another in stupefaction. The king’s nephew was here at Sheridan Manor? Was fate so intent on keeping them apart that it invoked the King of England of all people? Were vindictive mobs of women, deranged sisters-in-law and life-threatening illnesses not enough? Were they to be interrupted, thwarted, denied at every turn? It looked like it.
He tugged at his hair in powerlessness.
Damn it all, he was going to have to welcome the man when all he wanted was to finally make Carys his.
Chapter Thirteen
Carys was still recovering from the shock of being told the King of England’s nephew was here—and the frustration of being prevented to act on her desire for James—when Branwen entered the hall, her eyes blurry with sleep.
“I thought you were resting,” Carys commented, walking over to her daughter. There were dark smudges under her eyes, proof that she did not sleep well at night. Of course, her growing belly would make her uncomfortable in bed, but Matthew’s absence was probably responsible for her inability to sleep. In any case, whatever the reason for her fatigue was, sheshouldbe resting, not climbing up and down staircases.
“I was, but then I heard a commotion in the bailey and I thought I had better come see what it was.”
Commotion. Yes, that was one word for it. How to announce what was happening? As two lowly born villagers, they were ill-equipped to receive such a high ranking noble and his retinue. Not to mention that, to Welsh women, the man was as close to an enemy as could be conceived. Branwen would understandably feel both out of her depth and resentful at theidea of having to welcome such a man, even if it was expected of her.
In the end, Carys just spoke calmly. “The Earl of Lancaster, the King of England’s nephew, has just arrived.”
“The—who?” Branwen fell onto the chair behind her.
“I know, I’m as stunned as you are.”
Silence fell in the room. Nothing in the two women’s former life had prepared them for such a moment.
“Oh, why did this have to happen while Matthew is in Wales?” Branwen moaned. “He would know what to do, but I cannot make conversation with the English king’s nephew! I have no idea where to start.”
Carys patted her hand in a comforting gesture. She didn’t either. Fortunately, they had one weapon at their disposal. “Worry not. Once you have bade the earl welcome and offered his men refreshments, you will retire to your bedchamber on the pretext that your great belly is getting too much for you at this late stage.” It would not even be a complete lie, anyone could see she needed calm and rest. “Just see him now, and James and I will take it from there.”
Yes. James would know what to do, she was sure of it. Wasn’t he with the retinue even now?
Branwen nodded. “Of course, you’re right, as always.”
“We will receive him here, rather than having you climb all the way up to the solar.”
No sense in taxing her strength further. The man could take it or leave it. If he objected to being welcomed in the hall amidst the remnants of their morning meal, then he would just have to swallow his displeasure. Branwen’s health was Carys’ priority. She would ensure her daughter’s comfort before pandering to a stranger’s delicate sensibilities. The man might be nephew to the King of England, but he was nothing to her. Let him make what he would of the welcome they gave him. Matthew, if he ever gotto hear of it, would side with them, she knew. Nothing would take precedence over his wife.
Carys opened the door and instructed William, the little page, to tell the steward her ladyship was up and ready to receive their prestigious guest.
James entered a moment later, followed by a man dressed in flamboyant clothes. He was just as tall as James, but slender and supple, in the way of youths who have yet to grown into their adult body. His blond hair was streaked with ginger strands, his eyes of a luminous brown. Carys supposed he could have been called attractive but somehow all she could think was that he reminded her of a weasel.
Branwen stood up and smiled a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. She seemed to share her unfavorable first impression of the Earl of Lancaster. But perhaps they were both influenced by the fact that he was nephew to the man who had brought so much trouble to their country.
“My lord, you are right welcome at Sheridan Manor.”
“I thank you.”
The bow the earl gave was elegance personified. The kiss on the hand that followed, however, was more insistent than it should have been and Carys wondered for a moment if she had not seen his tongue touch Branwen’s skin. Were these the manners at court? If so, she didn’t care for them.
Before anyone could say anything, James was dismissed with a wave of the hand and a curt word. Though it was obvious he would have liked to stay, he could not ignore a direct order from such a man. Once the door closed, the earl gestured to Branwen that she should sit back down, a concession to her condition, in all probability, because he had the look of a man who liked to impress his status on others.
He didn’t extend the same courtesy to her. It was clear she would have to stand and like it.
“If my men and I could rely on your hospitality, my dear Mistress Hunter, we would be most grateful.” Despite the polite words, this was not a request. “The king, my uncle, is a day’s ride behind us. He thought to call on Lord Sheridan on his way back from Scotland, where he won a resounding victory over the Scots at Falkirk and sent us ahead of the main retinue to ensure everything was made ready for his arrival.”
