Royal Feud

Chapter 29

Chapter 29

"It has not turned out too badly, my coming to Ishton. I love Lady Lucy as if she were my own mother. She has been so kind and gracious to me. I have taken over the running of the household, and I find that very challenging and rewarding." "I am so proud of you." He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "I am also glad to see

you are now playing your lute before the entire castle." "I really enjoy playing and singing for an audience. Tis like I have been freed. Their joy in the music energizes me. Oh, I do not know how to describe what it feels like."

He smiled at her. "Tis clear you have enormous talent and love for music. I have

always enjoyed listening to you. Mayhap you will play my favorite song sometime."

"Aye. I will sing it for you tonight."

"Good. I am looking forward to that." He paused, rubbing his thumb gently over her knuckles. "Hermione." He looked directly into her eyes. "Are you happy here?" She looked at him, aware that if she said no, he would offer to take her away from Ishton. Had that been in her mind when she had asked him to meet her? The choice

lay starkly before her-to go away with Damien or stay with Delvin.

Her feelings for Delvin were such a muddle. Fear, admiration, wariness, attraction. But her feelings toward Damien were suddenly crystal clear. She loved him as a friend, as the brother of her heart with whom she had been blessed.

"Aye." She nodded once. "I am content. I will make a good life for myself here."

She saw the acceptance in his eyes. "Damien, what are your plans?" "Now I know you are well and not in danger, I shall devote myself to my training. As you know, I have always wanted to become a full-fledged knight." He dropped her

hand. "After I am knighted, I shall seek out another lord to serve. Given Ishton's antagonism toward me, I do not think I have much of a future here."

"I will try to change his mind about you. He is being completely unreasonable." "Hermione." Langston's voice was gentle. "Your husband is not being unreasonable. He is protecting what is his."

She stared at him, seeing the love he felt for her in his eyes, in his smile. "Tis best that I leave here as soon as I can," he said softly.

"Aye." She dropped her gaze.

"Hermione, if you ever need my help, for any reason, you have only to ask." "Thank you, my dear friend." "I had better get back." He stood. "Ishton is having Gordon watch my every move.

I had to evade him this afternoon to meet with you." "Aye, you should go." She got up as well. "I do not want you to get into trouble." Langston put his hands on her shoulders and drew her gently toward him. He

kissed each of her cheeks. "Fare well, my dear." Hermione swiped the tears from her cheeks as she watched him leave. She lingered in the dairy, giving him time to get away before she left. Gathering her cloak tightly around her against the cold February night, she walked through the deserted bailey.

The cross on top of the chapel caught her eye, and Hermione slowed her steps. She wanted the acceptance she had experienced yesterday when Father Michael had prayed for her. It had been the only peace she had known in the last two days. She needed that tranquility again.

Hermione entered the chapel and walked up the aisle. The gold cross on the altar glowed in the warm light from the nearby lamps. Her eyes on the cross, she sank to her knees in front of the altar. Making the sign of the cross on her forehead, breast, and shoulders, she folded her hands and bent her head. Father Michael had told her the only way she could get right before God was to confess her sins. The priest's words echoed in her mind: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just

and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." She prayed silently, Forgive me. Lord, for I have sinned against You. I have been angry and bitter toward You. I have blamed You for my pain and suffering. Please forgive me....

Just then a quiet voice said, "Take heart, daughter, your sins are forgiven." Forgiveness draped Hermione's soul, covering and warming her. Peace invaded her mind, stilling her agitation. Serenity settled into her heart, calming her churning emotions.

Then Hermione played her lute after supper, she sang first Damien's favorite W song. She felt she had never before given the words of longing for a lost love the poignancy she infused them with now. As the last note died away, she found Damien's eyes and smiled at him. He raised his cup in salute and mouthed the words. "Thank you."

She quickly averted her eyes from her friend's. When the thunderous applause trailed off, she plucked out the tune to "Delvin's Song." As she sang of the hero's valiant courage and daring in battle, she realized again how well the words described Delvin. She sang the last lines of the refrain:

"Courage, valor, and truth alone rule me, Loyalty my guide, in honor my pride."

It was the phrase he sang to his falcon. It was the chorus he hummed when he touched her. Hermione looked up into Delvin's intense gaze. She was his captive, just as surely as the wild gyrfalcon belonged to him. He smiled at her, and she felt her heart ease. She might be bound to him, but she knew he was as honorable as the knight in her song. He would do all in his power to keep her safe. She returned his smile.

When the last note of the song rang triumphantly through the hall, Delvin set down his goblet and strode toward her. The wild applause turned to groans of disappointment when Delvin took the lute from her. "Lady Ishton is done performing for the night," he announced.

He held out his hand to her. She placed her hand in his and allowed him to pull her

out of her chair. The crowd gradually dispersed as he led her through the hall and

upstairs to their chamber. "Thank you for singing that last song," Delvin said as he pulled off his boots. "Tis one of my favorites."

"Aye." Hermione drew the brush through her hair. "I know."

"Where did you learn it?"

"I wrote it myself."

"Truly? You have a rare talent for music, Hermione. We are very lucky that you share it with us."

"Thank you, Delvin."

As they finished undressing, the silence between them was comfortable. When Delvin joined her in bed, he leaned over her, lightly rubbing her forehead with his thumb. Hermione willed herself to relax. Moonlight filtered through the shutters providing enough light for her to see his face.

"You are training me like one of your falcons."

He averted his eyes from her, and his lips curled slightly. He shrugged one shoulder. She stared at him in surprise. Was he embarrassed?

"Aye. Tis what I know. One thing I have learned from them is the virtue of patience. I hope you will be the beneficiary of the patience they have taught me."

He lightly trailed his fingers down her right, unblemished cheek before running his thumb over her lips. Delvin cupped her left check in the palm of his hand and she tensed when he touched her scars. As he gently traced the jagged marks with his fingers she gradually felt her tension fade under his touch. After a while, he drew back and lay

down beside her.

"Sleep well, Hermione."

She woke to the feel of hands on her back. Twisting, she rolled away, pulling the bedding with her.

"Hermione. All is well. "Tis me, Delvin."

Her heart pounding, her breath coming in shallow gasps, she held the covers to her

chest and stared at him. Holding his hands up in front of him, he returned her look. He sat beside her, the bedding draped around his waist. His black hair lay in disarray around his forehead and

"You are safe. I will not hurt you."

checks; his mouth was set in a grim line.

Hermione took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and slumped into herself.

"I am sorry. I did not mean to startle you."

"Nay, I am sorry." ""Tis my fault. I should have made

do so in the future."

sure you were awake before I touched you. I will

She nodded, her hair hanging down over her cheeks as she bent her head. When she felt him leave the bed, she collapsed down into the mattress, putting her hands over her eyes. Tremors shook her.

I am safe. There is nothing to fear. I am safe.

She had conquered her fear by the time she heard his footsteps approaching the bed. Opening her eyes, she looked at him. He stopped a foot away from the bed.

"May I sit down?"

*Aye."

She pulled herself up to a sitting position, her back resting against the headboard. Delvin sat on the bed next to her.

"Hermione, I am going to touch your shoulder now."

She nodded and kept her eyes on his as he slowly reached out and touched her. He rubbed his hand down her arm then back up again.

"Are you all right, now, Hermione?"

"Aye." "Good."

He gradually raised his hand to her face. She held herself rigid as he cupped her check in the palm of his hand. Swallowing the defeat in her throat, she kept her eyes locked on his. He withdrew his hand from her face and gave her a tight smile. Mute, Hermione watched him as he left her side and quit their chamber.

After breakfast Hermione walked toward the dairy. Today was the day Betsy normally worked at the castle and Hermione was looking forward to seeing little Sadie again. As she passed through the northwest gate in the inner curtain, she saw Sadie running toward her.

"Milady! Milady!" Shouting, the child launched herself at Hermione.

"Sadie!"

Hermione laughed as she caught the little girl in her arms. Picking her up, she hugged

Sadie tightly before giving in to her squirming and setting her down.

"Daisy had kittens!"

"She did?" Hermione smiled at the child's eager face staring up at her. "Aye." Sadie nodded. "Come see."

The little girl grabbed Hermione's hand and tugged on her arm, leading her into the

barn where the livestock were stabled. "Shush! We gots ta be quiet so's not to scare the babies," Sadie explained in a loud whisper.

The girl led Hermione past several stalls, where cows were placidly chewing, to a corner at the far side of the stable. As they got closer to the cat's nesting place, Sadie started to tiptoe with exaggerated care. Hermione had to hide her delighted smile when Sadie turned around to look back at her.

"There's Daisy and her babies." The little girl pointed to the cat lying on her side, nursing her six newborn kittens,

"Master Halen say I can'st get any closer than this. Master Halen say I can have a kitten when they weaned. Milady, what's weaned?"

"That means the kittens are big enough to leave their mother," Hermione explained. "They can eat normal cat food, not just their mother's milk."

"Oh. How long'll that be?"

"About seven or eight weeks from now." "Oh." Sadie's disappointment was evident.

"I am sure you can come and visit the kittens every time you come to the castle. Did Master Halen say you could pick out your kitten yourself?" "Aye." Sadie brightened, nodding.

"Then when you visit the kittens, you can study them and decide which one you think will be the best pet for you."

"Aye."

Sadie stuck her thumb in her mouth and leaned her head against Hermione's side. Hermione gently stroked the girl's soft brown hair as they watched the kittens. When the babies were through nursing, the cat stood, shook herself, and sashayed off, leaving her kittens behind.

"Master Halen says I can'st touch 'em, neider." Sadie complained. "Aye. 'Tis best not to touch the kittens; otherwise their mother might

smell on her babies and not feed them. You do not want that, do you?"

“Nay.”

mistake your

Sadie shook her head, looking up at Hermione, her beautiful warm brown eyes wide in

alarm.

"Sadie, does your mother know where you are?"

Sadie shrugged.

"We had better get you back to your mother before she gets scared."

"Scared? Why Mummy get scared?" "Mothers always get scared when they do not know where their precious little

daughters are." "Oh."

Sadie c****d her head to the side, appearing to think her words over for a moment, before slipping her hand into Hermione's. She tugged Hermione toward the door of the barn. "Let's find Mummy."