Hugh by Ruth A. Casie

Author:Ruth A. Casie
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Medieval
Published: 2020-06-01T16:00:00+00:00

SEVERAL HOURS LATER, the great hall was filled with guests and competitors. A banquet dinner had been served and the entertainment began. Hugh sat at a table close to the dais. Thankfully, Graham sat with him and spoke to people who stopped to speak.

“You haven’t said a word all evening.” Jane come over and sat beside him. “He’s been eating, so we know Charlotte’s slap didn’t dislodge his jaw. What has gotten into the two of you?”

Hugh pushed his chair back from the table. “I thought you were sitting with your parents.”

“I would rather be here with you and Graham.” Jane picked a piece of uneaten bread off of Hugh’s trencher.

“You are the talk of the competition, you and your public spat with Charlotte. Were your insults really necessary?” Graham asked.

“I’d rather not discuss it,” Hugh said. The redness was gone from his cheek, but he could still feel the sting.

“Hugh, where is your friend?” Lord Ryder asked. “I’ve searched for her all night. I wanted to thank her for helping my Teresa.”

Hugh had glanced at Charlotte’s chair several times during the evening. It remained empty.

“She’s probably in her room. She can be dramatic at times,” Hugh said.

“Please give her my thanks. Teresa won her tournament and said she couldn’t have done it without Lady Charlotte’s help. Oh, there’s your father. I’ve been looking for him, too. You tell her she did a good thing for Teresa.”

The man went on to speak to Gareth.

“Dramatic? Charlotte?” Jane said. “You’ve been staring at her chair most of the evening. I’m not surprised she’s not showing her face. You did a good job of humiliating her in front of everyone. Although she managed to get the better of the situation with that slap.” She leaned close and examined his face. “There may be a little mark of her hand, but the light is dim. No one will notice.”

He gave Jane a scathing glare.

“You brought it on yourself.” She patted his arm and walked away.

He wasn’t fit company for anyone. One minute he wanted to scream at Charlotte, and the next he wanted to hold her in his arms. She was hiding something from him, and he needed to know what it was. He glanced around the hall again.

“Who are you looking for?” His father came up next to him.

“Charlotte.”

“She forfeited the last round, bid good-bye to Lady Darla, and left the castle.”

Hugh swung around to face him. “By herself?”

“Your concern surprises me.”

“I had no idea she left the castle. I thought she pouted in her room.”

“No, I don’t think she’d pout after being humiliated. At your hand. I do think her slap, which everyone witnessed, was much too light.”

Hugh stiffened at his father’s words. He knew this tone and got ready. His father hadn’t scolded him in some time.

“I was going outside for some fresh air,” his father said.

It was to be a private scolding. Might as well get it over with. They walked to the bench under the beech tree. Hugh sat, his shoulders slumped, his hands clasped and hanging between his knees.

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