Lady of Eve by Tamara Leigh

Author:Tamara Leigh [Leigh, Tamara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Medieval
Published: 2014-06-15T14:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

It was whitewashed and clean, rising gracefully into a sky beset by the coming of night. Seated before Gilbert on his white destrier, Graeye was glad he could not see the wonder she knew shone from her face. Penforke was no Medland. Indeed, it made that other castle look more like a hovel than the residence of a baron.

She grimaced. How appalled Gilbert must have been at his first sight of her home. It was a wonder he had not let it burn to the ground those many months past.

“What do you think of your new home?” he asked, his breath in her ear sending tremors of awareness up her sides.

Refusing to look around, she said, “It looks to be satisfactory.”

“That is all?”

His disappointment at her lack of response nearly made her smile. Undoubtedly, he was proud of Penforke. “What else would you have me say?”

After a long moment, he said, “It is far more habitable than Medland. You will be comfortable here.”

“Then I was not comfortable before?”

Suddenly, he laughed, a rumbling sound that rose from the depths of his chest. “You are trifling with me, Graeye Charwyck.”

Abandoning her resolve to deny him her gaze, she twisted around. “Trifling with you?”

“Aye, the same as Lizanne. You are of a gentler temperament than my sister—though I have not seen evidence of that in some time—but you are also very like her.”

It was not only the comparison to that other woman that rankled Graeye, but the sudden change in Gilbert’s disposition. How was she to do battle with a man whose unexpected laughter warmed her and whose eyes reflected something other than contempt?

“I would thank you not to compare me to the coward who put an arrow through my brother’s back,” she said and turned forward again.

Though she should have been pleased, Graeye found no satisfaction in Gilbert’s response—a stiffening that created a space between their bodies where there had been none. She knew she had pushed him too far, but it was too late to do anything about it now.

Determinedly, she fixed her attention on the castle. During the long ride, she had anticipated her arrival at Gilbert’s home with dread, but now she was nearly eager to discover what lay within those walls.

When they entered the bailey, she felt none of the disappointment she had experienced upon returning to Medland. Indeed, it seemed a thriving community dwelled here.

Upon reaching the donjon, Gilbert reined in, dismounted, and lifted her down beside him. Then he turned to the dozens of castle folk who had converged upon the inner bailey to greet him.

Though Graeye felt a frisson of panic as she was drawn forward, she firmly took herself in hand. If this was to be her home and the place where her child grew into adulthood, it would bode ill for her to reveal any vulnerability to these people.

Blessedly, the introductions were brief, then Gilbert passed her into Mellie’s care.

“See Lady Graeye is made comfortable in Lady Lizanne’s chamber,” he instructed and stalked away before Graeye—or the maid—could protest.

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