The Guardian’s Favor by Cecelia Mecca

Author:Cecelia Mecca [Mecca, Cecelia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Medieval
Published: 2018-12-03T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

“She is absolutely lovely.”

Gillian waved her hand in front of him, but Aidan was too engrossed in his thoughts to form a response. They sat in the hall, the evening meal being cleaned around them. Graeme had already left the head table to address the steward’s concern over an accounting error that could have waited for tomorrow. As always, the hall was just a bit quieter without Allie’s presence, though she and Reid would no doubt be back before long.

But Graeme never liked leaving problems unsolved. He had difficulty sleeping unless all was well, at least for the moment. Their mother had been the same way, and whenever their father had left on a counter-raid or for battle, he and his brother had refused to leave her side, knowing she’d never sleep if left alone. The memory of being curled up by her side as a laddie would never leave him, no matter how much time passed.

The illness had taken her five years ago, but the loss felt so fresh some days, as if he’d only just learned of her death.

“Aidan?”

He shifted his focus to his sister-in-law.

“Aye?” And then he stood, suddenly worried. “Are you ill? Do you—”

“Nay, nay. Sit,” she said. “I seem to go longer and longer without the need to have a chamber pot by my side. I was speaking of Lady Clarissa.”

Clarissa. More than a day had passed since he’d arrived at Highgate End with his new ward. He’d returned to the Prison Tower after his meeting with Graeme, who’d informed him about the next steps of Douglas’s plan, only to find Gillian with Clarissa. Much to his chagrin, his sister-in-law had waved him away, assuring him she was well taken care of for the night.

This morning, unable to stay away, he’d introduced Clarissa to Lewis, the baker, and the secret path beneath the Prison Tower that led to the bakehouse. He wasn’t sure if she or Lewis were more delighted at the arrangement. She could work alongside him, if she liked, and Clarissa had wasted no time expressing her excitement. He’d given her a key and advised her to lock the door behind her. Though the doors of the tower normally remained open, he wanted to keep Clarissa’s presence as secret as possible.

“She is lovely,” Gillian said, repeating herself.

“I’m sorry, Gill.”

He took a swig of ale and wondered if it was too soon to visit her. Gillian’s maid knew a mystery woman was in residence, as did Fiona, an older servant who doted on his sister-in-law and had been serving Highgate for as many years as he’d been alive. Between all three women, it would be a wonder if Clarissa had any privacy or rest if they did discover her identity.

“I hope you will not be upset with her,” Gillian sat back in her chair, “but Allie told me of your discussion about the annulment before she left.”

He took another swig. “As I suspected she would.” In fact, it was easier that way. He had no desire to tell the tale again.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.