BEAUTEOUS: Book Two: Age of Honor by Tamara Leigh

Author:Tamara Leigh [Leigh, Tamara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: www.TamaraLeigh.com

Chapter 21

Stern Castle

Sinjin vexed Skyward, causing the owl to screech, hiss, and pace the leather guard that kept his talons from piercing flesh. And yet each time he had launched himself off the arm of his fellow male these four days Sinjin accompanied Ondine to the wood, he flew higher and farther than before.

“Do you really think it a matter of strutting?” she asked as they entered the hall, the owl against her chest.

Her husband chuckled. “Though at first I joked, I am fair certain he has the capacity for jealousy that makes him strive to impress the lady whose attention he must now share with another.”

Skyward hooted as if to let them know he was aware he was the topic of conversation.

She smiled. “You may be right.”

“Ondine!” Lady Héloise called.

She and Sinjin halted and looked to where her grandmother sat at a table placed before the hearth to keep the chill from her as she completed this day’s work on The Book of Wulfrith. “Grandmother?”

“Word from Wulfen, dear one.”

So earnestly spoken, Ondine’s breath caught while Sinjin tensed. “Hector comes?”

“He does, if not late this eve, early morn.”

Since he had returned to his duties at Wulfen the day following the hunt, taking with him those who had fully recovered at the lodge, it was too soon though his visits were more frequent the further along Séverine’s pregnancy.

Ondine looked to her sister-in-law seated at high table with Dangereuse before journals they had been working since early morn, the latter continuing to prepare the Lady of Wulfen to administer the demesne alongside the steward. Unfortunately, once Séverine fully grasped her duties, it would leave Dangereuse restive until something was found to fill her empty hours—which she firmly told would not be another marriage.

Receiving Séverine’s encouraging smile and her sister’s taut one, Ondine said, “The king has responded, Grandmother?”

“Hector did not say, but likely.”

And Sinjin had suspected such, she realized. Upon their return from the wood, escorted by a knight and man-at-arms as required, her husband had commented the garrison were more watchful of him. Thus, very possible her brother instructed Sinjin no longer be permitted outside Stern’s walls, whether Hector decided it best or the king ordered the precaution.

Were it so, what of his training inside the walls, for which Hector had granted permission when Sinjin told he was healed enough he need only wrap his foot and ankle to further stabilize himself? And would the sword now hung at his side remain?

Ondine pressed her shoulders back. “I shall deliver Skyward abovestairs, and I would like my husband to accompany me.”

As he had yet to do, Hector having made it clear Sinjin and she should not be secluded for any length of time that could tempt them to consummation.

Her grandmother inclined her head. “As Fira is in the upper room searching for the hand mirror of Lady Hawisa Wulfrith to render an accurate likeness on parchment, that is acceptable.”

Concealing disappointment over having no time with Sinjin outside the audience of others, Ondine turned to the stairs.

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