It was the softly spoken supplication that got him. Geoff went from nonchalant to animated in the blink of an eye. He slammed his chalice to the table and stood up, running his fingers through his blond hair. Tevin watched him closely, with his usual unruffled attitude. He was genuinely curious to know the man’s reasons and he was equally eager to be done with this conversation.
“Damnable Gloucester,” he finally muttered. “It is his fault.”
“Why?”
Geoff whirled on him, his expression taut. “Because we agreed to split Oxfordshire when Matilda returned to assume her right, but I have been told by others that Gloucester has already been in discussions with Lord Wallingford for the same purpose. Imagine, Wallingford instead of me! He is not even an earl, but a lesser noble of an old Saxon line, long bereft of money or dignity. The very idea is an insult. Therefore, I decided not to support Matilda and her treacherous brother, Earl Gloucester, if that is all of the loyalty they can show me.”
Tevin watched him rave like a child. Petulant as it was, it explained a lot. No strong sense of country or unity destroyed Geoff. It was simply the deeds of a nobleman playing a political game. Tevin didn’t know whether to slap him or laugh at him.
“It could not be because Wallingford and Gloucester are cousins, could it?” he said with more control than he felt. “Gloucester had no familial loyalty to you.”
Geoff’s dark eyes widened. “Nor I to him. Therefore, we fight for the true king. We fight for Stephen.”
“Matilda has more of a claim to the throne than Stephen.”
“Say that again and I shall throw you in the vault!”
Tevin did laugh, then. He couldn’t help it. He shook his head and stood up, weary of the temper tantrum and eager to see Cantia. “The evening meal should be coming shortly,” he said. “Why do you not retreat to your chamber and rest? Bathe if it pleases you. We’ll speak more of this at sup.”
As quickly as Geoff flamed, that was as quickly as he doused. The rigidity went out of his posture and he returned his attention to the fine wine. With long movements, he poured himself another measure. “I am not hungry,” he grumbled, mouth to the rim of the cup.
Tevin was already moving for the door. “Then do not eat. But at least come and sit and enjoy the conversation.”
Geoff took a long drink. “Where is Val?” he asked casually. “I’ve not seen her all day.”
Tevin paused. By Geoff’s tone, he knew the man had been waiting for the right moment to ask that question. And by his expression, Tevin was further convinced that he knew exactly what Tevin was up to. He was hiding her. Geoff was, if nothing else, intelligent. But Tevin stood his ground.
“She is occupied,” he said evenly. “She likes to ride patrol, you know.”
“Where is Arabel?”
“With her women, upstairs. She is exhausted from being dragged halfway across England.”
“Will she join us for sup?”
“If that is your wish.”
Geoff simply lifted an eyebrow and Tevin left the solar without another word. He didn’t dare mount the stairs to the chambers upstairs, suspecting that Geoff would be following his movements. So he went into the great hall and exited out into the kitchens, thinking to throw his mistrustful cousin off the trail. He quit the kitchen yards and found himself marching through the stables on his way to the knight’s quarters.
All the while, he knew his cousin’s eyes were upon him, mentally if not physically. Geoff was suspicious of everyone and everything. By the time Tevin reached the knight’s quarters, he was ready for a stiff drink himself. Something about Geoff’s presence always put him on edge. He would take a measure of ale with his men before retreating upstairs, giving enough time for Geoff to forget about their conversation and, hopefully, Val.
He could not have known how wrong he was. Geoff did not follow Tevin any further than the solar entry. He had wandered to the door, watching his powerful cousin walk across the great hall and out of the door leading to the kitchens. But that was the extent of it. He knew the man was going to see to his men to repeat his conversation with the earl for their benefit. It was normal enough. The men had to know why they now supported the usurper and Geoff wasn’t suspicious of Tevin in that aspect. But Tevin had been right in one way. Geoff’s attention was indeed on Val and her whereabouts.
To his left was the staircase leading to the upper chambers. His dark eyes glittered, an inkling of an idea taking hold. Tevin was clever, but not too terribly. With his brutish cousin outside, Geoff was free to explore the keep and perhaps find Val. Aye, he knew that Tevin hid her from him. He’d always known.
He took the steps.
CHAPTER NINE
When Hunt tired of the board game that Tevin had brought them to play with, Val took over and played against her niece. As the afternoon moved into night, Cantia sat with some needlework that had been a project for quite some time, alternately watching her delicate work and watching Val play against Arabel. As dusk darkened, she gave up on the needlework completely and watched the game instead.
Arabel was a brilliant girl. She was quite adept at game strategies, winning the last two games from her aunt. She was also quite humorous and Val laughed freely with her. Cantia could see a great deal of Tevin in the girl, but she could also see features and mannerisms that did not remind her of the girl’s powerful father. Arabel had an upturned nose and a big dimple in her chin, something that did not ring of Tevin. Thoughts then turned to the girl’s mother, a Germanic noblewoman who had abandoned her at birth.
Tevin said he would find the woman no matter what. He would discover if she was alive or dead. Were she dead, there would be no troubles and Cantia knew she would gladly marry Tevin. But if the woman lived, then the future for them would not be entirely honorable for Cantia knew, without a doubt, that she would stay with Tevin forever. She did not relish being branded a mistress. But she considered the reward well worth the risk.
The sun was nearly set when a soft knock came at the door. Hunt, nearest to the panel, thought it was Tevin bringing the evening meal and, being the starving child that he was, threw open the door before his mother could stop him. Cantia saw a strange man standing in the doorway and heard Val gasp. With that startled sound, she knew it could not be good.
The man had Tevin’s black eyes. His gaze found Hunt first and then Val as she quickly stood up. He smiled broadly at his strawberry-haired cousin and was about to speak to her when Cantia also stood up and his focus was abruptly diverted. The moment he laid eyes on her, the mood of the room exploded. They could all feel it.
“Val,” he stepped into the room, speaking to his cousin though his eyes were on Cantia. “Your brother said you were occupied. I had no idea he meant in ladylike pursuits. And who is your glorious companion?”
Cantia looked at Val, who had a rather sickened look on her face. “Greetings, Geoff,” she said with more courage than she felt. “This is the Lady Cantia Penden. My lady, this is the Earl of East Anglia, my cousin.”
Geoff was on Cantia in three strides. Reaching out, he took her reluctant hand and pulled it to his lips for a gentle kiss. “My lady,” he said in a sultry voice. “’Tis a pleasure. I had no idea the Steward had such a lovely daughter.”
Cantia wanted to shrink away from the man. She didn’t like anything about him from the instant their eyes met. “I am not his daughter, my lord,” she said. “I am Brac Penden’s wife and this is my son, Hunt.”
Geoff didn’t even look at the sandy-haired boy, now standing beside him and watching him closely. His gaze was fixated on Cantia. “I heard of your husband’s death, my lady,” he said, still holding her hand to his mouth. “Please accept my sympathies. It was a terrible tragedy to lose him.”
Cantia struggled not to yank her hand away. “Aye, it was.”
Geoff’s eyes were invading her, probing every inch of her face. “Surely so young and lovely a lady will not be widowed for long. That should bring you comfort.”
“I was injured in a skirmish a few weeks ago,” she said, hoping to capture his lustful attention away from Cantia. “Since then, I’ve spent most of my time in ladylike pursuits. Tevin thinks it’s wonderful but I’ve found it boring. I’d much rather have a sword in my hand.”
Geoff’s attention was diverted from Cantia and his licentious expression morphed into one of displeasure as he focused on his cousin. His emotions were easy to read. “He told me you were out on patrol.”
Val kept her steady expression. “I was.”
Geoff just stared at her, knowing that wasn’t the truth. But no matter, he’d found what he had sought and then some. After a moment, he snorted as if he found something humorous. His gaze moved from Val to Arabel, down to Hunt and finally back to Cantia. There it remained as if nailed into place.
“My lady,” he held out his hand to her. “I have so wanted a tour of this magnificent place. Who better to grant my wish but you?”
Cantia looked at the outstretched hand with something of dread. After everything she had heard about the earl, she did not want to go with him in the least. In fact, it was an effort not to refuse and run for her life. She glanced at Val, who gazed back at her with a mixture of fear and sympathy. There was nothing she could do. There was nothing anyone could do. Geoff would not be refused.
“As you wish, my lord.”
Cantia moved towards the door but did not take the earl’s outstretched hand. She turned fully to Val as she progressed across the floor.
“You will accompany us, my lady,” she said firmly, hoping her tone would infer to the earl that she would accept nothing less. “Lady Arabel, would you please mind Hunt while we are away? He will be no trouble.”
Arabel’s dark eyes were wide. “Mind… mind him?”
Cantia forced a smile at the girl. “He is a good boy. I believe you will do a fine job.”
Arabel had never been trusted with any such task in her life. The situation in her life was always reversed. Everyone was charged with minding her. Cantia could read her naked fear, but in the next moment, there was a good deal of pleasure that someone would trust her with such a task. It was a responsibility she had never been given and she was shocked, and also grateful, for the opportunity. It made her feel grown-up.
“Aye, Lady Penden,” she looked at Hunt. “I will mind him.”
Cantia nodded confidently, holding out her hand to Val in the meanwhile. “Come along, my lady,” she decided the best way to deal with Geoff was to show that she was not afraid of him. Truthfully, she hadn’t a better plan at the moment. “I will give you a great tour also. You have been caged up inside the keep for so long that perhaps you’ve not imagined what more there is to this place.”
Val took Cantia’s hand and the women quit the room in a protective huddle. Geoff stood there a moment, not at all happy that his private little tour with Lady Penden was growing into something of a group activity. He did not give the children in the room a second glance as he followed behind the ladies and slammed the door. Hunt raced to the door and bolted it, turning to look at Arabel, sitting on the larger of the two beds in the room. The young lady’s eyes were wide as the children stared at one another.
“Hunt,” she said. “You know every inch of this place, do you not?”
Hunt nodded. “Where isth that man taking my mother?”
Arabel didn’t know. She was too young to truly fathom what the man was capable of. All she knew was what her father had told her and that was only in the simplest of terms. But they were not good terms.
“You must go and find my father,” Arabel insisted quietly. “Tell him that Cousin Geoff has taken your mother and Val. He will want to know.”
“Why?”
“Because he will!” she snapped irritably, then cooled. “Please, Hunt. This is important.”
Hunt pursed his little lips in thought. After a moment, he unbolted the door and peered into the dark landing beyond as if to make sure no one stood between him and his mission. Quietly, he slipped from the door and the big blond dog rose from his place in the corner, stretched, and followed. The door shut softly, leaving Arabel alone in the strange room.
As young as she was, her apprehension was quite adult.
*
Under the pretense of introducing Geoff to Rochester, Cantia was really on the hunt for Tevin.
Her plan was to take Geoff to the living levels, not the private chambers. She thought that any introduction to a bedchamber, even for show, would put wicked ideas in his head and that was the last thing she wanted to do. Furthermore, she wanted to stay in public areas where servants and soldiers were about. And, she hoped, Tevin.
Cantia and Val still held on to one another as they descended the steps into the entry hall. Cantia chatted non-stop about the history of Rochester Castle, how there had been a castle since ancient times on the site, and how the current stone fortress was built by the Bishop of Rochester almost sixty years prior. Then the castle was lost to the House of de Gael twenty years later in a change of political winds and had been established with a military steward to protect both the town and the river crossing. Brac Penden’s grandfather had been that steward those years ago, which had then passed on to Charles. It would have gone to Brac had the man survived the skirmish. Now, Hunt was the next in line.
Geoff listened with veiled patience to the history lesson. He knew all of it, better than Cantia did. He walked slightly behind the women, observing Cantia with glittering eyes. He noted the delicious sway of her backside, the way her lustrous hair caught the light. And he was particularly entranced by the lavender eyes and the soft, sensual way in which she spoke. He could have listened to her all day. In fact, he suspected he wasn’t the only one interested in the woman’s charms and began to speculate that his cousin had the woman shut up simply to keep her to himself. Tevin didn’t keep mistresses, nor was he known to show particular interest in women, but Lady Penden’s aura would be enough to seduce any man.
“And you, my lady,” he broke into her prattle by gently grabbing her by the arm. “I would like to hear about you now. Tell me of your family.”
Cantia struggled not to recoil from his grip on her arm. She had been so involved in her conversation, and in Val’s presence, that his gesture startled her.
“But we were speaking of Rochester, my lord,” she said. “I am of no consequence. The Penden line is far more interesting.”
He ignored her statement. “Where were you born?”
She didn’t like the look in his black eyes and a sigh of reluctance escaped her lips. But she answered. “Darland. ’Tis south of Rochester a few miles.”
“And your family name?”
“Du Bexley. My father was descended from an old Saxon line, nobility that dates back hundreds of years.”
“Is your father still alive?”
“Nay, my lord.”
“Any brothers? Sisters?”
“Nay, my lord. Just me.”
Geoff’s dark eyes glittered. He seemed to be enjoying the interrogation. “Val,” he said to his cousin, not taking his eyes off Cantia. “Go and procure us some refreshment. Lady Cantia and I will be in the solar.”
Val’s eyes widened. “But.…”
“Go, now. I command it.”
Val watched Cantia as her cousin held out his elbow to her. Her last glimpse of the pair was as they disappeared into the solar with Cantia’s reluctant hand on Geoff’s arm.
Val knew from experience that the only person who could help Cantia was Tevin. He was the only man who had ever been remotely able to control their erratic cousin. In fact, she shuddered to think how her brother was going to react when he found out Geoff had gone on the hunt and discovered the trove
of ladies. More than that, Tevin’s feelings for Cantia were bound to unbalance the normally balanced man. Where Tevin had always dealt patiently with Geoff in the past, the event of emotion could see that drastically changed.
But he had to know. She was almost panicked to tell him. Just as she turned for the great hall with the intention of crossing through the kitchens and into the bailey, the entry door suddenly flew open and smashed back on its hinges. Val started as splinters of wood from the damaged door rained into the air. But even before she looked, she knew that Tevin had arrived.
Val barely had time to turn around as Tevin stormed into the entry and straight at her. The expression on his face was nothing short of murderous.
“Where did he take her?” he growled.
Val pointed towards the solar, grabbing her brother’s arm as he shoved past her. Somewhere behind Tevin, she saw Hunt and the big yellow dog. The child’s eyes were wide with fear and Val correctly surmised that somehow, Hunt must have gone running for Tevin the moment his mother had left the room.
“Tevin, wait,” she hissed. “You must calm yourself. No harm has been done yet. Cantia is fine. There is no need for violence.”
Tevin glared at her, his nostrils flaring. Val stared back at him. Having known the man her entire life, she knew what he was capable of. He had two distinct personalities; the calm façade that most saw, and the battle-mode warrior who was sometimes more animal than man. What she saw before her was the animal and she knew she had to soothe the beast or there would be blood at Rochester this night.
“Tevin,” she shook him, attempting to snap him out of his rage. “Cantia is fine, do you hear me? He has not harmed her. And you must maintain your calm above all else. If Geoff suspects you have interest in Cantia, it will create more of a situation. He’ll see it as a competition. You know this.”
His nostrils flared again, his obsidian eyes as black as night. “There will be no competition. I will kill him first.”
He started to move past her again but she dug her heels in. It was like trying to stop a raging bull. “Tevin,” she snapped softly. “Of course there is no competition. But listen to me, please. You must attend to this with calm and stay rational. Get through this situation with tact and then send Cantia away immediately. You cannot allow your relationship with Geoff to sour over her, for there is too much at stake.”