The young woman was appraising Liselotte as she spoke, and that meant her clothing. Old, out of date, and repeatedly mended, they were hardly the garments of a well-brought up lady, but the young woman didn’t show any particular reaction to the terrible clothing. In fact, she showed no real reaction at all.
“Then you live locally?” she asked.
“I do.”
The young woman smiled. “My name is Glennie,” she said. “Glennie de Royans. My father is Baron Cononley. We live a few miles away at Netherghyll Castle. What is your name?”
Liselotte dipped into a polite curtsey. “I am Liselotte l’Audacieux,” she said. “I am from Shadowmoor.”
Glennie cocked her head curiously. “Shadowmoor?” she repeated. “Is that not the Saxon settlement?”
Liselotte nodded. “It is,” she said. “You have heard of it?”
Glennie nodded. “I have, indeed,” she said. “I was born at Netherghyll and recently returned home from court, so I know this area well. Shadowmoor always had an eerie, ghostly feel to me. The name evokes images of phantoms and lost loves and moonlit moors. It is very romantic!”
She was giggling as she said it and, in spite of her discomfort, Liselotte couldn’t help but grin. A pleasant conversation with another young woman, seemingly friendly, was difficult to resist.
“It was originally called Beschattet Erde a very long time ago,” she said. “That means shadowed earth, or shadowed land. I am not sure when it became Shadowmoor but it has been called that since my father’s grandfather. A long time, indeed.”
Glennie was listening with interest. “Shadowed land,” she murmured as if seeing the romance in such a title. Then, she eyed Liselotte a moment before pushing past her and towards the blue dress Liselotte had been inspecting. “I am happy to know you, Liselotte. Since returning home, I have no friends here at all. If you live at Shadowmoor, then you are not very far from Netherghyll. Mayhap you will come to my home on my invitation and stay for a visit. I should like the companionship. With only my brother and father and nurse as company, I am ready to climb the walls and throw myself from the battlements out of sheer boredom.”
Come to my home. Liselotte had never had such an invitation; not even a hint of one. She could hardly believe what she was hearing and, truthfully, had no idea how to respond. Was it even possible that this friendly young woman should actually want her company? Dressed as a pauper as she was, she was astounded at the possibility and, that being the case, she was naturally suspicious of the woman’s motives. She tried to remain neutral and noncommittal.
“That is very kind of you, my lady,” she said. “I… I do not have any friends, either. I never leave my home. Today is a rare day because….”
“My lady!” came a shout. “Lady Liselotte!”
A voice came from across the avenue and both Liselotte and Glennie turned to see Daniel heading in their direction with Gunnar trailing after him. Gunnar was skipping and hopping, sliding in the mud, but it was obvious that the lad wasn’t happy. He had no goat in his arms, frowning at Daniel as Daniel focused on Liselotte with great concern.
“My lady,” he said again as he drew close. “What happened? Why did you run off?”
Liselotte could see the concern in his expression and she could hear it in his voice. Her heart leapt at the realization, so very flattered that he might actually feel concern for her safety. Even if nothing could ever come of that concern, she was still touched. But she didn’t want him to be angry with her for walking away while his back was turned and she hastened to soothe his manner.
“My apologies, Sir Daniel,” she said quickly. “You were engaged and I did not see any harm in looking at this merchandise. I was still close to the livery. It has been so long since… that is to say, I have not seen such fine… I mean… I did not mean to pull you away from your business, my lord. I am very sorry.”
She suddenly bolted past Glennie, bypassing Daniel, but Daniel reached out and grasped her by the arm before she could get away. Her cheeks were red; he could see that. He hadn’t meant to be harsh with her but when he’d discovered her missing, it had truly frightened him. Considering what he’d been told about the man who very much wanted to have her, Daniel was thinking that perhaps some of Bramley’s men must have snatched her, at the very least, until he saw her across the avenue speaking with a well-dressed blond. Still, he’d been given quite a start which must have come across rather harshly. He hastened to ease his manner with her.
“No need to be sorry,” he said steadily, preventing her from moving any further. “I thought mayhap a gaggle of trolls had carted you off. I think between Gunnar and me, we might have a chance of saving you from the Troll King, but I am very glad we do not have to put that theory to the test. So you are looking at merchandise? I think you should. I also think you should pick out a few dresses for us to take home.”
He was looking at the garments hanging over his head by the time he was finished speaking and Liselotte looked at him in utter shock.
“Take… take some home?” she repeated.
Daniel let go of her arm, his gaze on the lavender outerdress with the tin buttons that had originally caught Liselotte’s attention. He fingered the fabric.
“Aye,” he said, nodding firmly as he pulled the dress off the peg. “I like this one. What others are there?”
“This one, my lord,” Glennie said, holding up the dark blue wool so that Daniel could see it. “The lady was looking at this one, too. I think it would look splendid on her.”
Daniel looked at the pretty blond, dipping his head gallantly. “And you would be correct, my lady,” he said, turning to glance at Liselotte. “You two know each other, then?”
Glennie shook her head. “We have only just introduced ourselves,” she said, her gaze seriously scrutinizing the very handsome Daniel. “I realize it is extremely improper for me to introduce myself, but I am willing to break protocol. I am Lady Glennie de Royans. My father is Baron Cononley. We live at Netherghyll Castle, not far from here.”
De Royans.
A warning bell went off in Daniel’s mind at the mention of the name. In fact, it was more like a screaming clang. It was as if cold water had just been thrown on him. The mere speaking of the name caused him to falter for a moment. But it was only a brief moment. Quickly, he regained his composure but he was still reeling with surprise. He knew that name; God help him, he knew it. And it wasn’t in a good way. His heart began to pound, just a bit.
“Lady Glennie,” he repeated suspiciously. “De Royans?”
“Aye.”
He blinked, a gesture of realization. “Surely… surely you are not Adalind de Aston’s Glennie?”
Glennie’s face lit up. “You know Adalind?” she gasped. “She is my best and most true friend! Oh, how do you know her? Please tell me!”
Daniel felt as if he’d been struck. The composure he’d so recently recovered fractured again, stronger this time, and all of the wind left him. It was a struggle not to react to the revelation before him – Adalind’s Glennie.
Sister of the man I helped kill.
“Adalind is my niece,” Daniel said as evenly as he could. “Her mother is my eldest sister. My name is Daniel de Lohr. I saw Adalind, just this past year, and she spoke very often of you. She said that the two of you fostered together at Winchester Castle.”
Glennie was nodding eagerly. “We did!” she confirmed. “For many years, we were the best of friends! But Adalind left me last year to return home. I could not stay at court without her because it simply wasn’t the same, so I came home as well. I have not spoken to her in so long. Is she well? Please tell me any news of her, sir. I would love to hear it!”
Daniel simply looked at her, trying very hard to remain polite, because the irony of running in to this woman was unfathomable. Of every town in England, Daniel had ended up in a locale that reminded him of a very bitter and frightening episode in his life. He was struggling with his composure, with his terrible mem
ories of the de Royans name and hoping the lady didn’t notice.
Where to start with news of his niece, Adalind de Aston du Bois? Daughter of his eldest sister, Adalind had returned to Canterbury Castle from Winchester the previous year, much pursued by men from court. Although Daniel hadn’t been at Canterbury at the time, he’d heard tale from Adalind’s eventual husband, Sir Maddoc du Bois, that men had come to court Lady Adalind, lured by her beauty, and Maddoc had been forced to fight off many men.
Being the captain of the guard for Daniel’s father, Maddoc had known Adalind for most of her life and hadn’t shown any romantic interest in her until she’d returned from court. Then, and only then, had the blind man’s eyes been opened to what a stunning woman Adalind had grown in to. He’d asked for her hand and Daniel’s father, as head of the family, had given it. But Maddoc wasn’t the only man who’d wanted to court Adalind.
Enter Brighton de Royans.
Adalind and Maddoc had met Brighton at a birthday celebration not long after Adalind had returned home and Adalind, knowing he was Glennie’s brother, had been very friendly to him. But Brighton had mistaken that friendliness for something romantic and had made his want for the woman known. He’d even challenged Maddoc for her hand. When Maddoc had been badly injured in the challenge, Brighton abducted Adalind and ran away with her.
And that had been the beginning of a horrific saga for Adalind and Daniel and the entire de Lohr family. With Maddoc hovering near death, it had been up to Daniel to track his niece and Brighton and when he caught up to them, Brighton had been wounded in the ensuing fight. But Daniel had saved the death blow for Maddoc, as it was the man’s right, and Maddoc had pulled himself from his death bed to avenge his beloved Adalind and slay Brighton.
It had been a brutal and gruesome battle that had seen Brighton succumb to his injuries and as Daniel stared at the lovely face of Glennie de Royans, it was clear from her question that she’d not heard about her brother’s fate. Or, if she had, then she hadn’t heard enough information to make her understand that the de Lohrs were responsible for his death. She’d not even acknowledged the de Lohr name when Daniel told her who he was.
Therefore, it was an unexpected and tense situation Daniel found himself in as he looked into Glennie’s flushed face. It was difficult not to feel anger at the entire de Royans family for what Brighton had done, for the hell he’d put the de Lohrs through, but Daniel reminded himself that Glennie had nothing to do with her brother’s antics. She was an innocent woman.
Still, the bitterness lingered. The wounds of Brighton’s actions were still fresh.
“Adalind is quite well,” Daniel finally said. “She married last year.”
Glennie was astonished. “She did?” she gasped. “To whom?”
“A knight in my father’s service.”
Glennie was overjoyed. “I am so happy to hear this,” she said. “I was afraid she would have married one of those fools who had followed her home from court. She was much pursued, you know, and the other women at Winchester were so jealous of her. My poor Adalind.”
She must not know about anything that has happened since Adalind had returned home! Daniel thought to himself. It was very clear that she knew nothing beyond the day that she and Adalind separated at Winchester and Daniel actually felt some pity for the woman. She had no idea what her brother had done or that he was dead. It was a sad state of affairs all around.
He smiled politely.
“She is very happy now,” he said. “When next I see her, I will give her your best wishes.”
“Please do,” Glennie agreed eagerly. “I would like to hear of her wedding and her new husband, Sir Daniel. Will… will you and Lady Liselotte join us for sup tonight at Netherghyll Castle? My father would be very happy to have you, as would my brother, Caston. He serves my father. My other brother serves Norfolk. Do you know of him? His name is Brighton.”
Daniel nearly choked. He’d not expected that question in the least but the conversation had naturally brought it about. He had to make a split-second decision about confiding the truth on what he knew of Brighton de Royans and he decided that, at that moment, it would not be something he wished to divulge, mainly because if he said that he knew the man, it would bring up an entirely new line of questioning he was unwilling to indulge in. He wasn’t a liar by nature, but in this case, he felt it was the only safe thing to do. He shook his head.
“Alas, I do not believe so,” he said, quickly changing the subject. “As for the meal, your offer is most gracious, but I must discuss it with my hostess, Lady Liselotte. I am a guest of her family, after all.”
Before he could say anything to Liselotte, who had overheard the conversation, Glennie was whirling on the woman.
“My lady,” she said. “Would you and your guest please sup with us tonight at Netherghyll? It would be such an honor to have you both. We’ve had so little company and we have a new cook, all the way from Paris. She makes the most marvelous dishes!”
Glennie was trying to make it all sound greatly appealing but it ended up bringing tears to Liselotte’s eyes. At Shadowmoor, they could barely keep body and soul together, eating family pets because they were desperate, and Glennie was speaking of a fine French cook and marvelous dishes.
It was all so horribly ironic. Liselotte had no idea what to say, terrified she was about to make a fool of herself, but the expression she gave Daniel was enough to prompt the man to step in. Liselotte looked as if she were about to cry and Daniel took pity on her. He thought, perhaps, that all of this – the trip to town, the chatty lady – was just too much for the normally-isolated young woman. She was overwhelmed with it all.
“Your offer is very kind, Lady Glennie,” he said, “but I believe my hostess actually had plans already set for this evening. However, let me discuss it with her and I will give you a firm answer. Will you be shopping in town much longer?”
Glennie nodded, sensing that her invitation had not been all that welcome. She was coming to feel somewhat embarrassed, although she knew not why. All she knew was that Lady Liselotte seemed to be stricken by the offer somehow, as if it were something greatly offensive.
“Just a little while longer,” she said, her gaze moving between Daniel and Liselotte. “If… if you come, Lady Liselotte, mayhap you will wear this beautiful new outerdress that Sir Daniel has selected for you. It will be most becoming on you.”
Horrified at the thought that Daniel was about to buy her a dress, Liselotte looked at Daniel in shock and he, in turn, answered for her yet again.
“I will see if I can convince her,” he forced a smile at Glennie, moving back towards Liselotte. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Lady Glennie. Now I see why my niece spoke so highly of you.”
Glennie’s smile brightened although she was still confused about Liselotte’s behavior. She thought the young woman seemed rather sad, dressed in pauper’s clothing as she was. It didn’t occur to her that the woman couldn’t afford anything else because she came from Shadowmoor, which everyone knew was a very old and prestigious Saxon settlement. Sir Daniel had even called Liselotte “lady”, which meant she was nobility. It simply didn’t occur to Glennie that she was looking at a destitute noblewoman because she had never genuinely seen such a thing. Living in the finest homes all of her life, Glennie thought all of English nobility lived that way. It wasn’t her fault. It was simply the life she had been exposed to.
With a timid wave, Glennie turned away and headed back to her guard, who had been standing on the avenue, watching their mistress dutifully. Daniel watched the woman as she walked away before turning to Liselotte.
Her head was down, her fingers to her nose as if pinching off any attempts to cry. He spoke softly to her.
“Why are you upset?” he asked. “Did she say terrible things to you?”
Liselotte shook her head, sniffling and struggling to regain her composure. “Not in the least,” she said. “She was very kind and friendly. But I… I have no use for friends
.”
“Why not?”
She looked at him sharply. “I am not of her world, Daniel,” she said. “Surely you can see that.”
Daniel’s gaze was intense. “What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean.”
“I do not. Explain.”
Liselotte sighed heavily. “Must I?” she said with frustration. “I do not dress as she does. I do not travel in the same circles. She comes from wealth and I do not. I have never fostered. I have nothing in common with her.”
Daniel’s heart was being twisted, just a little, because Liselotte was actually verbalizing her plight. He sensed that she was a proud woman and it, therefore, must have been quite difficult for her to admit her shortcomings. He turned to look at the garments hanging up all around them.
“It seems to me that in addition to the food stores I will buy, I will also purchase some of these dresses for you because I like to see a woman well-dressed,” he said. “I have no one to buy fine clothing for; my mother has my father and I would never buy clothing for my sisters because they are too selective and demanding, so it would truly give me great pleasure to purchase something fine for a lady. Would you allow me to do this for you?”
Liselotte shook her head. “Nay,” she said flatly, taking Gunnar by the hand. He had been standing impatiently next to her. “Let us go and make your store purchases so that we may return home.”
She was starting to walk away. “Liselotte,” Daniel called after her, his voice low and firm. “Stop.”
She did, although it was haltingly, as if she weren’t sure she wanted to listen to him. She didn’t turn to look at him but rather stood there, holding on to Gunnar as the boy fidgeted. Daniel made his way over to them, pulling Gunnar out of her grip.
“Go to the livery and pick out the goat you want,” he told the boy. “We will join you shortly.”