Daughters of the Dagger 04 - Amethyst (5 page)

“Well, yes,” he said. “But those are things that have already been finished. I want you to explain this new plan you supposedly came up with.”

“I’m getting to that,” she said, turning the map for the others to see better. “The way the plans were originally designed, the barbican guarding the first gatehouse in the outer curtain wall lined up directly with the second gatehouse in the inner wall.”

“That’s how all castles are, darling,” he told her, amused that she sounded as if she’d just discovered this fact.

“Exactly,” she told him. “And that is what any attacker will expect. But if we make the two gatehouses off centered, then even if an attacker was to get through our outer defenses and make his way toward the inner ward, they couldn’t go straight in. Instead, they’d have to move diagonally and still try to defend themselves though they’d have a limited view and line of fire. This would give us the advantage. By adding extra arrow loops in the passageway as well as more murder holes up above, they wouldn’t have a chance. We’d stop them before they ever got to the front gate.”

“By the rood, you are right,” called out one of the men.

“That’s an ingenious idea,” said another.

“A speech w
ell practiced,” said Marcus, clapping his hands slowly. Then he turned to Clement. “Master Mason, you have just figured out the best defense I’ve heard of in a long time. I think your idea will make Montclair Castle virtually impenetrable. Good work.”

“Thank you, my lord, but
I must admit that this was all the idea of Lady Amethyst. I had nothing to do with it.”

“Please, do not lie, Master Mason, as I know you are only trying to make her sound as if she’s capable of
the position, when we all know she is not.”

“My uncle doesn’t lie,” said Amethyst, and once again he watched as her hands went to her hips. “And I would never let him give me cred
it for something he devised.”

“That’s right,” added Clement. “This was all her idea, my lord. And I must say that I wish I had thought of it
myself, as it is truly superb.”

Marcus didn’t know what to say. Before he knew what was happening, all the master tradesmen were congratulating her, and the noise level in the room rose.

“Silence,” he called, stilling them. “Just because the girl came up with one good idea means nothing more than she is lucky. We’ll see how she performs tomorrow, as she’ll be in charge of all of you,” he said with a sweep of his hand across the room. The smiles on their faces turned dour, and he knew that after the morrow they’d change their minds about the girl. And then when Amethyst proved to be worthless in the field, he’d send her to work in the kitchen, or perhaps to shovel dung in the stables. “There is one more thing I want to relay before this meeting is finished. Some of you may already know that my father will be arriving any day now for a visit.”

Groans went up from the crowd, and he couldn’t say he blamed them as he felt the same way.

“Well, that’s wonderful,” said Amethyst with a smile. “I can’t wait to meet him.”

“I guara
ntee you won’t still feel that way once you’ve met him,” Marcus said under his breath. “And one last thing. I’ve heard a rumor that the king may be coming to Montclair Castle for a surprise visit, sometime around Christmas.”

The men showed their excitement as they
talked amongst themselves, considering this high and unexpected honor.

“This is the reason I’ve been pushing to get the castle completed before the weather stops us. I want everything to be perfect if King Edward does show up. After all, he has had a big hand in filling my coffers to fund this building project, and I can’t disappoint him.”

“Excuse me, Lord Montclair,” said Amethyst, raising a hand to gain his attention.

“What is it?” he asked in clipped words
, not liking to be interrupted.

“I just wanted to point out, that you really can’t call t
his Montclair Castle. After all, isn’t that the name of your father’s castle? There can’t be two castles with the same name.”

“’T
is my castle and I can call it whatever I want,” he pointed out.

“True, but would your father like that? After all, it will be very confusing when one mentions Montclair Castle to know which of the two they are talking about.
Especially if you are both border lords.”

“Then what do you suggest I call it? And don’t say Castle Northumberland, because that is out of the question.”

“Well, you could call it . . . I don’t know … mayhap Castleview, because of the wonderful view of the open land, or Woodland Castle, or even Castle Meadowlark. Yes, that’s a pretty name.”

“I’m not looking for a pretty name for my castle,” he told her. “The name needs to be dangerous, yet admirable … like me.”

“Well, then, mayhap we should just call everything you own after you,” she said sarcastically.

“I think I will,” he said with a n
od, amused, yet at the same time irritated by her comment. “I’ll call it Castle Marcus,” he decided.

“What?” she said. “That doesn’t sound right.
Nobody calls a castle after their Christian name.”

“Well, I do.” He just grinned and nodded.
“And let me ask you something, Lady Blackpool. Has anyone ever told you that you talk too much?”

“Nay,
” she answered quickly.

Her uncle cleared his throat a
nd her lips turned up in a slight grin.

“Well, mayhap once or twice,
” she admitted.

“This meeting is over,” said Marcus, dismissing his men. Then when Amethyst went to leave the room, he stopped her.
“Lady Blackpool,” he said, “I would have a word with you before you leave.”

“Lord Montclair?” she asked, looking at him curiously when the others had left.

“I wanted to tell you that though you might have come up with one good idea, that changes nothing. You are still going to be replaced as soon as the archbishop sends a new assistant.”

“I understand that, my lord. I am only here to help my uncle.”

“And on the morrow, I will expect to see you leading the workers, not distracting them, if you are to keep your position as assistant to my master mason.”

“I would have it no other way.”

“Good, then. I am glad that is settled.”

“Will that be all, my lord?”

“Aye.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Nay. I mean … I wanted to address what happened between us earlier. In the bedchamber, that is.”

“Are you apologizing?” she asked.

“What?” he looked up. He’d never apologized for touching a woman before, and he wasn’t about to start now. But deep down, he almost felt as if he should. What the hell was this girl doing to him? “Nay, I apologize for nothing. This is my castle and I’ll conduct myself however I want.”

“I see,” was all she said, which made him wonder just what she was thinking. “Then by your leave, Sir?”

“Yes, of course.” He looked to the ground. “That’ll be all.”

She made it to the door once again, before he stopped here.

“Lady Blackpool?”

She
looked over her shoulder. “Yes, Lord Northumberland?”

“I thought I told you, I don’t like to be called that.”

“And I thought I said I’d prefer to be called Lady Amethyst.”

He scratched his neck in thought. After the kiss and fondling they’d shared earlier, it did seem as if they should be calling each other by a more familiar name. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad, as she did have a lovely name, as odd as it was.

“All right, I will call you Lady Amethyst, but only when we are in private. I cannot have my men nor the workers hearing me call you by such a familiar name.”

“And I will call you Lord Marcus,” she said with a smile that was so enchanting that he’d alm
ost agreed to the absurd idea.

“Nay. Lord Montclair will suffice. Now tell me. What do y
ou think of my solar?”

Amethyst looked around the solar, as it was the most luxurious, beautiful room she’d ever seen, save the king’s own castle. The windows, being up on the second floor were larger than the arrow slit windows below. As the castle climbed upward, the threat of an attacker lessoned, and the windows became larger and easier to see out.

“
Well … I see you have glass in your windows, my lord. That is very expensive and also rare.”

“Yes.
I want the best.” A proud smile lit up his face. “If you’ll notice, the walls are painted in scenes from the hunt and outlined in a gold paint that you’ve probably never even seen before.”

“My sister
used to paint with gold leaf when she worked in the scriptorium at the monastery.”

“But did they have fine
Persian carpets lining their walls, or woven mats next to their beds instead of rushes on the floor?”

“You know they didn’t. It was a monastery and they were swor
n to poverty, for the most part. Some of their floors at ground level were only made of dirt.”

“I had the spi
ndles on this bed carved by my master carpenter with vines and animals of the forest upon them,” he told her, walking over to the bed and running his hand up and down one.

“
They are lovely,” she said. “And I must say, this is the biggest bed I’ve ever seen in my life.” She walked over to inspect it closer. It was raised on a dais with three steps leading up to it. It was big enough to sleep three people comfortably. Possibly even four or five in closer quarters if they slept sideways. She reached out and touched the red velvet curtains hanging from black iron rods all around the bed.

“Do you like the bed curtains?” he asked.

“They are … fine,” she said, trying to hide her awe, knowing the man was doing everything in his power to impress her.

“And look at this,” he said, taking her hand and pulling her
toward the window. “The glass has been hand painted with scenes I chose personally and the colors outlined in more gold.

“Whatever for?” she asked. “I shouldn’t think one
needs to have gold on a window, let alone a wall!”

“I have it because I can,” he told her, which made absolutely no sense to her. “And no
tice the floor in the room. I’ve covered it with mats to walk upon and in the center I’ve decided to take a carpet from the wall and use it on the floor as well.

“Walking on such a fine, expensive carpet? I would think you’d use it instead for
added warmth and leave it upon the wall.”

“But I don’t need it for warmth
, not really. Look across the room.” He took her chin gently in his fingers and turned her head. “I have a fireplace built right into the wall for added warmth. No more waking up during the winter with frost on my face. This is going to be the warmest room in the entire castle.”

“Well, that’s nice,” she said, thinking this man was not only pompous, but greedy as well.

“So … how would you like to sleep in my bed tonight?” he asked.

“My lord!” She pulled away from him. “I thought I made myself clear earlier when my knee met with your groin.”

“Nay, not with me and as my mistress – just by yourself. My father will not be arriving til the morrow at the earliest. I want you to sleep here tonight. As my guest.”

She wondered just what he was up to. She knew he wanted something in return. He didn’t respect women, and he certainly didn’t like her enough to give up his bed and the best room in the castle.

“Why don’t you just come out and tell me what it is you want in return. If you don’t want to ravish my body, than what is it you desire in exchange?”

“Who says I need something in return?”

“I am sorry, my lord, but I don’t believe this is from the goodness of your blackened heart. ’Tis no secret that you hold no respect for women, and if you are willing to give me your bed and private chamber, then it must be something very important to you. So do tell me what it is, and keep me in suspense no longer.”

“In exchange for a night in my chamber, I just want you … I want you to
not mention to my father … your idea of bettering the defenses of the castle.”

So, it all made sense to her now. He was embarrassed that such a wonde
rful idea came from a woman and wanted to keep it a secret.

“And what would happen if your father found out a woma
n was designing your castle?”

“I wouldn’t advise it, my lady. How do you think I earned my horrid reputation? If you think I disrespect women, you will change your mind once you meet my father.”

“This means a lot to you, doesn’t it?” she asked. “To impress your father.” She realized she had just discovered one of his weaknesses. And she was damned well going to use it to her advantage.

He looked away and clenched his jaw and Amethyst could see that something was really bot
hering him. “I ask it as a favor, Lady Amethyst, that’s all.”

He called her by her name, and she liked it. She knew there had to be a little light within the darkness of his heart
after all. She’d always been full of optimism, so decided that it wouldn’t hurt to give the man another chance.