Lespada (28 page)

“I do not want to kill my brother,” he muttered. “I cannot believe he is siding with Simon.”

Katharine moved in his direction, her cane making dull noises against the wood floor.

“He is not siding with Simon,” she said quietly.

“Simon told me that he was.”

“You already knew I had sent him to Simon?

He nodded. “I did,” he glanced up at her. “I wanted to see how truthful you would be about it.”

“And did I meet your expectations?”

“You did,” he replied. “And you met my expectations about something else.”

“What is that?”

He should have had a difficult time swallowing his pride, but he found he did not.  “You were right,” he murmured. “About Lady Devereux. You were absolutely right.”

Katharine rather liked the sound of that, although her conversation with Hugh had given her some indication about how Davyss and his wife were getting along.  She sat on the chair next to him, leaning on her cane.

 “What was I right about?” she asked softly.

Davyss smiled faintly. “You said once that I needed someone to show me that the true meaning of manhood comes from dedication to one woman, not many.” He suddenly shook his head as if amused by the irony of it all. “I did not believe you; not in the least. But this woman I have been married to for just a few weeks has very quickly come to mean a great deal to me and I am coming to understand what you meant.”

Lady Katharine struggled to suppress a grin. “I can hardly believe my ears,” she said softly. “Explain.”

He shrugged his big shoulders. “I am not sure if I can. All I know is that she is kind, compassionate, humorous and blindingly beautiful.  When I look at her, my heart thumps against my ribs and my hands sweat.  I kiss the woman and she consumes my being.  I want to make her happy; Sweet Jesus, there is nothing more on earth that I could wish for than to make her completely, utterly happy.  I cannot explain my feelings to you any more than that.”

Katharine’s smile broke through and she put a gnarled hand on her son’s dark head. “I am pleased, Davyss,” she murmured. “Very pleased.”

He looked at her, making a wry face. “I knew you would be.”

“Are you happy?”

He lifted his eyebrows, nodded his head and shrugged all at the same time. “I am. I truly am. I do not exactly know why I should be, but I am.”

Katharine patted his cheek and struggled to stand up.  Davyss rose and helped his mother gain her footing.

“Where is your wife?” Katharine wanted to know. “Bring her inside so that I might speak with her.  The only conversations I have had with the woman have not been pleasant ones.”

He let go of her when he was sure she was not going to teeter. “You will have ample opportunity to make up for unpleasant conversations,” he told her. “I will be leaving her in your care while I am away.”

Katharine lifted an eyebrow. “Hmmm,” she grunted. “Do you suppose she is going to want to spend endlessly boring hours with a frail old woman?”

“What do you mean?”

Katharine looked at him as if he was an idiot. “What about her charity? Perhaps she would rather spend her time there. It was my understanding that it consumes most of her time, anyway. “

He looked as if the thought had not occurred to him. “Perhaps it has in the past. But now her time is spent with me.”

“Do you so arrogantly presume that your shining presence will erase any longing she might feel to return to the House of Hope?”

He frowned. “I have provided amply for the place,” he told her. “Before we left for Wintercroft, I supplied the place with enough money to see to its needs for quite some time.  There are others who can adequately run the place in her stead.”

Katharine could see that he did not understand any priorities but his own. She shook her head faintly. “All I am saying is that if you truly wish to make her happy, then you should ask her where she wishes to spend her time while you are away,” she eyed her son. “You may be away for quite some time.”

Davyss’ expression took on a distant look. “Long indeed,” he muttered. “Perhaps permanently.”

Katharine didn’t react other than to pet the dog that suddenly leapt into her lap. “Have you discussed that possibility with her?”

He shook his head. “Nay,” he replied. “We are only just coming to know each other.  I am not sure that is an entirely appropriate subject at the moment.”

“You are a warrior. She knows there is the possibility of going to war and not returning.”

“But I do not want to discuss that with her just yet.”

“Why not?”

He looked at her, frustrated. “Can I not simply enjoy this marriage for a few short hours? Why must I immediately speak of war and death to her? She does not want to hear it, anyway. She does not like conflict.”

Katharine lifted a gray eyebrow. “She has married you,” she murmured pointedly. “War and death are part of your life.  Whether or not she likes it, it is a reality. What happens if you do not return, Davyss? What shall she do? You must make your wishes clear to her.”

He abruptly stood, heading for the door. “I will,” he said as he walked. “But not right now.”

“If you leave with Henry tonight, you do not have much time.”

Davyss didn’t reply. He continued through the elaborate foyer and to the great oak door. Throwing it open, he emitted a piercing whistle between his teeth and motioned to Nik and Phillip when they turned to look at him.  The Catesby brothers, at the back of the column, began to shout and move the men as Nik and Phillip went to the carriage.   Phillip opened the door as Nik extended a hand to Devereux.

“Lady de Winter?” he said politely. “Your husband has requested your presence.”

Devereux climbed out of the cab, her eyes still on the elaborate home.  Davyss met her at the gate, taking her from Nik and kissing her hand sweetly before tucking it into the crook of his elbow.

“We will only be here a short time,” he told her as they approached the mammoth stone entry. “I must attend Henry sooner rather than later and intend to bring you with me.”

Devereux gathered her skirt as they mounted the steps.  She was wearing one of the surcoats he had given her for their wedding, a pale blue confection with silver embroidery along the neck and sleeves.  With her blonde hair pulled back and secured with a blue-glass comb, she looked enchanting.  But Devereux wasn’t so sure.

“Am I appropriately dressed to meet the king?” she wanted to know, smoothing down the skirt when they reached the door. “Should I change into something else?”

He shook his head. “You are exquisite,” he kissed her cheek before encouraging her into the house. “We will say a few pleasantries to my mother and be on our way.”

Devereux still wasn’t convinced that she shouldn’t change into something more elaborate and put on every jewel she had, but if Davyss said that her appearance was acceptable, then she would trust him.  Upon entering the magnificent four-storied foyer, Lady Katharine’s two little dogs suddenly rushed Devereux in a barking frenzy.  The first thing they did was grab the bottom of the surcoat with their sharp little teeth and begin ripping.

Davyss swooped down and grabbed them both by the scruff of the neck. He would have thrown them through the window had his mother’s sharp voice not stopped him.

“Hurt those dogs and I will disinherit you this day,” she boomed as much as she was able. “Put them down, Davyss; do it now.”

Davyss’ jaw was ticking as he looked to the dogs squirming in his grip. “These are vicious little beasts, Mother. If I put them down, they may do more damage.”

“Put them down.”

“If they bite her, I will kill them.”

“Put them
down
.”

He did, but not before kicking one of them.  He actually shoved the dog with his foot more than he kicked it; the little creature skidded across the floor, barking furiously at Devereux until Katharine’s sharp voice silenced it.  Then the dogs did nothing more than sniff at Devereux before trotting obediently back to their mistress.  Devereux watched them with big eyes, not at all pleased that the savage little rats had just wrecked her skirt.

“It is ruined,” she whispered to her husband, trying to get a good look at the damage. “I will most definitely have to change before we see the king.”

Davyss, extremely displeased at his mother’s wild animals, gently took her into the solar where his mother now sat with her two bodyguards.  Lady Katharine’s gaze was intense upon Devereux.

“My lady,” she greeted. “I apologize for the dogs. They do not like strangers.  I will replace the dress, of course.”

Devereux smiled weakly. “It is of no matter, my lady,” she replied, dipping into a gracious curtsy. “I am honored to be in your home.”

Katharine watched her very carefully; the last time she had seen the lady, she had been distraught and harried.  The woman before her was lovely, graceful and calm, which was something of a pleasant surprise.  Even though Davyss had told her that he was coming to appreciate his new wife, still, given their rough beginning it was difficult to comprehend that the situation was easing between them.  She indicated the chair next to her.

“Will you sit?”

Devereux planted herself carefully into the chair, sitting straight and properly, hands folded in her lap.  Katharine watched her expression, the body language, before speaking.

“You are looking well,” she said. “I understand that marriage agrees with my son. Does it agree with you also?”

Devereux’ eyes widened briefly at the blunt question. “It seems to, my lady,” she replied honestly.  “Davyss has done much to make it agreeable.”

“Excellent,” Katharine nodded with satisfaction. “Then it would not be too much to hope for a grandson very soon?”

Davyss intervened; he had to. He clapped a disbelieving hand on his forehead, reaching to take his wife’s arm and pull her from the chair.  “Sweet Jesus, Mother,” he muttered. “We have only just arrived and already you are speaking of grandchildren?”

He had pulled Devereux to her feet. Katharine watched the pair indignantly. “And why not?” she demanded. “The purpose of this marriage is to perpetuate the House of de Winter and I see no offense in asking a true question.”

Davyss gave her an exasperated look, putting his hand on Devereux’s back to gently guide her towards the door.

“You could have just as well asked me,” he scolded her. “Of course you can hope for a grandson in the spring. Or perhaps the summer. Perhaps it will be a girl and not a boy. Whatever the case, we have done our duty, as you are well aware. The House of de Winter will continue at some point.”

Katharine lifted an eyebrow. “At some point, indeed. I am an old woman, Davyss. I do not have time to waste.”

Davyss was carefully pushing his wife along but Devereux abruptly stopped, turning to face Lady Katharine.  She put her hand on Davyss’ arm, stilling him, when he tried to turn her back around.

“I will do my best, Lady Katharine,” she assured her. “I understand that my role in this marriage is to breed strong sons. I will try not to disappoint you.”