KIND
EYES AND A LION’S HEART
CHAPTER
FOUR
PART
ONE
“Is anything wrong?”
Lady Viola asked, gliding toward him like an angel.
Everything!
“No,
not at all,” he replied, looking anywhere but at her remarkable eyes. “That is, nothing about your hospitality or
accommodations. Excellent, both of
them. I just wanted a bit of fresh air
before I retire. I like a good night’s
sleep before traveling. It’s time I got
back to my own estate. Even small ones
need to be supervised, you know.”
“I was
hoping you’d stay a bit longer.”
She
certainly sounded sincere and looked it, too.
“Yes, well, thank you. I wish I
could. Can’t, really. Too much to do at home.”
Liar!
“I do
hope you’re not leaving because of anything that’s happened while you were
here.”
“Oh,
no! That is, things happen all the time,
don’t they? But I’ve got business back
home. Important business. There are decisions to be made. About the mill and...and a tannery. And a new byre. Busy times at my estate these days, my lady,
and I can’t be wasting my time --”
He shouldn’t
have implied that talking to her was wasting his time! “Can’t be spending my time galavanting around
the countryside entertaining myself, however charming and delightful the
company.”
“Are
you calling me charming and delightful, Sir Melvin?” she asked with a charming
and delightful smile.
“Everything
here is charming and delightful,” he replied.
“The castle, the chambers, the food.
Never had such fine pastries. Or
wine.”
He
frowned. The mention of wine reminded
him of Barengar.
It
seemed to have the same effect on Viola.
“Some young men pay too much attention to wine.”
“Yes,
well, youthful spirits and all. Not that
I condone such behavior,” he added.
“There’s a limit, after all and --”
“Limit
to what?” Barengar interrupted, appearing on the wall walk behind Lady Viola. “How much food you can eat at a banquet? I’ve never seen you reach it.”
Melvin
regarded his cousin with silent, seething rage as Barengar came to stand beside
Viola as if he thought he belonged there.
Viola
barely glanced at him. “Your comment is
a very poor way to repay Sir Melvin, who has just been coming to your defense.”
“Was
he now?” Barengar replied. He bowed
toward the despairing Melvin. “Thank
you, cousin. I did get a bit carried
away last night.”
“I
should say you did,” Viola sternly replied.
“And if you are wise, you will control yourself for the remainder of
your visit here.”
With
that, she turned and left them both.
This work is protected by copyright. See sidebar for notice.
Note: This novella is PG13. With the exception of GWYNETH AND THE THIEF
and THE WASTREL, my books are usually steamier.
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