KIND
EYES AND A LION’S HEART
CHAPTER
FOUR
PART
TWO
The moment Viola was
out of sight, Barengar pushed Melvin into the merlon, narrowly missing the gap
between them that would have sent him plunging to the ground below.
“Did I
hear you say you were leaving?” his cousin angrily demanded.
“Yes,”
Melvin replied, straightening his tunic.
“I have to tend to some business on my estate.”
“That’s what a steward’s for! He doesn’t need you messing about and interfering. Not when I need you here.”
“That’s what a steward’s for! He doesn’t need you messing about and interfering. Not when I need you here.”
Melvin
couldn’t be more surprised if Barengar had said he wanted Melvin to be king. “What do you need me for?”
“You
can put in a good word for me with Lord Percival and Lady Anne. Tell them all my good qualities, how I’ll
make their happy.”
“Will
you?”
“As
much as a husband can, I suppose.
Fortunately, Lady Viola seems a fairly independent sort, so I expect I
won’t have to have much to do with her.
She won’t come running to me with every little problem.”
“Leaving
you free?”
“Exactly!”
“Free
to do what, exactly?”
Barengar’s
frown deepened. “God’s blood,
Melvin! Don’t be daft! What noblemen do.”
Melvin
knew pretty well what noblemen like Barengar did, whether married or not. “If you really want to marry her, I suggest
you start by not getting drunk again.”
Barengar
waved a dismissive hand. “That’s easy
enough. Now, come, coz. Stay and help me. After all, you owe me. Out of the kindness of my heart I made
certain you were invited here and admitted that you’re my cousin to anyone
who’s asked, although it’s made some of those here question my wisdom.”
Melvin
wasn’t fooled by that declaration.
Having Melvin nearby made Barengar look even better.
Nevertheless, he would do what his cousin
asked, although perhaps not exactly the way Barengar intended. “All right, Barengar and have a chat with
Lady Anne tomorrow. I’ll tell her all
about you.”
Barengar
smoothed down his expensive, ornately embroidered tunic, a costly contrast to
Melvin’s plain wool garment. “Excellent!”
“What
about the lady herself?” Melvin asked. “Do
you want me to sing your praises to her, too?”
“No
need for that,” Barengar said with a hearty laugh. “I’m sure I can woo her without your help.”
“She
doesn’t seem too keen at the moment.”
Doubt
flashed in Barengar’s eyes for an instant, but any lack of certainty was
swiftly erased by his usual confident expression. “I like a challenge and I’m sure I’ll win in
the end. I always do. Now I’d best see where my lady love has gone
and make her understand it was my adoration of her and despair that she might
refuse me that drove me to drink.”
“Good
luck,” Melvin muttered as his cousin strode off in pursuit of Viola.
Although
he was sure Viola could never be his
wife, he silently vowed she would never be Barengar’s.
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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