Considering that, Hugh admitted that his brief determination to flaunt his newfound title and supposed wealth had been a rather petty and childish response to his hurt. He was now even more ashamed of his rejection of Willa. He'd treated her no better than those ladies had treated him. Which was why he still sat his mount, stiff and cold in the dark and pouring rain, he supposed. And why he would stay there through the night. It was a penance of sorts. One he felt he deserved. He just hoped it would soften Willa so that she would listen to the apology he owed her... before the rain and chill killed him.
Chapter Four
The rain stopped just as dawn crept across the sky. Hugh was too wet and weary at that point to care. He'd actually begun to doze off in the saddle when the whistling caught his ear. Straightening in the saddle, he cocked his head, listening for the source of the cheerful sound. It was only then that he caught the accompanying clip clop of a horse. Hand moving to the sword resting at his side, he urged his mount to the center of the clearing, putting himself between the cottage and the man who now rode out of the woods. Judging from the sudden alarm on the newcomer's face as he drew his horse to a halt on the edge of the clearing, Hugh's presence came as something of a shock to him. The stranger's appearance was no less of a surprise to Hugh. The man was older than he by a good twenty years, and though he was dressed as a peasant, there was no mistaking him for anything but a soldier. He was well-muscled and his horse was definitely a quality beast. The stranger's response was telling as well. After that first moment of shock, the man's gaze slid over Hugh, his weapons, his horse, then the peaceful cottage behind him. He appeared to relax a bit, but Hugh didn't miss the way the man's right hand dropped to rest on one of several sacks that hung from his saddle horn. Deciding the sack looked long and slender enough to hide a sword, Hugh decided to get the introductions over with quickly.
"Baldulf?"
"Whom have I the pleasure of speaking to?"
Hugh didn't miss the fact that the man had neatly avoided answering his query. It didn't really matter; there had been a flash of surprise in his eyes before he covered it. It was enough to tell Hugh he'd guessed correctly.
"Hugh Dulonget, lord of Claymorgan and earl of Hillcrest." Despite his cramped and complaining muscles, Hugh managed to sit a little straighter in the saddle as he made that announcement. It was the first time he'd used his new titles and he almost winced at the pride evident in his own voice as he claimed them.
The other man let his hand slide away from the sack. He gave a nod in lieu of a bow as he road forward until they were side by side. "Aye. I am Baldulf. 'Tis an honor to meet you, my lord. Has there been trouble?"
"You could say that," Hugh said dryly.
Panic promptly entered the soldier's expression and he cursed volubly. "I knew I should not have left, but Willa insisted she needed black cloth for proper mourning. Of course, there was not any in the village so I had to - was she harmed?" he interrupted himself to ask. "Your presence here tells me she still lives, but - "
"She is fine," Hugh assured him, realizing that his self-deprecating comment had alarmed the man unnecessarily. "I did not mean that any physical harm had befallen the girl."
Baldulf's eyebrows flew up at this news. "Then what harm has she come to?"
Hugh was reluctant to admit he had insulted the chit by calling her a bastard and refusing to marry her. However, he had no doubt the man would eventually hear the news from Eada, if not Willa herself. He decided it was best to get the matter over with himself.
"I fear when I first arrived, I was less than pleased to find myself willed a wife."
The man nodded sympathetically at this news. "I am sure that came as something of a surprise."
"Aye." He grimaced. "In my... er... surprise, I was perhaps less than diplomatic on first meeting Lady Willa." Hugh winced inwardly at his own understatement.
Baldulf was a sharp man. After eyeing him consideringly, he asked, "How much is less than diplomatic?"
"I called her a bastard and refused to marry her." The words tumbled out of his mouth like those of a boy at confession. Recognizing the ire rising in the other's man eyes, Hugh felt resignation fill him. Really, war was so much easier than this marriage and relationship business. "I have since apologized, of course."
"Well, I should hope so!" Baldulf's tone was rather disrespectful, not at all the proper manner for a knight to take with his new lord, but Hugh felt it behooved him to let the matter slide for the time being. He even allowed the man to glare at him for several moments before straightening and glaring back. Recalled to their positions, Baldulf let his eyes drop and glanced toward the cottage before clearing his throat and saying in much milder tones, "You appear to be soaked through, my lord. Have you been out here long?"
"Since yester morn."
"Ah." He nodded slowly. "If, as you claim, there has been no attack, might I ask why you have stood guard out here so long?"
That was something Hugh had asked himself several times through the long rainy day and night. "I am attempting to persuade Lady Willa to marry me."
Baldulf nodded, then asked in extremely respectful tones, "By sitting outside the cottage on your horse?"
"I am guarding her to show her my devotion," Hugh said stiffly. He felt foolish even saying the words. Seeing amusement fill the other man's face, he added, " 'Twas not my idea. My cousin and a friend of mine thought it might soften Willa's anger if I vowed to stand guard over her beauty until she accepted my - are you laughing?"
Baldulf covered his mouth with his hand and made coughing sounds, then thumped his chest as he shook his head. "Nay, my lord. I have a... er... something caught in my throat." He turned his head away, alternately coughing and snuffling.
Hugh harrumphed irritably and waited for the fit to pass. The moment the man regained control of himself and turned a solemn face back, he speared him with a glance. "Knowing her as well as you do, perhaps you could suggest a more useful approach?"
Humor promptly returned to the soldier's face, deepening the lines that time had etched on his harsh features. Hugh noticed that it wasn't very sympathetic amusement.
"Well now, that would be difficult to say, my lord. She is not like most ladies." His gaze shifted past Hugh, his voice becoming distracted. "You might try gifts. Little trinkets and such. My wife always enjoyed those. By your leave, my lord."
Much to Hugh's amazement, Baldulf urged his mount forward and was away around the side of the cottage without awaiting the leave he'd requested. Hugh glared after him in frustration, wondering if perhaps he did not have a commanding enough demeanor. First, the hag treated him as though she were the queen and he a common peasant. Now, one of his own new soldiers rode off ere he'd finished talking to him.
He'd had several questions for the man besides how to please Willa. Hugh had spent a good hour that first night after Wynekyn had explained things questioning the former guard, Howel. Unfortunately, the man who now served as seneschal at Hillcrest appeared to know no more than Wynekyn himself. Regarding some things, he knew even less. It was doubtful that Baldulf would know any more than Howel, but still -
He was still glaring at the spot where man and horse had disappeared when he heard Lucan and Jollivet approaching. Their words and laughter were audible several minutes before they actually broke into the clearing. They were obviously making no effort at stealth as they rode through the woods. Ignoring his stiff and sore bones, Hugh slicked back his still damp hair and sat up straight in the saddle. Grim-faced, he awaited their arrival. At that moment, he was torn between wanting to take his sword to the pair, and wanting to take his lance to them. Then again, taking his fists to them sounded attractive, too. They were, after all, the source of the misery he'd withstood all night and was still suffering.
"Good morn!" Lucan called as he broke from the trees on horseback.
He looked well-rested and damned cheerful, Hugh thought with disgust as his friend rode toward him. When he growled something in the way of a greeting, Lucan raised an eyebrow and quickly unfastened a bag from his saddle pommel.
"We brought you something with which to break your fast." He offered the bag with a winning smile.
Hugh's response was to grunt and snatch the bag like a hungry dog snapping up a bone. Even as he began to tug the bag open, he caught the glance his friend exchanged with Jollivet, who had urged his own horse to Hugh's other side. The two men flanked him.
"Actually, we did not expect you to still be here. It rained last night." Jollivet made the announcement as if that fact might have slipped Hugh's notice. Fortunately for his cousin, Hugh was too hungry to waste time knocking the idiot off his horse as instinct urged him to do. He satisfied himself with a stinging look and a dry, "I noticed," then continued rooting inside the bag.
Lucan winced. "Surely you did not stay out here in the rain? All night?"
"What else was I to do?" he snarled, pulling out a hunk of bread and a skin of ale. "You wrote in that damned letter of yours that I would remain here until she accepted my suit... or some such nonsense. I signed the damned thing. I am a man of my word."
Lucan grimaced at that. "Er... aye. Perhaps that was not the brightest of ideas. My apologies, Hugh. I take it she has yet to accept your suit?"
Hugh's baleful expression was answer enough as he chewed on the dry bread.
"Well, perhaps she shall relent after seeing that you have spent the entire night in the rain guarding her."
"She was not moved to relent after I spent all of yesterday in the rain. Why should a little darkness make a difference?" he growled, then took the ale skin Lucan now handed him and lifted it to his mouth.
"Perhaps Jollivet and I can come up with something to convince her." He paused as Hugh nearly choked on the ale he was downing. Pulling the ale skin away from his mouth, he turned hot eyes on his friend.
"I shall thank you and Jollivet not to help me anymore."
Lucan bit his lip and glanced away. "Well, did you come up with anything on your own whilst sitting here last night?"
Hugh's expression was answer enough, but he said, "Nay. She has done no more than peek out the door at me. I assume she is still angry about my calling her a bastard. I suppose saying she was beneath me did not help either." He sighed. "If I could but figure out how best to apologize... what she would accept."
"Did you try flowers?" Jollivet piped up. "I did tell you that women are partial to them. They - "
"Perhaps," Lucan interrupted when Hugh started to growl deep in his throat at his cousin's suggestion, "perhaps someone who knew her better would know best how to please her."
Hugh gave up glaring at the younger man to nod his agreement with that suggestion. "I did consider that. In fact, I asked Baldulf for suggestions."
"Baldulf?" Lucan straightened with interest. "Has the missing guard returned then?"
"Aye. But moments ago. He left just before you rode up."
"Did he say where he had been?" Lucan asked as Hugh took another gulp of ale.
"I gather he was seeking black cloth for Willa to make a mourning gown."
"What did Baldulf suggest?" Jollivet asked curiously.
"He said she was unlike other women," he answered glumly. "He did say his own wife liked gifts and trinkets."
A small silence reigned as Hugh ate; then Lucan shifted, his gaze sliding to the cottage. "It occurs to me that perhaps the hag would have a suggestion or two that may be of more use."
Hugh's stomach roiled at the suggestion, but he considered the idea and found he could not argue it. The old woman did know Willa better than any of them. Which was unfortunate, really. He wasn't pleased at the idea of having to ask the witch for anything. She'd not seemed to think much of him from the beginning and would hardly feel any more charitable toward him now that he had dared to insult her baby chick.
He would have to approach her, he supposed, but managed to put the task off for a few moments by asking, "How went your inquiries yesterday?"
Hugh had agreed to this ridiculous suggestion of standing guard out of sheer desperation. But he'd not left his men idle while at the task. After his fruitless questioning of Howel, he'd told Lucan and Jollivet to go to the village and ask around. He'd also sent several men to Claymorgan to question the villagers, peasants and servants there about Willa's birth and Luvena's death. Someone must know something that would be of use.
"Not well," Lucan admitted apologetically. " 'Twas a long time ago and 'twas not even here that most of the things we were asking about took place. Perhaps the men will have more luck at Claymorgan."
"The hag might know something useful," Jollivet suggested.
"Hmmm." Hugh grimaced. Then he heaved a sigh and handed his half-eaten food to Jollivet before dismounting. He had to question the woman sooner or later, and the prospect was ruining his appetite anyway. Perhaps if he got it over with he could finish his meal in peace.
A day and night in the rain and damp had made themselves known. Hugh barely restrained a groan as his legs, back and buttocks complained at the shift of position. His legs - which had first ached, then gone numb shortly after dusk the night before - nearly collapsed under his weight. He was forced to hold onto his saddle for several moments. Once he was sure he would not fall, Hugh turned and moved stiffly toward the cottage door.
The old witch opened the door almost before he knocked, making him suspect that she'd been spying on them and noted his approach. He refused to believe she had "seen" it in some unnatural, witchy way.
"What are you doing here?" she barked before Hugh could offer anything in the way of a polite greeting.
"I - "
"I thought that you had vowed to guard Willa until she accepted your suit?"