Page 41 of The Darkland

Johanne laughed, looking at Mara as if she were the most foolish creature on the face of the earth. “Ask your sister what I know, Mara. If she’s brave enough to tell you.”

They turned away from the perplexed young lady in a snickering pair, continuing their walk of Anchorsholme’s grounds. Mara was about to follow them to demand clarification when a rumbling male voice caught her attention.

“Let them go, love.”

She turned to see Niles standing next to her. The bright blue eyes were filled with distress. “But….”

He shook his head firmly. “Not those two, Mara. You would do well to stay far, far away from them.”

Mara passed a lingering glance at the pair, sighing with frustration. “But they spoke so strangely, Niles. I do not think I like their inference at all.”

Niles’ gaze was fixed on the couple as they disappeared into the kitchen yard. “And what inference was that?”

Mara thought a moment. Then, she shook her head. “Truly, I do not know. But I must find my sister and make sure she is unharmed.”

Niles took her arm, gently, before she could dash away. “That will not be necessary, I am sure,” he said quietly, putting her hand on his elbow. “Kirk will see to your sister and she is in far better hands than if God himself was watching over her.”

Hesitantly, Mara allowed Niles to lead her at a leisurely pace toward the keep. “Niles?” she asked softly.

“What is it, my lady?”

“Why… why does Johanne tend her brother as if he were her lover? Are they so close?”

Niles did not reply for a moment. “’Tis their way, Mara. Never ask more than that.”

She was more puzzled than ever. “But Johanne said she would teach my sister what she needed to know in order to please Edmund.” She came to a halt under the bright winter sky, looking to the tall knight. “What on earth did she mean by that? How could she possibly know?”

Niles sighed. “Trust me, Mara, you would not like the answer,” he said, resuming their walk. “Have you spoken with Kirk this morn?”

Mara knew he was attempting to change the subject. “Nay, I have not. And I have no intention of speaking with him ever again.” She cast the knight a long look. “Why won’t you tell me what Johanne meant by her strange words? And why wouldn’t I like the answer?”

Niles sighed again, heavily. He did not like the determined look in her eye.

*

The kitchen yardsvacated, not strangely, the moment Edmund and Johanne entered. Edmund kicked at a dog that came too close as they moved for the postern gate cut into the fortified wall.

“Why did not you simply tell her the truth?” Johanne asked as the passageway enveloped her.

Edmund followed behind. “Because it is none of her affair. Moreover, I do not believe we will have to worry over the Lady Mara much longer.”

“She does not worry me,” Johanne snorted, casting her brother a long look. “Even so, you sound rather sure of yourself. What did you have in mind?”

Edmund smiled as they emerged into the knee-high grass beyond the wall. “I have been considering the situation and I do believe I have come up with a brilliant plan.” He took his sister’s hand again. “Kirk is traveling to Quernmore Castle tomorrow, is he not?”

Johanne nodded. “He is. And I am rather displeased with the fact that he will be seeing Lady Lily again. You know how infatuated she is with him.”

“Never mind about Lady Lily. She is already pledged and certainly no threat to you,” Edmund grasped her by the shoulders, returning the subject to its original course. “As I was saying, Kirk will be meeting with Lord le Vay. A widower, is he not?”

A flicker of understanding glimmered in his sister’s eyes. “You do not mean to suggest…?”

“Of course I do.”

“Oh, Edmund,” she gasped. “Of course! How perfectly convenient!”

Edmund nodded smugly. “Kirk will carry not only a request for military assistance for my Wicklow holdings, but he will also carry a sealed missive proposing a betrothal.”

Johanne threw her arms around him and they giggled happily. “Le Vay has expressed the desire to wed again, especially after his son died of the fever two years ago and left him without an heir,” Johanne kissed her brother loudly on the cheek. “He’ll wed the little chit and we shall be done with her.”