Page 29 of The Consolation Prize

“No grudges!” spluttered Otho. “It is an honor he does not deserve!”

“There we must agree to disagree,” she said with a wry smile. “But I think all will work itself out. For the first time in my life, I feel optimistic about my future, Otho. You have no idea how freeing that feels.”

Her brother looked hard at her for a moment and then turned away. “I’d better go back and help him,” he growled. “We only have an hour at most before dawn.”

Una nodded. “I will be perfectly fine down here by myself,” she assured him. “Unless you think I should come up and help?”

He looked appalled at the notion. “Take your ease while you can,” he recommended sternly. “You’ve not had a full night’s sleep and you’ll be flagging by noon.” He hesitated. “Do you think you could get your head down for an hour’s sleep?”

She shook her head. “Absolutely not. I will just sit here quietly and await you.”

He left her with a nod, and she heard his quick step on the stair. It was only then that she caught sight of a pair of shiny eyes under the table, peering up at her. Una started and then realized it was a tiny little dog, shivering in the shadows.

“Hello there,” she said in a kindly voice. “Where did you come from?”

The animal cringed away from her, looking frankly terrified. He was a malnourished little thing, his every rib sticking out, his gray fur matted and tangled in tufts.

“Come here, I won’t hurt you,” she promised him softly, but he could not be persuaded. Thoughtfully, Una stood up from the bench and walked through to the kitchen where the remains of the pork joint were on the side. It had not been cooked with any spices or seasoning, so she fancied it would be bland enough for the dog’s palate. Cutting some non-fatty pieces, she placed them in a napkin and walked back through, reseating herself on the bench and setting the napkin on the table.

Selecting one piece she threw it under the table. “Here boy,” she crooned, though in truth she had no idea if it was boy or girl. The little dog hesitated and then darted for the meat, gobbling it down as if he had not been fed in a month. She took another piece and dropped it at her feet. He stared at it a while before dragging himself over to retrieve it and then scurrying back to eat it at a safe distance.

Una dropped another piece at her feet, and the little dog was quicker to come forward this time and did not retreat as far back to wolf it down. “Good boy,” Una told him approvingly. “You can see you need not fear me, for I am your friend.” She dropped another piece, and this he ate at her feet, looking up at her hopefully. “Yes, there is more,” Una assured him.

By the time Armand and Otho started carting the sacks of ill-gotten gains down the staircase, the little dog was eating from her hand.

“Who’s this? Found a friend?” Armand asked with a grin. “He’s a poor little scrap.”

“He’s half-starved,” Una corrected him. “And has been most cruelly treated for he has cuts and bruises all over his poor little body. I’m sure that with good food and nourishment he will fill out nicely.”

Otho snorted, but Armand seemed resigned. “If you’re bringing him with us, you’ll need to wash him. I can smell him from here.”

Una looked down at the little shaking dog. The men’s voices seemed to have set him in a new quake. “There’s nothing to fear,” she soothed him. “You’re among friends now.” To her surprise he suddenly sprang up and placed his two paws against her skirts, asking to be taken up.

Una reached down tentatively, not wanting to touch him anywhere he was sore. Picking him up she placed him on her lap and he cowered there, leaning against her, in what she could only guess was an appeal for protection. Folding her arms around him, she drew the shivering dog into a gentle embrace. “Yes, she said with decision. “Abelard will be coming with us.”

“Abelard!” echoed Otho, looking critically at the animal. “He hardly seems to embody noble strength!”

“A lofty name for so timid an animal,” observed Armand.

“It took great strength to survive in such a household as this,” Una said coolly. “Have you not many more sacks to carry down?” She saw Armand smother a laugh at her pointed words. Standing up with the animal cradled in her arms, she announced her plans with dignity. “I shall wash him in the kitchen. There were some soap flakes there, though they cannot have been often used.” Then she stalked out of the room.

*

It had taken them a good deal of time to get the horses loaded up and with their booty. They found three horses in the stables that they appropriated for their needs. Otho proved himself a very able hand as he carted the sacks out and strapped them securely to the beasts.

Armand wondered that Una’s brother had foresworn his share of the loot. From what Una had told him, he had nothing but the clothes on his back and the sword at his hip. You would think he would have jumped at the chance to set himself up with some security for the future.

Then again, Armand eyed him as he helped Una up into her saddle, he could be playing a deep game. After all, his intent could be to take off with both treasure and the princess and leave Armand in the dust. He would have to keep his eye on Master Otho.

It was still dark when he eventually led the way out of the courtyard. Seeing the three loaded horses and the bulging sacks, he had soon changed his mind about the tournament at Tranton Vale. He could hardly put up in a pavilion with all these valuables to guard. With some reluctance, he came to the conclusion that the only thing for it was to head for his own estate, Lynwode. He saw the light spring to Una’s eye when he announced this and winced.

He had not seen the place in five years, and even then it had been a shambles. The only resident had been a deaf housekeeper on her last legs. He sent the odd bag of coins her way every once in a while, when he was flush and in funds, but she never wrote to him and indeed he had never expected her to. Most likely the old woman was illiterate. She could have dropped dead in the place for all he knew which would mean introducing his wife to yet another corpse! Then there was his family to consider, he thought darkly. If they caught wind he was in residence, there would be hell to pay and he would have no peace whatsoever.

Still, there was nothing he could do about it now. He had little choice in the matter and in truth, he had enjoyed five years of giddy freedom doing as he pleased and never once thinking about his duties back home. He should be rejoicing at the large fortune that had fallen into his lap, however grisly the circumstances. Wymer had not seen fit to dower Una, so he would simply view this as its equivalent. If his family questioned his newfound wealth, he would tell them his bride came heavily dowered. Neither his father nor brothers had any connections at court, so it wasn’t like they would ever learn otherwise.

He glanced over at Una now, with the little dog swaddled against her breast like a baby. He had tried to object, pointing out the little cur might piddle all over her gown, but she had been resolute, insisting she would wrap her mantle about her shoulders and secure him to her.

In the end, he had glanced at Otho who had merely shrugged, and let her have her way. The dog’s eyes were closed, and he seemed to be enjoying the proximity. Armand couldn’t really say he blamed him as Una did have a fine pair of breasts. It was one of the first things he’d noticed about her. Suddenly, a memory came back to him of lying against Una’s naked bosom. He sat up in his saddle. She had stroked his hair. Was he reading too much into this, or could it mean he hadn’t been too contemptible a bed partner for a sheltered virgin? He felt a rush of relief and was encouraged to hope that was the case. Thank the gods that he had not remembered her crying or trying to push him away.