Page 11 of To Love

Six

“You, sir, are well in your cups,” Roland said to Darien as they dismounted.

“I would disagree with you, but alas, I cannot.”

Alden dismounted as well, giving the horse’s reins to one of Blackwood’s stable boys. It had been some time since all four of them had gone to the village tavern, with Gareth and Roland now wed.

“I’m unsure if I care for this tamer version of you,” Roland said to Gareth as the four of them made their way toward the keep.

“Would you have me terminated as an instructor so soon after receiving the position?”

Indeed, Gareth had minded himself more so than usual, although the knight had never been the rowdiest of the four of them. That honor went to Roland first, and Darien next.

“Neither were you,” Alden said to Roland, “the same version of yourself this eve.”

“I do not believe Amalia would appreciate that particular version of me at this time.”

Since Roland had previously lain with every fair woman in the village before meeting Amalia, Alden would agree.

Darien laughed. “It seems the two of us must compensate for such a sorry state,” he said to Alden.

As if such a thing were possible. Alden loved women as much as any man, but he had the good sense not to bed each and every one of them. Earning his spurs and getting a maiden with child did not align, and neither did the idea of impending fatherhood without a bride.

“You are lucky you were not already a father made before meeting the lovely Lady Amalia,” he said to Roland, then turned to Darien. “Perhaps something to consider?”

“Your warning came too late,” Gareth said as they entered the keep. “You did not notice he disappeared for a good part of the eve?”

“With the same serving girl with whom he disappeared on our last excursion?” Roland added.

Darien shrugged. “’Tis difficult to conceive a child when you simply—”

“Perhaps you should not finish that thought.”

None of the men saw her until then, a testament to how many mugs of ale they’d drunk that eve. Standing at the entrance to the hall they’d been about to pass was the very woman who visited Alden each night in his dreams.

She wore the same gown as earlier in the day and looked as lovely as she had then. Unused to seeing Lady Elara in the hall, he immediately wondered what she was about this late in the eve.

“My lady.” Each of them inclined their heads and greeted her.

“I wish to speak with you,” she said, without preamble, to Alden.

Oddly, Gareth smiled beside him. It was not a taunting smile, as Darien often gave him, knowing Alden’s affections for their instructor. This was more of a . . . knowing one. Puzzled, he glanced from Gareth to the lady.

“Of course,” he said, avoiding Darien and Roland’s gazes, knowing their expressions would make it difficult for him not to offer a retort.

“This way.”

He was a man of discipline, but even so, Alden could not resist looking back at his friends. Of course Darien and Roland appeared as if they would burst out laughing at any moment. But he was most interested in Gareth, who continued to appear more knowing than he should be. Alden would speak to him on the matter later.

Since Lady Elara said nothing, Alden followed her in silence. She walked briskly, lifting her gown as she climbed a staircase he’d never used before. With good reason. It led to her private chambers but naught else that Alden was aware of.

“Are we—”

“Shhh,” she said in front of him. “We pass a guard’s chamber.”

Indeed, at the top of the stairs, a sole door to the right was shut. Was a guard inside? What purpose did he serve? Was it one of the recruits?

Alden shrugged off an unwelcome stab of jealousy of a man bedding down so close to her chambers. That he desired Lady Elara was of no consequence. She was both a noblewoman and his instructor. As such, she was as out of reach for him as the Empress Matilda herself.