Page 26 of To Love

Alden followed her gaze and gave his fellow recruit a look that made clear his unsolicited gaping at his friends’ wives was most unwelcome. When he turned back around, both Gareth and Roland were frowning.

“There are few women at Blackwood,” Darien said, stating the obvious. “Of course two as beautiful as yourselfs will attract notice.”

“Precisely,” Evelina said. “’Twas Amalia’s point, I believe.”

“What is the occasion then?” Alden asked. He was surprised to see the women at the table where he and Darien had been sitting, of late, with some of the other recruits when the others took a private meal in their chambers.

“Roland misses supper in the hall,” Amalia said with a smile. It was very much like him to do so. “Despite seeing the three of you all day.”

“Untrue, my lady wife,” Roland said to her. “Gareth is now an instructor, lest you forget.”

“Should you not be sitting there?” Darien asked Gareth, indicating the raised dais where Stirling and Eamon sat. When any of the nobles who financed their order visited, they could also be found at the head table, but this eve, the two men sat alone.

“Nay,” Gareth said simply, without explanation.

He’d told Alden, and the others, that he felt more like a recruit than an instructor. Neither would he wish to subject Evelina to even more scrutiny.

“Should you not be leaving us for your post-meal excursion?” Darien changed course, making Alden his target.

“Darien,” he warned.

As expected, his repeated leave-taking after the meal had not gone unnoticed. When Darien questioned him, as he’d done the night before, Alden had attempted a vague non-answer, but in the end was forced to walk away to stop his friend’s interrogation. All day he had been asking for him to reveal where he’d been going, and all day Alden had avoided answering him.

“Each eve,” Darien said to the others, not heeding Alden’s warning, “he has been leaving after the meal for some undisclosed location.”

“Perhaps,” Gareth said, picking up a piece of meat from his trencher, “he does not wish to discuss his whereabouts.”

“Clearly ’tis so,” Roland said dryly.

“Alden,” Amalia sweetly addressed him. “Do you have an admirer here in the castle?”

He nearly choked on his bread. “An admirer?”

“He feigns innocence,” Darien said. “But he knows precisely what you’re asking.”

“An admirer.” Roland appeared thoughtful. “There are few to choose from here, unless he travels to the village each night.”

“I do not believe he does so,” Darien said. “He returns much too quickly for that.”

“How quickly?” Roland asked, the innuendo clear.

Alden rolled his eyes but said nothing. He’d known the meetings would not go unnoticed and was actually surprised Darien hadn’t pressed him harder before now.

“Could it be the kitchen maid?” Darien asked no one in particular. “What is the name of the blond one who was caught with—”

“Nay.” Roland shook his head. “Not her.” Roland’s tankard froze halfway to his mouth. Placing it back on the table, his jaw dropped open. “Alden admires one woman alone here at Blackwood.”

Everyone at the table looked at him. It was either allow them to believe he was meeting with Elara or tell them the truth. He glanced at Gareth, who knew Alden was well and truly caught.

“Perhaps a bit more discretion,” Gareth said. “From his supposed friends?”

“We will offer discretion when Alden offers the truth. Is she who you are visiting?” Darien asked. None needed to say her name aloud. His affections for Elara were not a secret among his friends, though Evelina and Amalia did appear confused.

“Of whom are we speaking?” Amalia asked.

No one answered.

“Alden?” Darien repeated, concern lacing his tone.