Once He Loves (Medieval 3)

“I…” She glanced to Sweyn, and back to Ivo. She took a steadying breath, and straightened her shoulders very like Briar was wont to do when she was preparing herself for something unpleasant. “I don’t know who it was, Ivo. He was in the alcove, off the hall, last night, and she spoke with him there. I wanted to go home, and I came to fetch her and…”

She flicked another look at Sweyn, the color returning to her cheeks.

“Go on, Mary,” Ivo insisted. “’Tis important we know.”

“I listened, a little. They spoke of meeting today, at my father’s house. That is where she has gone. She made an assignation. Ivo, I am so sorry.”

Her fingers squeezed his, but Ivo did not notice. He was frozen in place, slowly being suffocated by a sense of terrible foreboding.

“You do not know it was Miles,” Sweyn said sharply, pressing his shoulder. “Ivo?”

“Did you see this man?” Ivo asked Mary, and his voice was not his own. “Did you see what he looked like?”

Mary swallowed, frightened now. “I did, just for a moment. It was dark, but…he was tall and dark-haired, and handsome, too. But I did not like him. There was something about him, something cold. Mayhap it was his eyes. They were pale and even when he smiled, they did not…”

She had barely finished the words when Ivo was on his feet, brushing by Sweyn and running for the door. Cursing, Sweyn ran after him, shouting orders to Radulf’s men, who waited outside.

“Watch her! Do not allow anyone near her!”

Mary stood in the doorway, her mouth agape as they rode off.

The house that had once belonged to her father was just as abandoned. Only this time Briar had no Ivo to hold her hand and make her feel better. ’Twas strange, how she had felt so irritated by his care of her before, but that now she missed it. She missed him.

Briar stomped her feet, trying to thaw out her cold toes. She could see no sign of Miles. He had said he had something to tell her about Anna? What could that be? Before she could get the information from him, he had changed the subject to Ivo, and then Mary had come. Perhaps it was only that Lord Fitzmorton was another of Anna’s lovers?

How could her father have loved his wife, and still she had shared her favors among so many others? It was incomprehensible to Briar, and unforgivable.

If I loved a man I would not betray him for a moment’s pleasure. I would not betray Ivo…

Her mind stilled at the thought. Love? Did she love Ivo de Vessey? Was that what this warm glow around her heart was? But Briar was not sure she wanted to explore that thought, not yet, not now. It was not the place or the time for thoughts of love.

The house stood silent, waiting.

Briar peered at it, swinging her arms now. The air was getting colder. If she waited much longer she would surely freeze to death. She may as well go inside and wait there. Mayhap Miles had left her a message? Mayhap he had already come and gone?

Again that strange thump of her heart.

As if it were warning her.

As usual when something interfered with her plans, Briar ignored it. Instead she gathered her skirts in her hands, and picked her way over the fallen debris to the door.

Inside the air was stale, and the smell of smoke seemed stronger than it had been yesterday. Briar wrinkled her nose in distaste but continued forward, mindful of the uneven floor. The twittering birds were silent, but Briar didn’t mark it. In fact she was so busy watching her feet, it was not until he cleared his throat that Briar sensed she was not alone.

“Oh!” She looked up, startled, and then laughed nervously. “You are here after all, Sir Miles.”

“It would seem so, lady,” he said easily, and his bow was slight.

Briar could not see his face properly, the light from the jagged hole in the wall was behind him again. However his voice was mild, unthreatening, and she forced herself to relax. This is Ivo’s brother. What have I to fear from Ivo’s brother?

As if he had read the name in her thoughts, Miles said, “My brother is not with you?”

“No, he is not. You told me not to tell him, remember?”

“I remember.” He smiled. “I am grateful.”

Comforted, Briar took a step closer.

“Ivo would never have allowed you to come here on your own, lady. He would have brought a dozen men with swords. He doesn’t trust me, you see.”