“Do you also know about armor, Mary,” Julianna said, “or do you just polish Chandra’s?”
Mary’s sweet smile did not waver as she said to Julianna, “Unfortunately I have not Chandra’s skill—more’s the pity. Also, she always sees to her own armor.”
Chandra felt a moment of envy at Mary’s skill in dealing with Julianna. Julianna’s eyes hardened, and then she turned to Jerval and gave him a dazzling smile. So that was the way things still were. Chandra wondered idly if she would have to clout the nonsense out of Julianna’s head.
“I trust the evening meal will be well prepared.”
Chandra said to her mother-in-law, “I see no reason why it should not be. The servants know now that you are returned.”
“We will see,” Avicia said, ready to bolt for the cooking sheds.
She was on the point of leaving when suddenly she heard Dakyns shouting. She whirled about to see Hawk bounding into the hall, barking loudly, running directly at Chandra. Avicia yelled and jerked Mary behind her to protect her.
Lord Hugh thrust out his big hand to grab the hound, but Hawk eluded him. He grabbed at his sword as the beast dove at Chandra.
“Nay, Father,” Jerval said, laughing as he stayed his hand.
Lord Hugh stood stunned as he watched his most vicious boarhound plant his paws upon Chandra’s shoulders and lick her face with his huge tongue.
“What is that wretched beast doing in here? Get him out, at once.”
“Don’t worry, Mother,” Jerval said, grinning at her. “He is here because he heard Chandra’s voice. It is all I can do to keep him out of our bedchamber. He is forever at Chandra’s heels.”
Avicia drew herself to her full height. “None of those disgusting beasts is to foul the keep. Get him out of here at once or I’ll have him killed.”
It was a mistake, and she knew it the moment her husband took a step toward her. “I beg your pardon,” Lord Hugh said, staring at his wife.
Avicia splayed her hands in a helpless gesture that had, some thirty years ago, led Hugh to the erroneous conclusion that his bride was a soft-spoken girl who needed his strong man’s protection. “You promised, Hugh. The dog is fouling Chandra and making a nuisance of himself.”
“Oh, no,” Chandra said, “you needn’t worry for me, and he is not fouling me, for Jerval and I bathed him but yesterday.”
“He nearly ripped my arm off,” Jerval said. “The men were laying bets on how long it would take him to knock me on my back.”
“God and the angels,” Hugh said, torn between laughter and his wife’s outrage. “You actually gave this vicious hound a bath? A bath?”
“I did not want to bathe him,” Chandra said, “but Jerval thought it would make Hawk more acceptable to you, my lady. My father’s hounds are always in the keep. You, my lord, were always throwing bones to Graynard during supper.”
“Aye, that’s true,” Hugh said, rubbing his chin, remembering Graynard’s nose rubbing against his legs. He forgot that he had cursed the fleas.
“Hugh?”
“The hound is clean,” Hugh said. “As long as Chan
dra is willing to keep him that way, he may stay here in the Great Hall.”
Chandra closed her arms about the hound’s neck and let him throw his great weight against her, dragging her to her knees.
“As you will, my lord,” Avicia said, tight-lipped. She remembered all too well the pigsty Camberley had been when she first wed Hugh, for there had been no lady in residence for several years. She looked toward her daughter-in-law, recognizing that she was beautiful, that she had character and intelligence, but knowing to her innards that the girl saw things as a man would. That wasn’t good. She would have a battle on her hands.
“Hawk is almost human sometimes, my lady,” Mary said. “Indeed, when Jerval yelled at him to hold still for his bath, he seemed to understand. Alma gave me some powdery leaves to rub into his coat. She said it would keep all the vermin away from him.”
The girl was diplomatic, Jerval thought, staring at Mary. Unfortunately, that quality seemed foreign to his wife.
CHAPTER 15
Dinner that evening was set only for the family, well prepared, and served without mishap, thanks to Lady Avicia’s last-minute visit to the cooking sheds. Jerval forked a piece of roast pork into his mouth, closing his eyes a moment at the taste. His mother’s voice brought his head up. “There are no idle hands at Camberley, Chandra, as I’m certain you’ve noticed. Everyone has duties to perform, and we do not cater to slothfulness.” She directed her next words to her husband. “When we arrived, I heard that slut Glenna laughing in the solar.”
Lord Hugh said between bites, “The girl has her uses, Avicia.” He choked on the meat. “Er, that is, she had her uses.”