Choose the Sky: A Medieval Romance (Swordcross Knights Book 2) (20 page)

Instead, she kept herself locked up tight, her thoughts hidden, her secrets sealed. Short of begging, he could do nothing but wait for her to reach out and touch him, or ask for him, or smile at him. Luc wasn’t going to beg. He had his pride too.

And all the while, the days grew colder and the nights grew longer.

Why did he decide to get married in winter?

In those harshest days of
winter, Domina drifted like a ghost in her own home. Luc’s refusal of her stunned her in ways she never expected. She told herself she never wanted him to touch her, and that their marriage was a sham anyway. However, to actually be told aloud that she disappointed him… She was afraid she’d cry in her sleep and accidentally reveal how much his words hurt.

The subsequent nights were no different. Luc virtually ignored her. She wondered if it was some trick, the way some falconers would withhold food from new birds until hunger forced them to obey their master’s commands. Was Luc denying her his attention to show her exactly how in control he was? Or to make her beg for some affection?

Or perhaps she so profoundly failed to please him that he was done with her before their marriage was a month old. Mina didn’t know, and she’d never find out, for she’d have to ask him, and that would mean exposing her own ignorance, opening herself up for his contempt. She’d rather live like a nun, shut up in Trumwell for the rest of her days, alone.

In reality, she was not permitted even that. With no warning, Luc announced his sister was coming to visit.

“You never told me you had sisters!” she said.

“Three of them. It’s a burden.” He looked up at her. “Besides, you never asked.”

“I…I never thought to.” She’d been distracted. Still, how terrible of her, to not even inquire about his family. So now Mina had to prepare to receive a female guest and her expected entourage, which kept her busy until the day the sister rode up.

It was a bright, sunny day, and a recent snowfall turned the world white. Mina surveyed her home with a critical eye. How would the daughter of a wealthy man such as the lord of Braecon react to Mina’s less regal home? She would soon find out.

The face of the young lady who peered out of the side of the covered cart was as bright as the sky itself. Luc’s answering smile made it clear that he truly looked forward to seeing her—they were family in spirit as well as blood.

He helped her out and turned to Mina, who followed him only a few steps behind.

“My lady Domina,” he said. “This is my younger sister, Eva.”

The woman made a pretty curtsey, then said, “So you are Domina! I must say I had no idea what to expect, but now I’m considerably less puzzled at Luc’s sudden announcement!”

“Is that so?” Mina asked. Luc’s sister shared so many of his physical qualities that their relationship was obvious. Eva had the same coloring—the brown hair and vivid blue eyes—and the same general frame, though in a much more feminine version.

“He said the king arranged the marriage, but now I wonder!” Eva clapped her hands together once. “Oh, I must meet everyone in your family, you know. I am expected to bring back all the news and report on what I’ve seen.”

“Meet my family?” Mina said, glancing involuntarily at Luc. “What has Luc told you of my family?”

Eva’s smile faltered. “Have I said something wrong?”

“No, Eva,” Luc interjected. “Mina’s family is small, and scattered. Not like ours…and I have to tell you that’s sometimes a relief.”

“Let us go inside,” Mina said quickly. “Eva, you must be weary.”

“The cart does rattle so!” Eva agreed. “I feel as if my bones are all misplaced. But I saw the lake with the swans, and they looked so regal and serene it restored me just to see them.”

Mina shot Luc a querying look, trying to assess whether Eva was being sarcastic. In return, Luc gave her a very slight shake of the head, indicating that Eva was in fact always this way. The wordless communication was so brief, so mundane. Yet it sent an odd little shiver through Mina, like she’d learned a few words in a secret language.

It lasted only a moment, and Luc soon turned his attention to his sister, leaving Mina a spectator.

“The journey was uneventful?” he asked.

“Worse, it was dull.”

“Good,” he said.

Eva rolled her eyes. “Do you never wish me to have adventures?”

“No,” he said flatly. “At least, not the sort of misadventures liable to happen to a woman on the road.”

“Well, you’re in luck, for the only thing I risked on the road is dying of boredom. The money is quite safe.”

He looked alarmed. “You mean to say you brought it
with
you? Dear God, Eva, I didn’t intend to have my little sister accompany the shipment. What if you were robbed along the way? The silver can be spared. You can not be.”

“Oh, I had a dozen men-at-arms with me, and anyway, no one knew what I was bringing…other than Father and Mother, of course. What are you using it for?”

“What money?” Domina interrupted. Luc never mentioned money to her, which was a relief, for she could put off the inevitable moment where she had to reveal her poverty.

Luc looked at Mina, his blue eyes guileless. “This castle needs a few more defenders, and a few repairs. It’s my duty to pay for that, since the king was particularly concerned about the security of this castle.”

Mina frowned, about to ask for details. She hadn’t known he intended to spend his own family’s wealth on Trumwell. Once again, he had told her nothing of his plans.

“Trumwell was given to the de Warewics,” she objected. “The responsibility falls to me, for despite our marriage, I will always be a de Warewic.”

Luc’s mouth tightened into a thin line, but he said nothing before Eva burst into another sunny comment.

“Marriage! Speaking of that, you must tell me everything,” Eva said to Luc. “You never said she was so beautiful! My goodness, Luc! Did you fall in love with her the moment you saw her?”

Luc’s mouth dropped open, and Mina quailed at the thought of how he’d answer.

“How did you meet?” Eva went on, not waiting for any reply. “When? Was it raining or fair? I wish to know all the details.”

Mina said quickly, “We met in London.”

“Ah! At court, no doubt.”

“No, on the street. Late at night. You see, I had been set on by footpads—”

“No!” Eva gasped, lifting a hand to her open mouth.

“—when Luc appeared. He’d heard the commotion.”

“Oh, my, and you saved her!” Eva beamed at Luc. “Of course you did! Luc always wanted to be a knight. He’s so chivalrous. To be rescued by a knight…” She sighed.

Luc laughed and shook his head. “It was nothing. Octavian was with me, and did half the work. He hauled the scoundrels off, and I saw Domina to her lodging…where she made it clear that she’d be just as happy to never see my face again.”

Mina’s cheeks reddened until they probably matched her hair.

Eva pouted. “Oh, I’m sure she couldn’t have meant that, for you are married now.”

“That’s the result of the king’s wishes,” Luc said, his eyes darkening. Mina didn’t know what to make of the sudden shift in his demeanor.

“Naturally,” Mina said, “what the king commands, we must carry out. So we married. I’m sure the king had his reasons.”

“Oh,” Eva said, her eyes widening. “There is some strategy at work, then?”

“I can’t say,” Mina admitted, quite honestly. But Eva would no doubt create a dozen scenarios in her overactive mind, each one less accurate and more romantic than the previous.

“I won’t ask, then,” Eva said. “But tell me that you’re both happy!”

“It’s…complicated,” Luc said, immediately drawing Eva’s attention.

“What’s wrong? How could she not adore you?” Eva sucked in a breath, then turned back to Domina. “Oh, no! Do you love another?” she asked in a whisper.

“What?” Mina asked. She was suddenly aware of Luc’s gaze locked on her as well. “No!”

Luc exhaled, his shoulders relaxing slightly. Domina frowned. Even if she did, why would he
care
? After all, he’d been quite clear that he only married her as a way to protect the castle. And, by extension, Mina herself.

Eva was still looking quite put out, and Mina didn’t want to disappoint the girl. “Marriage is…well, it’s a very different type of life.”

“So you’ll be content in time,” Eva said, in evident relief. “I know you will be happy with Luc. You must, for he’s really one of the finest men ever born.” Eva said it with blind, sisterly pride.

Luc laughed, looking almost bashful. “I didn’t tell her to say that.”

“You don’t have to!” Eva added. “Luc once saved me from drowning! I can tell you all about it—I remember every detail of that day. I woke up so excited to swim that morning. The sun was bright. It was in May—”

“June,” Luc corrected.

“I think it’s time to show you to your room,” Mina said. So much cheerfulness was frankly disconcerting. “You’ll want to wash and change before the evening meal.”

Even with the addition of the lively Eva, supper was not exactly a festive affair. Luc didn’t speak much to Mina, instead asking his sister of family news, and then speaking of more political topics. From the way the siblings spoke, Mina realized exactly how close to King Stephen their family must be. They mentioned the names of great barons and powerful lords very casually. Eva was quite pragmatic in her discussion of the various men she’d consider as a husband…although she did seem to value comeliness among the virtues of her future spouse.

Domina thought of how little she’d considered a husband until one had been chosen for her, and she wondered how Eva could be so romantic one moment and so cynical the next. Perhaps it was simply easier to be romantic about other people’s marriages, where the illusion could be maintained.

As if the other lady could read her thoughts, Eva’s gaze lingered on Domina while she spoke of the benefits of this or that alliance.

“The name of de Warewic is not well known to me,” she said at one point. “Yet the king must think highly of it, to personally select a husband for you.”

“I…I am not sure,” Mina said, flustered.

“Did he tell you his reasons when you spoke to him?”

“The king?” Mina’s only discussion with the king about her marriage had been when he made a joke about it. “He did not…precisely…” She stopped when she saw Luc’s face, which was anything but amused.

“My marriage is not your concern, Eva,” he said. “Speak of something else.”

“But…”

“Speak of something else,” he repeated, his tone flat and angry.

There was a moment of silence, and a wave of mortification came over Mina. She was a failure as a wife, in every way. Personally. Politically.

Clearly wishing to steer the conversation in a safer direction, Octavian said, “The scaffolding on the north wall was completed today. The repairs will be done within days, I think. The wall is far stronger than it seemed from the ground. Do you wish to see it tomorrow, my lady?”

Mina smiled at him, grateful he’d brought up something that didn’t reflect badly on her. She responded, and the awkward moment passed.

At the end of the meal, Eva asked for Domina to walk her to her bedchamber. “I could get lost in a rowboat, you see,” she said with a pretty laugh.

Mina agreed, and the two ladies excused themselves. Mina bore a candlestick in one hand.

As they left the great hall, Eva slid her hand around Mina’s arm. “We are as good as sisters now,” she said.

“I must have been a surprise to you,” Mina said dryly.

“Yes, but a lovely one. Our family will be charmed by you.”

“More than Luc is, I hope.”

Eva looked over at her. “Do you not think he loves you?”

“We hardly know each other,” Mina admitted. “I don’t even know the names of your sisters. Or their ages.”

Eva told her, but didn’t lose focus. “Marriage agrees with Luc. These past few years, he’s  lived only for the court.”

“He spoke nothing but politics this whole evening.”

“Yes, but because I made him do so. His heart wasn’t in it. He and Octavian were going on about defensive drills. He’s never cared about such things before.”

“Well, he’s been working to improve the garrison. The castle’s routine was not ideal before.”

“Every castle needs a castellan,” Eva said. “Quite understandable.”

But was it? How could the king have known that the castle required a knight?

Eva was still speaking. “My dear, since you have Luc now, why do you not let him help you?”

“He has helped, as I said. He’s getting the garrison into shape, with his own coin, no less.”

“Not the castle,” Eva said. “Why not let him help
you
?”

“I am well enough,” Mina said. “I don’t need anything from him.”

“Nothing? Not support? Not comfort? Luc wants to be needed by you.”

“Has he said so?”

“Well, no. He wouldn’t, would he? Men don’t say such things. But I can see it every time he looks at you, when he thinks you’re not paying attention. He wants to be near you, to have you ask him for something.”

“He has everything of mine,” Domina said. “That’s what he gained as my husband.”