Music for My Soul (16 page)

“If you wish,” she said, a smile lighting up her face. “I could use an extra pair of hands.” Madeleine thought it unusual that a nobleman would even care about a peasant child’s predicament, but Lord Montayne was proving to be different from any man she’d met.

She plunged her hands back into the pail, and Garrett did likewise. As their hands touched in the grease, his eyes met hers. A shiver rushed through her. His hands clasped hers for a brief moment before he released them. He scooped a goodly amount of grease from the pail, and she followed his lead.

Together they lubricated Evan’s neck, working the oily filth into his hair and along the sides of the bucket. Each time their fingers met, her stomach fluttered as if butterflies had been loosened inside it. She bit her lip, trying to concentrate on the task at hand.

As Lissa distracted Evan with her chatter and the kitten, Madeleine nodded to Garrett. He grabbed the top while she slipped a hand on each side of Evan’s head, gently pushing on the bucket as Garrett tried to wiggle it off.

“Yow!” Evan hollered as his wooden helmet came free. A rough, red stripe creased his forehead, surrounded by globs of grease coating his thick, unruly hair. Lissa giggled. The infectious sound spread, and soon the entire group gathered around began bubbling with laughter. Evan looked sheepish, but even he joined in the fun.

“You’re a mess, Evan,” Madeleine told him. “We’d better clean you up.”

“I’ll take care o’ him, Madeleine,” Edgar said, yanking the boy to his feet. “Come wi’ me, young man. We’ll ha’ ye fit and fine in no time.”

After one more stroke for the kitten, Evan trotted off.

Madeleine sighed and turned to Garrett, nervous to meet his eyes.

He gave her a brilliant smile. “We make quite the team, Madeleine.”

“Thank you, my lord.” She swallowed hard. “I fear you’ll need a change of clothes, as well.” Garrett wiped some of the excess fat still on his hands upon the grass. “’Tis no problem, Madeleine. We’ll just plan on starting Lissa’s lessons tomorrow.” He grinned at her. “Go freshen yourself up. You can’t play your lute with slippery fingers.”

She observed the smears covering her tunic and her sticky hands. “Good advice, my lord.”

The next few days sped by quickly. Madeleine took part in the dramas several times a day, checking in on Gwenith between performances. During her longer break, when York acted as narrator, she spent time inside the castle with Lissa. She was amazed at the talent the young girl possessed.

In one short week Lissa had caught on quickly to different chords on the lute and could already play a few simple songs. They also practiced painting and, for her young age, Lissa showed promise.

Garrett attended every lesson in the small, sunny room provided for their instruction. He never interfered during the lessons, but his dark eyes constantly burned as he watched her working with his daughter. Madeleine wished she could forget his presence and instead lose herself in conversation with Lissa.

This proved to be impossible.

Lord Garrett Montayne commanded any room he sat in, whether he spoke or not. She continually found herself out of breath, the rhythm of her heart beating erratically, though she’d done nothing strenuous. She couldn’t understand why she had trouble breathing when he was nearby, much less why she became clumsy in his presence.

She concluded their lesson for the day, ready to spend a little time alone before she returned to the faire.

“Here, Lissa, let me clean those brushes.” She took them from the girl’s hands before she made a mess. “Why don’t you and your papa go find Luke?”

Lissa giggled. “Cook got mad at Luke again. He licked all the cream off a pie.”

Madeleine laughed. “Then you’d better go rescue him before he finds more mischief.” She gave Lissa a push toward the door and began to tidy up. She waited for Garrett to follow his daughter, but he remained seated.

“My lord, mayhap you should think of hiring a tutor for Lissa. Someone skilled in the fine arts. One day Lissa will be designing tapestries for the walls in the Great Hall and weaving them herself, or even painting portraits of the family and important visitors.”

“And singing for their entertainment in the evenings,” he added.

“Yes, she could. ‘Tis not just to indulge her proud papa, though. I’m sure your guests would enjoy her music.”

Garrett scowled. “We rarely have guests at Stanbury.”

Madeleine was taken aback. He hadn’t been abrupt with her since she’d come to Stanbury. She knew his fierce reputation, though. All the talk was of the lord of Stanbury and his black moods. He was curt and demanding toward servants, drank far too much, was a hard man in business, and had personally ridden out after highwaymen if spotted in the area. Some had disappeared, while some lived to tell tales of horror before they escaped.

She had not seen that side of him since they arrived at his estate. He had been polite and, in the company of his daughter, even lighthearted.

“I did not realize, my lord,” she said.

“’Tis my fault, Madeleine. I was gruff with you, and I’m sorry. We . . . have a bit of an odd situation here at Stanbury.”

Madeleine knew it had to do with his wife. She remembered Ashby mentioning how the marriage had changed him. She knew not if Lynnette was dead or merely away on a long visit since she’d seen nothing of her, nor even heard her name spoken. Not even Lissa spoke of her mother. “Odd, my lord?”

Garrett sighed, and Madeleine ached for the hurt she saw in his eyes. “My wife left me for her lover four years ago. I searched every farm and manor between here and London, but I never found a trace of her. She abandoned her husband, her home, and her daughter,” he continued, “disappearing completely. Lissa was barely a year old, just walking.”

His eyes glittered with a fierce anger, bitterness like she’d never seen. “Even if she turned up this day, I could never, ever forgive her for leaving Lissa.”

Shocked by his story, Madeleine suddenly wondered what Henri had told his friends about her disappearance.

Despite Garrett’s notorious reputation, she doubted strongly that he had beaten his wife. He simply wasn’t that kind of man. No one could look so pained over his wife’s departure and be responsible for causing her to flee.

Without thinking, Madeleine touched his cheek gently, her palm resting along his stubbled face. He held his hand over hers for a moment, then slowly entwined his fingers with hers. Her heart skipped a beat and then began dancing wildly.

He drew her hand away from his face and studied it before bringing it, palm up, to his lips. The heat from his lips scorched her flesh. Time seemed suspended. Only they existed in this moment.

He finally eased her hand away from his lips, but he didn’t release it. He transfixed her with his warm, brown eyes, and for the first time she noticed the flecks of gold in them.

“Can we go back to the faire, Papa?”

Lissa’s question broke the spell of the moment. As the young girl entered with the kitten in her arms, Madeleine quickly turned, slipping her hand from Garrett’s grasp. She crossed to Lissa and stopped to rub Luke’s ears, his noisy purring filling the small room.

“I must return, Lissa, you are right. I’d quite lost track of the time.” Madeleine smiled nervously. “Bring me my lute and you may come with me. We’ll find Evan, and you might be allowed to help him hand props to the mummers this time.”

“Did you hear, Papa? I get to help Evan.” She skipped over and retrieved the lute, handing the delicate instrument to Madeleine carefully.

Madeleine refused to look Garrett’s way. Taking Lissa’s hand, she said, “Let’s see if Annie wants to go with us.” They exited hurriedly from the chamber, but Madeleine still heard Garrett’s low curse.

After that charged encounter, Madeleine had avoided being alone with him. Garrett saw that she maneuvered things so that someone was always present. Annie was invited to watch her lessons with Lissa, and Madeleine often brought Evan along for good measure. Madeleine had also been introduced to Edith, and Lissa’s grandmother was thrilled when she could sit in and hear her granddaughter sing or watch her paint.

That afternoon, Madeleine cut the lesson short. “There’s an added performance tonight, thanks to it being the summer solstice. Farley wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to squeeze in an extra show for the longest day of the year.”

“Will you be singing in the play, Madeleine?” Edith asked. “I’ve enjoyed visiting the mummer’s stage with Garrett and Lissa. Your voice is quite charming.”

“Yes, my lady, ‘tis a special show. Both York and I have a role. Afterwards, there’s to be singing and dancing and a large bonfire will be lit. Would you like to attend, my lady?”

“No, but I’m sure Lissa will want to be there.”

“I don’t know, Mother,” Garrett said. “She’s awfully young, and ‘twill be late before those festivities begin.”

“I suppose you’re right, Garrett. Mayhap we’ll watch it from my tower room. That way, if Lissa falls asleep, I can easily put her to bed. But you go, son, and enjoy yourself. Ashby, too. He told me he wasn’t leaving for London till after the solstice bonfire.”

Garrett and Ashby watched the mummers in their final performance of the day. As soon as the play ended, Ashby was all smiles.

“You’re all on your own now, Garrett. I beg my leave of you.”

“The ravishing Hannah?” Garrett asked.

“’Tis a possibility. She’s lost none of her sweetness these past few weeks. If only I could look at her and not have to listen.” Ashby sighed. “Why the Good Lord decided to give the girl an angel’s face with a donkey’s bray, I’ll never understand.”

Garrett laughed. “And we all know ‘tis her face that interests you, Ash.”

“Do you mock me, Garrett? Would you be so cruel?”

“That and more. Now be gone.”

Ashby turned thoughtful. “Have you plans now yourself? Will you be spending time in the company of a certain songstress?”

Garrett smiled enigmatically. “Off with you.”

Ashby left and Garrett wandered around the faire for a few minutes. It did look as if romance were in the air. Everywhere he turned he saw couples strolling arm–n-arm, stealing kisses here and there. Loneliness washed over him, as if he were sitting in the surf on an empty beach. He even spied Royce, arms linked with another woman. The man gave him a wide berth and went in the opposite direction.

He found himself in the tent area where the mummers slept. He had a quick impulse to check on Gwenith.

As he approached the tent, Evan rushed out, running smack into him.

“Oh, sorry, my lord. Are ye lookin’ for Maddie?”

“No, Master Evan. As a matter of fact, I was looking for your mother. Is she here?”

Evan’s eyes grew round. “Yes, my lord, come right on in.” He held his hand out in a gentlemanly fashion, and Garrett entered the tent.

Gwenith was propped up on a low pallet with several pillows. Obviously, she had heard their exchange for she said, “Do come in, Lord Montayne.”

Her pallor was stark white against her vivid red hair. She put a hand to her head and smoothed down the wayward curls. “Gets a bit wild sometimes, my lord. Maddie does her best to tame it.”

“’Tis very pretty hair you have, Gwenith.”

She eyed him in an appraising manner. “So what brings ye here? Ye wished to see me?”

Garrett found himself slightly nervous as she sized him up. “Well, yes, Gwenith. Madeleine speaks of you often. And Evan is a sturdy lad. He’s been spending time with my Lissa. I suppose I simply wanted to meet you.”

“Yer Lissa is quite a bundle o’ joy, she is. Such a little lady already with dainty manners. She’s been to see me most every day now, bringing me flowers and little treats from yer cook.”

“She has?” His daughter had undergone a metamorphosis under Madeleine’s tutelage. Visiting a total stranger, bringing her gifts—it amazed him how much Lissa had changed in a fortnight.

“Yes, my lord, she’s a good girl.” She fell silent.

Since he hadn’t thought about what he’d say to her, he, too, remained quiet.

Finally, she spoke. Once again, she had that air about her, as if she were evaluating him. “I trust ye would not hurt Maddie, my lord.”

“God’s blood! Of course not! Why would you ask such a thing?”

“The dying have some liberties, I think.” She paused a moment. “Of course I did not mean physically strike her, my lord. I meant hurt her heart. Maddie was in a sad state when I met her. Something awful’s happened to her. Can’t say for sure what, and I wouldn’t pry, but all’s I know is she’s vulnerable. Don’t give her more cause for pain.”

He nodded. “I see.” Although he wasn’t sure he did. Madeleine struck him as someone with confidence and plenty of common sense, not the wounded bird Gwenith painted. Yes, she had secrets she had yet to reveal, but he saw Madeleine as a very capable, talented woman.

He stared at Gwenith for a minute but could think of nothing else to say, so he rose. “Well, ‘tis a pleasure meeting you, Gwenith.”

She studied him a long moment before replying. “’Twas interesting meeting ye, my lord.”

Garrett removed himself quickly from the tent. He walked along the lane, buying a few trifles for Lissa from the sellers. They were hasty in their actions, ready to pack their wares and head toward the bonfire now that dusk approached. Garrett could hear the music and shouts from that direction and proceeded that way.

Many had gathered ‘round the woodpile that would soon be lit. A few impromptu speeches were made, while several toasts were offered up. The crowd, agreeable to the toasts, shouted their approval.

Then he heard more shouts rise from the crowd.

“Play us a tune, Madeleine!”

“Yes, tell us a story, dear!”

“Come on, Madeleine. Won’t be solstice without a tale!”

Garrett saw her reluctantly make her way to the center of those gathered. “I don’t have my lute, I’m afraid,” she apologized.

“Then we’ll just look a’ ye a bit,” yelled a happy drunk. The crowd hooted at his comment. Madeleine blushed prettily.

Edgar yelled, “’Tis just a story we need, Madeleine. Ye need not sing.”

“All right,” she said, pausing and tapping a finger on her lips. “This is a tale of what England was like long ago.” She launched into a story of life before the Romans came and how the Druids had danced at celebrations such as the one tonight, their chants of “EyeAyOh,” buzzing as bees would.