The Promise of Peace (20 page)

Keifer stood and yanked the covers off Owyn. “Let's find the source of that delicious aroma.”

Owyn grumbled at the rude awakening. “Couldn't ye warn a man before ye . . .” He lifted his head and sniffed, then grabbed his clothes. “One of the mates showed me the dining area last night.”

They donned their clothes quickly and Keifer followed his squire to the small area that served as a dining room. It was empty except for a red-haired woman. For a moment, Keifer thought she looked like Nola. He shook his head. His thoughts last night had led to dreams of her, and now he saw Nola where she couldn't be.

It was going to be a very long voyage and sojourn in Paris if he couldn't get her off his mind any better than this. But when the red-haired woman turned to greet them, Keifer felt as if he'd been hit in the chest with a caber pole.

“Nola?” Shock turned to anger as he realized what his impetuous foster sister had done.

Stowaway!

“By the saints, Nola! What have you done now?”

She stared at him as if
he
were the one who had lost his mind.

“Your father will have my head!”

“Why would my father be angry?”

Keifer groaned. “Surely you didn't confide your plan to stow away aboard this ship?”

“Stow away?” She looked helplessly at Owyn, who shrugged. Realization came over her features. “Did Sir Thomas not tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

Nola peered behind him.

Keifer turned and saw the earl and his wife. Now it would all come down on him for sure. This prank of Nola's would have consequences as serious as her near drowning years ago.

“Good morrow, Lady Randolph,” Nola said.

The lady looked at Keifer and Owyn, then at Nola. “Good morrow, Nola, gentlemen.”

When had Nola met the earl and his wife? And why wasn't Lady Randolph surprised to see Nola this morning? “You two have met,” he said, feeling decidedly half-witted.

Now Sir Thomas smiled, as did his wife. “We have indeed. While you and Owyn were at the docks yesterday, Nola and her father paid us a visit. I believe that in the hurry to finish preparations, I may not have mentioned that Lady Nola has agreed to be my wife's companion during our stay in Paris.”

Nola laid her hand on Keifer's arm. “You are surprised. I'm sorry. I thought you knew.” She chuckled. “You thought I was a stowaway.”

Everyone had a good laugh at Keifer's expense. Though it was churlish of him, he wasn't quite amused. “Your father agreed to this?”

“Aye. It's perfect, Keifer. I will get the adventure I've always wanted.” But her expression showed less enthusiasm than her words were meant to portray.

“And in return your father gets . . . what?”

Nola glanced at the others who were standing there, clearly entranced with this conversation.

“Excuse us, please.” Without waiting for a reply, Keifer took

Nola's elbow and guided her to the other end of the small room.

“What have you promised your father?”

With a bright but obviously false smile, Nola replied, “I have promised to marry when I return.”

“Will?” he choked out, louder than he meant to.

She only shrugged. “Da did not specify to whom.”

A quick glance over his shoulder at the others convinced him to lower his voice. “But Will is waiting for your return.”

She stared at the low ceiling, evidently finding the knotholes in the wood quite interesting.

“Nola, tell me all of it. I am relieved your father gave you permission to go to Paris. But I want to know how you convinced Will to let you out of his sight. Particularly aboard a ship I'm on.”

Now she stared at her hands, and he knew he wasn't going to like whatever she had to say.

“Will thinks I am staying in Edinburgh with Lady Randolph.”

She said it so quietly he almost didn't hear her. “You lied to him?”

Now she looked at him and carefully said, “He made an
assumption
and I didn't
correct
him.”

Keifer shook his head. “Will and I are not the best of friends, but I would not see any man treated so.”

She stuck her hands on her hips. “Will is
not
my betrothed. He has no say over me. I am here with Da's permission, nay, his blessing, Keifer Macnab. And you and Will are not going to ruin this opportunity for me.” With that she shoved past him and sat down to finish her meal.

She'd certainly put Keifer in his place. Hunger and anger warred in him, and hunger won out. He took a seat by Owyn—as far from Nola as possible—and broke his fast.

Owyn raised his eyebrows in question.

Keifer shook his head, unsure whether to laugh at her audacity or bellow in rage. Typical of his feelings ever since Nola had arrived for his knighting ceremony, ever since he had met her, really. And his confusion had only worsened since their kiss. Their
good-bye
kiss.

He stole a glance at Nola where she sat with the Randolphs. He would do his best to stay angry at her, keep his distance. After all, he was a soldier with duties to perform. He couldn't be distracted by— Then he saw her laugh, head thrown back and eyes dancing, and his anger dissipated as quickly as it had come. It had always been so with her.

Hadn't he prayed to be shown God's will? Now by some miracle God had granted them time together. Somehow, despite the demands of his work, Keifer would renew his friendship with Nola, see if there was something more between them that might tempt him toward Randolph's suggestion of reconsidering marriage. Only a fool would waste springtime in Paris with a beautiful woman.

And Keifer was no fool.

THIRTEEN

A
FTER BREAKING THEIR FAST, Nola and Lady Randolph retired to the cramped stateroom they would share for the voyage. Sir Thomas had graciously agreed to sleep with the other men when no other cabin had been available at the last minute for Nola.

Lady Randolph smoothed the covers on the bed and sat down.

Nola sat beside her. “Your husband was kind to give up your company and his bed, my lady.”

“You may call me Isobel in private, Nola. And Thomas is glad that I will have an agreeable companion. My sister had planned to come with us, but she discovered she was with child. This will be their first, and she and her husband thought it best not to risk the journey.”

“I'm sorry for her but . . . I hope I will make a good companion.”

“I'm sure you will. You have already proved quite interesting.” She smiled broadly. “So, who is Will?”

“A neighbor and friend who thinks we should marry.”

“And what of you? Do you want to marry?”

What could she say? “Not really.”

Isobel stood and went to one of the three trunks that held her clothing. “My husband says you grew up with Sir Keifer.”

“Aye. He came to live with us when I was about six years old and he was ten.”

“From the way you look at him, I would guess 'tis him you prefer to wed,” she said quietly. She removed a gown from the trunk and shook out the wrinkles before hanging it on a peg on the wall.

“I don't know if he'll have me. He swore when we were young that he never wanted to marry. But I thought, maybe, just maybe, if we had some time together now that we are grown, he might change his mind.”

Isobel straightened, another gown in hand. “I suspect he is halfway there, Nola.”

Nola couldn't help but grin. She'd thought as much after what he had said, after their kiss, but was glad to hear it confirmed by the older woman. “You really think so?”

“Aye. Now, let's hang up your dresses and you can tell me all about your adventures with handsome young Keifer.”

Never one to disappoint, Nola told Lady Randolph all about the mishap in the creek when she had tried to save a lamb that didn't need saving. Lady Randolph seemed not to tire of hearing about Nola's childhood, so Nola regaled her with other stories. At long last, Nola returned to her task of removing her other dress from the small bag and hanging it on a peg. She would be glad to change out of the dress she'd worn for traveling and lamented that she had no other clothes to wear.

Lady Randolph said, “Is that all you brought with you?”

“Aye. I wasn't planning on such a trip when I left home, and there wasn't time to shop in Edinburgh. I'm going to be woefully underdressed to stay in a royal palace.”

Lady Randolph gazed at the three trunks of clothing she had brought with her. “Yes, you are. We will have to find material to make new gowns for you once we reach Paris.”

“Da gave me money—will you help me choose something flattering?”

“I will be delighted to help you find the perfect gown to capture your knight's heart. I will even help you sew.”

“I can't ask you to do that.”

“You didn't ask. I offered.”

They smiled at each other and Nola sensed a mutual admiration forming. “I can hardly wait to see Paris. I hope you are a quick seamstress!”

THE BOAT DOCKED IN CALAIS late in the afternoon. Nola heard Sir Thomas say he was anxious to cover the 130 or so miles to Paris as quickly as possible. Owyn went with the earl to rent a coach and horses, and Keifer was given the duty of escorting the women.

After more than a week of the ship's rocking motion, Nola felt unsteady when she tried to walk across the dock. She glanced back at Keifer, who gallantly escorted the older woman.

Nola walked to shore unassisted and just a little peeved at Keifer.

He had barely spoken to her for most of the voyage. It was as if every time he looked at her, he couldn't decide whether to kiss her or throttle her, so instead he turned away. Yet Nola found it difficult to be angry. She was in France! And she was tired of worrying over Keifer.

While their belongings were unloaded from the boat, Keifer escorted Lady Randolph and Nola to an inn. As she ate her meal, Nola talked excitedly with Lady Randolph, glad to have someone to share this adventure. Someone other than Keifer, who stood nearby, scowling. Keifer couldn't seem to make up his mind whether to be glad or not that Nola was with them. Nola would give him time—she could hardly believe she was here herself.

“Keifer,” Lady Randolph said. “Why don't you join us?”

“I have eaten, my lady.”

She indicated the open seat next to Nola. “Then sit with us, won't you?”

“Nay. I have orders.” He smiled.

Nola thought he was being stubborn and tried to have him change his mind. “But surely—”

“I am not here to entertain but to protect you, Nola.”

Nola was about to retort when Lady Randolph said, “My husband says we have reason to be vigilant, Nola, so don't take Keifer to task for doing his duty.”

Chagrined, Nola whispered, “He isn't going to be much fun, is he?”

“No doubt there will be moments when he can let down his guard. You must be patient.” The lady's air of importance let Nola understand that Keifer's role was serious. They might be in some danger in this foreign land. Perhaps that helped explain Keifer's odd manner toward her—she was adding to his responsibilities, the first official responsibilities of his career.

When the meal was finished, they went into the tavern's courtyard and the ladies climbed aboard the carriage that would take them to Paris. Although Sir Thomas joined them in the carriage, Keifer, Owyn, and the others rode on horseback. They were armed for protection from bandits.

Nola said to Sir Thomas, “You would make better time without us, wouldn't you?”

“Aye. I would have ridden through the night. But in deference to your company, we will stop each evening.” He smiled indulgently at his wife. “But 'tis well worth the inconvenience to have the company of such lovely ladies.”

Lady Randolph smiled at her husband, and Nola wondered what it would be like to be married. She would certainly find out when she returned home. She half expected her father to be waiting at the dock with a priest. The thought made her smile. But then she realized that Will would be standing next to the priest. She drew a deep breath. She'd made a bargain and she would honor it. She would indeed marry upon her return to Scotland. She just hoped the groom would be Keifer.

They stopped a few hours later for the evening meal and to take rooms for the night at an inn. Sir Thomas exited the coach first, and Nola heard him greet someone. He turned to hand down Lady Randolph and Nola. As Nola and the lady found their footing, they were joined by Keifer and Owyn, who had dismounted. Nola saw that their hands rested on the hilts of their swords.

Lady Randolph said, “Richard! How delightful! We hoped to see you at court—what brings you so far from your king?”

Nola stared at the tall courtier as he bent over Lady Randolph's hand. His close-cropped, dark hair and swarthy skin contrasted with the finely drawn features of his face. Even in the gathering dusk she thought him quite handsome.

He straightened, and though he answered the lady's question, he addressed Sir Thomas. “King Charles sent me with a contingent of men to safeguard you and your party.”

Sir Thomas raised an eyebrow. “I brought sufficient guards with me. Are we in need of the king's protection as well?”

“A few more men to protect such lovely ladies would not be remiss,
n'estce pas?”
The man named Richard bent closer. “We believe Edward of England has spies in France. He doesn't want to see the treaty succeed.”

The man cocked his head to one side in a charming gesture that had Nola smiling.

He turned and asked Sir Thomas, “And who, pray tell, is this lovely lady?”

Lord Randolph said, “Lady Nola Mackintosh, may I present Richard de Fleury.”

Nola felt herself blush as the man took her hand and kissed her fingers.

“It will be my pleasure to escort you and Lady Randolph.” The man grinned at her and she saw the glow of male interest in his dark, sparkling eyes. “Delighted, mademoiselle.”