Defender of Hearts by Tanya Bird

Chapter 24

For dinner with the king, Lyndal changed into a blue dress with an embroidered bodice and sharp neckline that had Astin looking everywhere but at her. Her golden hair was bundled atop her head like a halo. He watched her from behind as they walked towards the hall, where everyone was waiting for her.

‘You can’t say anything,’ Astin warned her for the seventieth time. ‘The king can’t know we suspect anything.’

She looked over her shoulder. ‘It’s all right. I’m not about to throw your sister under the wagon. Besides, speaking up won’t really make a difference. The king’s not going to suddenly develop a conscience because he was caught.’

‘We need more information before we start drawing conclusions.’

Lyndal sped up. ‘A bit hard not to. He purchased forty head of cattle and gifted one to me. Are we not to assume the other thirty-nine animals went to the nobility while merchants continue to die of starvation before his very eyes?’

When they reached the hall, he grabbed her arm and pulled her to a stop. ‘You need to be very careful.’ His voice was a whisper. ‘This is not just about my sister. You’re in a very vulnerable position.’

She plucked her arm free from his grip. ‘Isn’t Thornton supposed to be watching me?’

‘It’s been a rather big day. I’d prefer to see you through the dinner.’

She searched his eyes. ‘You don’t trust me to keep your sister’s secret.’

‘I don’t trust anything about this dinner—especially your uncle.’

She patted his arm. ‘Have a little faith, defender. And I think I shall have a little wine.’ With that, she turned and entered the hall.

Blinking slowly, he followed her in.

King Borin and Queen Fayre were in their usual seats at the high table. In front were Lord Thomas, Lady Victoria, Lady Henley, and Lord Wilfred.

‘There you are,’ Borin said when he caught sight of Lyndal. ‘I am relieved you found time to wash and change.’

Lyndal curtsied before the high table. ‘Your Majesties.’

Astin positioned himself by the wall on the other side, watching as she greeted the other guests. That was when he noticed she had been seated beside her uncle.

‘Niece,’ Thomas said, not bothering to stand.

‘Uncle.’ She bowed her head before reluctantly taking her seat.

‘You look so well,’ her aunt said, leaning forwards in her chair.

‘Amazing what a bit of food can do for one’s complexion,’ Lyndal replied, smiling at Lady Henley across the table. She slid her plate farther away from her uncle’s in the process.

‘His Majesty was just telling us that you have been out doing charity work all day,’ Lady Henley said. ‘How tedious.’

‘Not at all, my lady. Going years without adequate food, now that is tedious.’

Lady Henley exchanged a look with her husband, Lord Wilfred.

When Lyndal went to reach for the wine, a food taster swept in to sample it. Lyndal’s fingers twitched on either side of her plate as she then waited for the wine to be poured. Thanking the servant, she picked up her cup and emptied it in a few solid mouthfuls. The servant immediately stepped forwards to refill it.

‘The king gifted Lady Lyndal a carcass to help those most in need,’ Queen Fayre said.

Thomas looked up at that. ‘Lady Lyndal now, is it?’

Fayre finished chewing her food, then placed her fork down. ‘Her mother had a title, did she not?’

‘She did. However, she traded the title for a merchant husband, Your Majesty,’ Thomas replied.

Lyndal had another long drink of wine, then said, ‘She never regretted it. A happy marriage is not to be sniffed at.’

Lady Henley raised her eyebrows but did not comment.

‘How did it go today?’ her aunt asked with an encouraging smile.

‘I’m afraid one cow can only stretch so far.’

Borin glanced up from his food. ‘It was a very large cow.’

‘It’s a very large borough’ was Lyndal’s reply.

Fayre placed her fork down again. ‘Well, I am certain the merchants were grateful nonetheless.’

Lyndal nodded in agreement. ‘They were—except for the lady carrying her dead daughter around the borough. We were one day too late for her.’

Astin drew a slow breath.

‘Can we speak of something more uplifting?’ Borin said.

Lyndal smiled. ‘Of course. How’s Lady Kendra?’ she asked her uncle, picking up her cup and finishing what was left in it.

‘Very well, given the circumstances.’ He said that last part so only she would hear it.

Lyndal reached for the tray of roasted vegetables in front of her, only to have the food taster appear beside her again. With a sigh, she said, ‘We’re all eating from the same trays, are we not?’

Thomas tutted, then said, ‘I gather from this you are not making a lot of friends here.’

Astin imagined all the things he might do to the man under a dark sky with no witnesses around.

‘It is simply a precaution,’ Fayre said, replying on Lyndal’s behalf.

‘No one else has died on their plates,’ Lyndal said, shooing the young man away. ‘So I’ll take that as a sign all is safe, thank you.’ The second he was gone, she reached for the wine and filled her own cup this time.

Lady Henley leaned over the table and whispered, ‘Perhaps you should have some food.’

Lyndal nodded. ‘Excellent advice.’ Then she drank instead.

‘It is good to see pork and mutton returning to the nobility borough, Your Majesty,’ Lord Wilfred said, sitting up straight in his chair. ‘Any idea when we can expect to see some beef?’

The smile fell from Lyndal’s face, and her eyes snapped to Astin. He shook his head ever so slightly.

Borin shifted, visibly uncomfortable. ‘Two months, the farmers are telling me.’

Astin and Lyndal stared at one another, a realisation settling between them. The remaining thirty-nine head of cattle had not gone to the nobility borough, which raised a much bigger question.

‘Do eat up,’ Queen Fayre told Lyndal. ‘I imagine you are famished.’

‘I would skip the chicken, however. It is a little dry,’ Borin said, poking at his plate.

‘My niece will not notice,’ Thomas said, waving his fork. ‘Merchants have a different palate.’

Lyndal closed her eyes, and Astin fought to keep his feet still and his face neutral.

Lady Victoria placed her knife carefully on her plate and cleared her throat. ‘Did anyone catch the break in the clouds a few nights back? Some reported seeing stars.’

Lyndal’s eyes opened. Slowly, she reached for the jar of wine and refilled her cup, drinking the entire thing before turning to her uncle. ‘How is our palate different?’

Everyone stopped talking and looked in their direction.

‘He meant no offence,’ Victoria said, playing the peacekeeper.

Lyndal’s eyes never left her uncle. ‘I’m simply curious. It’s clear to all that the nobility have better clothes and houses, more wealth and food, greater health, and more promising futures. But how is it that your palate is also superior?’

Queen Fayre glanced in Astin’s direction. ‘Lord Thomas did not say superior.’

Lyndal emptied her cup yet again and reached for the jar.

‘I think you have had enough,’ Thomas said, moving it out of reach.

She laughed, but it was not her usual pretty laugh. It was venomous. ‘You people. Always deciding when we’ve had enough. Enough wine, enough food, enough freedom. I’m always surprised when I enter the merchant borough and find no wall around the well.’

‘That is enough,’ Borin said, throwing down his fork.

Thomas looked up at the high table. ‘I must apologise on behalf of my niece, Your Majesty. I believe she was attempting humour and it fell flat.’

Lyndal stared at him, tapping one finger on the table. ‘I wonder if that’s because you have a more sophisticated sense of humour than I do.’

Thomas’s face twitched.

‘Fletcher,’ the queen mother said, clicking her fingers. ‘Would you see Lady Lyndal to her quarters? She is tired and in need of a good night’s sleep. I shall have some food sent up.’

‘Excellent suggestion,’ Borin agreed.

Lyndal rose on unsteady legs. ‘Let’s hope no one sets the room alight.’

Astin did not get there quick enough to stop that one. Taking hold of her arm, he leaned in and whispered in her ear, ‘Bid the king and his guests goodnight.’

‘Have a wonderful dinner, everyone,’ she said, falling into a leaning curtsy. ‘That chicken will be fine in a soup. Heat it low and slow.’

Borin narrowed his eyes. ‘Are you drunk?’

Fayre gestured for Astin to take her away while Lady Henley and Lord Wilfred looked on with disapproving expressions. Lyndal reached for the jar of wine on the table when Astin turned her.

‘Absolutely not,’ he growled, steering her sharply away from the table.

Thomas glared after her while Victoria stared down at her plate.

Astin was forced to keep hold of her as he guided her across the room and out of the hall. Thankfully, she waited until they were out in the corridor before tripping over her own feet.

‘Well, that went about as well as I was expecting.’

Lyndal pulled out of his grip, almost falling over in the process. ‘See? I didn’t say a word about the cattle or your sister.’

Astin walked at her side, ready to catch her. ‘Yes. Well done, you, for the two things you didn’t say during your verbal spewing.’

‘It wasn’t that bad.’

‘You may feel differently tomorrow.’

When she tripped again, he caught her arm, and she did not pull free this time.

‘Where do you suppose he’s hiding the rest of the cattle?’ she asked. ‘And how does one hide animals that size? Someone knows where they are.’

Astin drew a breath. ‘I’m not talking about this now.’

‘Should we see if there are any stars visible tonight?’ she asked, already moving on.

‘Queen Fayre told me to take you to your rooms, so I’m taking you to your rooms.’

She pouted at him, and it was oddly adorable.

‘But I’m not tired.’

He dragged her forwards. ‘Give the wine a chance to do its job. You only finished guzzling it a minute ago.’

Only when they were standing outside her bedchamber door did he let go of her. She leaned against the frame, staring at up him with an expression bordering on adoration. He was immediately wary.

‘Do I dare ask what’s going on in that mind of yours?’ he asked.

A slow smile spread across her face. ‘I was just recalling our earlier conversation. You see me.’

He looked off down the corridor, ignoring the change in his pulse. ‘Food should be here soon. Can you get yourself inside?’

She tilted her head. ‘The real question is can I get myself out of this dress?’

His eyes returned to her. ‘Stop. You have enough to regret in the morning.’

She presented her back to him. ‘Can you at least help with the buttons?’

He stood there, not touching her. ‘What are you doing?’

‘Asking for your help. They’re just buttons.’

Blinking slowly, he reached up and took hold of the top button, careful not to touch the bare skin visible above.

‘This is always the cruellest part of the day,’ she said quietly.

His fingers continued to work down the row of buttons. ‘Why’s that?’

‘That bedchamber is empty. There’s no sisters in there to lie beside, to laugh with and share secrets with in the dark.’

‘Done,’ he said, hands falling away from her exposed back.

She turned, her smile gone.

Feeling sorry for her, he said, ‘Soon you will have a husband to tell all your secrets to.’ He had to stop his mind there for his own sanity.

‘I wouldn’t trust the king with my secrets.’ She hesitated. ‘I trust you though.’

Swallowing, he reached past her and pushed the door open. ‘In you go.’

She did not move. ‘Don’t you want to know if I saw you?’

He shook his head. ‘It doesn’t matter now.’

‘You saved Pig’s baby. How could I not see you?’

It took him a moment to figure out what she was talking about. His hand went to his brow. ‘Ah, the boar.’

‘I was always supposed to marry up, but not this far up.’ She laughed. ‘This whole thing is ridiculous.’

He said nothing.

‘And now I’m thinking back to every time you came to the shop, to the house, to the dock, and I’m wondering why I never saw it.’ She pressed her lips together and looked away.

His chest felt heavy and his hands restless. He gestured to the bedchamber. ‘Go inside before someone sees you standing out here with your dress unbuttoned—with me.’

She covered her face with her hand. ‘And now you reject me.’

‘You’re drunk.’ He pulled her hands down and dipped his head to hers. ‘Tell me to help you out of your dress when you’re sober, and you might get a very different response.’

He saw her swallow as he stepped back.

It was perfect timing, as the rattle of a tray announced the arrival of a maid.

‘I’ll send for Thornton,’ Astin said. ‘Get some sleep.’

Lyndal stepped aside to let the maid pass and lost her balance.

Astin caught her again and walked her inside, sitting her on the bed. Turning to the maid, he said, ‘Help her change, make sure she eats, and don’t leave her side until she’s asleep. Understand?’

The older woman nodded. ‘Yes, sir.’

Then he marched out without a backwards glance.