Lord Herbert was shorter than his wife, and not nearly as distinguished looking, but he made up for his rather ordinary appearance with a friendly and open manner. He asked about Isabel’s grandmother, whom he seemed to know well. Isabel was startled to realize that her grandmother had, at one time, been a part of this gracious world. Although she knew Lady Winifred had traveled widely in her youth, her grandmother hadn’t told her many tales from that period of her life.
The other visitors in the hall seemed well acquainted with one another. As Isabel and Chetwynd moved through the crowd, she clung to his arm for support. People were clearly eager to meet her. They expressed subtle surprise at the marriage with comments like, “How interesting to find you wed, Lord Chetwynd.” Then the same questions were repeated over and over. “Did Justin arrange the match? How long have you been betrothed?”
At first Chetwynd answered their questions patiently, and Isabel followed his lead in allowing the guests to believe Justin had arranged the match. But as time went on, she noticed Chetwynd was becoming more and more tense. She suspected the relentless curiosity of those they met was the cause. Isabel wondered how many of those present knew of his involvement with the queen.
Without her realizing it, Isabel’s tightening hold on Chetwynd’s arm communicated the strain she was feeling. He leaned closer and whispered in her ear. “You’re stopping the blood flow in my arm, Isabel.”
She immediately loosened her grip. “I’m not used to meeting so many people, and the noise is overpowering.”
“You’ll have to get used to it. The scene at court will be much more of the same.”
His terse answer seemed out of keeping with his earlier attentiveness. Isabel pulled her hand from his arm. She was suddenly resentful that he had placed her in this position. Chetwynd should have given her enough information to prepare her for the type of curious attention she was receiving. Even if he didn’t want to reveal the identity of his lover, he could have at least informed her that his attachment was well-known. She suspected he dreaded the necessity of introducing her at court.
Chetwynd sensed her displeasure. “Forgive me, Isabel. I didn’t mean to sound abrupt. You look lovely, and everyone is pleased to meet you. Perhaps it’s time we had a talk. I’ll come to your room after supper.” Then to be sure she didn’t misunderstand his meaning, he added, “Let Marianna know we’ll need a little time alone.”
Isabel nodded, thankful for his change of attitude. She hoped he was going to confide in her at last. Until then, she was determined to enjoy the evening.
There were more introductions and polite conversation during a long meal made up of lavish meat and fish dishes. When everyone had eaten their fill, the tables were pushed back to make room for entertainment. Chetwynd had gone off to talk with the men, and Isabel, surrounded by women, gradually felt more at ease. She was fascinated as the musicians filled the hall with music, and the women began to dance.
Unfamiliar with the courtly promenades, Isabel stood on the sidelines to watch. Soon Lady Evaline appeared at her elbow and urged her to join in. When her hostess insisted, Isabel followed her into the line of women. She managed the reels by watching the dancers in front of her, and she soon found the steps easy to follow.
From time to time she noticed Chetwynd’s eyes upon her as he spoke with a group of lords she had met earlier. Judging from their facial expressions, they were engaged in serious deliberations. She wondered briefly why the discussions caused so many to frown, but the music and gaiety of the dancers soon captured her attention.
When the musicians took a break, Chetwynd appeared at her side. “We should retire early,” he said. “I want to leave at daybreak.”
At the door of her bedchamber, Isabel remembered Chetwynd’s request that she ask Marianna to leave them alone. There was no need, as her maid disappeared as soon as she saw Lord Chetwynd. Now that it came time to talk, Isabel was nervous. While Chetwynd made himself comfortable on some cushions in front of the fire, she busied herself pouring the wine someone had set out for them.
Certain that Chetwynd was about to explain his relationship with the queen, Isabel wished to delay hearing his story. “You seemed to be in grave discussions with the other guests, my lord. Is there bad news?”
“You’re very observant. There is a matter of concern.” He took the goblets of wine from her hands and made room for her to sit on the cushions beside him. “There have been reports of bandits on the road ahead. Ordinarily we wouldn’t worry, but there is speculation that the bandits have been receiving information about caravans moving through the area. They probably have spies who report when there is something of value to steal.”
He took a sip of wine and said, “The men Jerome caught a glimpse of the other day when you climbed to the fortress may be part of the band. It seems unlikely they will attempt to rob a troop of soldiers, but we must be careful. It is a problem for smaller groups, and the men I was talking to were sharing their experiences.”
As he spoke, Chetwynd leaned back on his elbow and stared at the fire. He still hadn’t worked out how much he needed to tell Isabel to prepare her for their arrival at court. He turned to look at Isabel. She had settled beside him, and her fragrance, which he was beginning to recognize, filled his senses. In the great hall she had held her own, and he hadn’t been able to keep his eyes off her. When she danced, she had stood out from the rest. Even as she concentrated on following the intricate steps, her moves were graceful, and each time she
