Suddenly aware that she had been studying him far too long, Isabel lowered her eyes. She had vowed to seek him out, but hadn’t expected to come face-to-face with him so quickly. Her neck flushed when she remembered how she had been swimming and touching herself when he had come upon her at the pond. Despite her embarrassment, she had resented the interruption.
She realized Lady Winifred was making introductions. “Isabel, this is Lord Chetwynd, a knight in the service of King Louis. He and his army are returning from duty on the Spanish March.”
When the silence between them continued, Lady Winifred looked from one to the other and then spoke directly to Isabel. “You will be pleased to hear Lord Chetwynd is acquainted with your brother, Justin.” Her grandmother nudged Isabel’s arm, urging her to reply.
It seemed to be a contest to see who would give in and speak first. Isabel finally surrendered, but only to mutter, “Lord Chetwynd.”
In reply, Chetwynd nodded. Isabel knew why she felt uneasy, but she wondered why he seemed so cold.
Frustrated, Lady Winifred waved her hand at her seat. “Do take my place beside Lord Chetwynd, Isabel. I know you are eager for news of Justin,” she prompted. With these words of encouragement, Lady Winifred pushed her granddaughter toward the seat.
Reluctantly, Isabel settled herself on the bench, and Chetwynd sat down beside her. Determined to ignore the warrior, she accepted the goblet of wine her father offered and busied herself choosing from the food trays passed to her by servants.
The quiet that had descended upon the troop at Isabel’s entrance dissipated as the diners returned to the loud chatter that accompanied their eating and drinking. Isabel watched the soldiers tucking into their food. Their faces no longer appeared alike, and she saw they were a variety of ages. Although the men stole glances in her direction from time to time, they didn’t stare for long. Her confidence grew as she noticed the high degree of deference with which she was treated.
There was one exception. A lad with a cheery face smiled boldly at her. He was too young to be frightening, and the open admiration she observed in his eyes amused her. She could not help returning his winsome smile.
Forgetting her intention to ignore the silent lord, Isabel asked, “Who is that young lad, Lord Chetwynd? He does not look old enough to be a soldier.”
Chetwynd frowned at the young lad as he answered Lady Isabel. “That’s my squire, Jerome. He is young and takes liberties.” His expression caused the lad to immediately lower his eyes.
Isabel grinned at her success in finally getting the warrior to speak. “How is it you are acquainted with my brother Justin, Lord Chetwynd?”
He paused only a few seconds, as though trying to figure how to answer. “Our friendship goes back many years, my lady. As I told your grandmother, we were pages together on the estate of Count Jonas of Orleans. We began our training in the great hall, serving meals and observing the manners of polite society. Justin and I shared an impatience for these tasks.”
Isabel smiled at his remark and nodded, encouraging him to continue.
“Being a little older, I advanced to caring for the horses first. Count Jonas bred the large animals for King Louis’s armies. Justin loved the war horses. He spent all his spare time at the stables. Although he was much better at mastering the social skills than I was, and therefore more welcome in the great hall, we shared a love of horses. Before long we were jousting and hunting together.”
Isabel’s heart twisted as she thought about how much she missed her brother. “I remember the day Justin was sent off to be educated. It broke my heart that I was not allowed to accompany him. I was jealous of his freedom.” She paused, remembering her disappointment. “But go on, Lord Chetwynd, I interrupt your story.”
“There isn’t much more to tell. I became a soldier in the service of Lord Malorvic. Justin stayed with Count Jonas, who later introduced him to King Louis.
“Though he has a great love for horses and jousting, Justin’s real talent is with people. His easygoing manner, level head, and ability to deal with all types of men make him a natural diplomat. It didn’t take him long to gain the confidence of King Louis and become one of his most trusted advisors.”
After his earlier silence, Isabel was surprised at how freely he spoke about her brother. “You have high praise for Justin. And what about you, my lord? Clearly you have advanced in your career. You have your own army and a young squire to serve you.” She waved her hand toward Jerome and his other men.
“There is nothing remarkable to tell,” he replied, again sounding taciturn.
“I’m sure you’re being modest, my lord.” She paused as though waiting for him to say more about himself. When he didn’t, she added, “It has been over a year since I saw my brother, Lord Chetwynd. I miss him. Thank you for telling me about him.”
Isabel looked around, but found no one paying any attention to them. She lowered her voice and asked, “How is it you found our secluded swimming spot, Lord Chetwynd? Few know about it. Did Justin mention it to you?”
Chetwynd’s eyes widened and his mouth softened as though he might smile. “Your guess is correct. Justin related many details about his life at Narbonne. He described his secret pond at length and with enthusiasm. Hot and dusty when I arrived at Narbonne, I
