“No.”
The lady he considered his little sister smiled as if she’d just discovered some hidden truth. “That’s good news for you. Is it not?”
“I had not—”
“Her eyes are…mesmerizing, like fathomless oceans.” She looked toward the waves and smiled. “She is adored by many of the men and accepts hundreds of accolades a day over her eyes.”
“Hmm, is that so?” Nicholas asked her, senses piqued, honed to fight anyone for her. “What are their names?
She laughed. “I’m not so foolish as to start a battle over a woman. I want peace above all else. Whether ’tis from Richard or Henry Tudor, makes no difference to me in the end. I will do what is expected of me and always carry the white rose for my father.”
“As will I,” he promised.
“Oh, the sun is moving across the sky so quickly.” She pointed to the sky. “I promised Elia I would sit with her this afternoon and tell her about what it was like in the care of the Earl of Oxford this past year. The de Veres are very kind and thoughtful, and Richard still has their support. We shall speak more later. Aye, Nicky?”
“Aye,” he agreed and watched her run off.
So, Henry was coming with his army of five thousand. Nicholas thought of all the passionate Yorkist lords who had turned their backs on the House of York because of Richard, and he cursed them and Richard. York needed them now.
He would fight for York. He had to.
He would return to Nottingham, but not for a few more days. He’d gather the rest of Richard’s army in Leicester and send Henry running back to Brittany as Tudor had done after his failed attempt to usurp Richard two years ago.
Nicholas would discuss it with his men later. Right now, he found himself smiling as thoughts of Kestrel filled his head.
He’d been smiling since he’d returned to Scarborough Castle with her yesterday. She was back, back in his great hall, in his kitchen with Cook and the scullery maids, back in the laundress’ and the seamstress’ rooms.
He thought about her new exercise room. She was going to have the women strip down to their chemises and jump up and down. The men were definitely going to have to stay away, else, who in blazes knew what would happen?
Why was he still smiling?
Now that she had settled it in her head that she was staying, she was determined to keep busy here. He was glad, but he wasn’t as sure as she was about Mr. Simeon not finding another way. She said she wouldn’t take it, wouldn’t trust it. But what if after a month here, she decided she hated it? And Simeon found another way? Would she go then?
He hadn’t wanted to open his heart to her. But he seemed to have no control over the matter. She made him happy.
He soon found himself returning indoors—to the kitchen to find her. He’d been away from her long enough since parting with her after breaking their fast. He’d done some practicing in the field with a dozen or so of the men, washed up and changed his clothes, and then spent some time with Richard going over what they would do about Tudor. Now, with this fresh news, they should speak again.
But not now. Now, he wanted to be with her.
He leaned against the doorway of the kitchen and watched Kestrel as she bent to the oven and removed a tray with a thick towel. There were what appeared to be rolls on the tray. They smelled wonderful. So did the flat circles of meat cooking in a pan over the fire. Cook used a spatula to flip the circles and set off an eruption of pops and sizzles from the pan.
Kestrel and Cook didn’t say much to each other, but they were working well together, moving about the kitchen without getting in each other’s way.
Nicholas was astounded, since Cook was a mean bastard who didn’t like anyone in his kitchen.
Kestrel spotted him and smiled. “Oh, I’m glad you’re here.”
He liked her greeting. He—
“You can help us cut the bread.” She used her knife to motion how he should cut the rolls, and then she proceeded to slice a large pickle into disks.
“Unfortunately, it was really hard and time-consuming crushing the beef in a mortar and pestle, but it’s not a burger if it’s just one big slab of meat, you know what I mean? We could only make six. We have no ketchup. But we used a variety of different pepper, ginger, wine and stock to cook the burgers and I think they’re going to be good.”
“The smell of them is making my mouth water,” he told her. “Or mayhap ’tis you,” he added as she passed him.
She tossed him a slow smile and then instructed Cook to deposit a small amount of shredded cheese onto the center of each patty.
“Bring the pan here, Cook,” she directed a few moments later. Shockingly, Cook obeyed and held the pan in the thick towel while Kestrel lifted a patty of meat and rested it on the bottom half of a roll. She did the same five more times and then set about placing slices of onion and pickle on top of the bubbling cheese. She covered each with the top half of a roll and told them to dig in. They only had three left. One was for Elia, one for Elizabeth and an extra one for Nicholas if he wanted it.
They ate in the kitchen, gathering Elia and Lizzie to them. Nicholas picked up his roll in both hands and took the first bite. He thought his knees would give out at the pleasure in his mouth. Lizzie sliced hers in half and took a dainty bite, then another. She finished hers after Nicholas finished his. Elia and Cook were quiet, eyes closed after every bite.
“This is delicious,” Elia complimented. “Can we have it again tomorrow?”
“The mixture of spices and stock we used
