Kay pushed her hair back from her face, taking in a deep breath, looking out the window at the billowing clouds of a gathering thunderstorm. The time with Galeron, Alistair, and Jack had flown by in the blink of an eye. All her thoughts had been on Uther, and how this discussion would play out.
She had the greatest faith in her sister; Em could talk a cat into befriending a mouse if she chose to. Still, Kay remembered what it was like to have Uther forcing himself on top of her, insistent that he would get what he wanted. If it got to that …
Kay fingered the dagger at her hip, and glanced again at the door. A guard was right outside. Em would pull this off, and the first decision would be made.
The red candle clock flickered in motion, the wax sliding past the 10:30 mark. At the same moment a flourish of knocks rained on the door. Kay glanced at the black curtain. “Are you ready, sis?”
Em’s voice rang out in a cheerful tone. “Come on in, Uther!”
The door flung open, and Uther strode in, his emerald green outfit highlighted with small metal studs which flashed in the light of the many candles which were positioned around the room. He ignored Kay completely, instead smiling at the curtain, moving to sit before it. “Good morning, Keren-happuch!” he called out with delight. “And how are we this stormy morning?”
“I am doing well, thank you,” came Em’s voice smoothly from behind her black wall. There was a gentle rippling of the fabric, and then it fell still again. “You are looking quite dapper today, Uther.”
Uther beamed, and puffed out his chest. “I am indeed, if I say so myself,” he agreed. “I always try to look best for my current group of companions!”
“I am sure you must be quite the center of attention in the halls of London,” mused Em thoughtfully.
Uther’s smile faded slightly. “Ah yes, London,” he sighed, his voice tinged with regretful longing. “Now there is a city one could explore for years and never get enough of. If you knew who to ask you could sample rare lychee nuts from China and lush pomegranates from Persia. There were masked balls and summer soirees.” His voice grew hoarse. “And the women … oh, the women …”
Em’s voice was full of curiosity. “You seem the ideal man for London, and yet somehow you are out here, in the distant wilds of the hinterlands. How did you stray so far from your ideal haunts?”
Uther struggled to slide back into his courting personae. “Ah, but here I would be Lord of the Keep,” he stated with vigor, seemingly to convince himself as much as the women in the room. “I would be the top dog, with all at my beck and call.”
Em was rueful. “Ah, but you see how few staff we keep on hand,” she pointed out. “And in the wintertime I am afraid it gets even more dreary. We are not exactly a sought-out destination.”
Uther’s gaze dimmed slightly. “I admit when I heard about this opportunity that I had romantic notions of a bustling castle on the sea, of parties all day and song all night …” He glanced about him, his smile wilting.
“Clearly you are meant for so much more than this,” continued Em encouragingly. “If we are this quiet now, imagine what we will be like in the dead of winter!”
Uther visibly melted. “And that will be when the parties in London will be at their fullest, during the festivities of the Christmas season,” he groaned, his shoulders slumping.
“Uther,” stated Em with warm compassion, “You have done me a great honor by coming to court me and spend time with me. The entire castle has benefitted from meeting you, learning from you, and experiencing your style and elegance.” Uther revived slightly, the hint of a contented smile easing onto his face.
Em pressed on. “I think it would be a shame – no, even more than that, a tragedy – if we held you from the world you so rightly are meant to adorn. You deserve to be the shining jewel in London’s crown, surrounded by adoring fans.”
“I do deserve that, don’t I,” mused Uther, his eyes growing distant.
“You do,” agreed Em firmly. “There are wealthy widows who need consoling and beautiful young ingénues who will never have the benefit of your wisdom and experience. Never mind the dedicated cooks whose culinary endeavors will not be properly appreciated!”
“My palate was said to be the best in the northern quarter,” reflected Uther, his face regaining its color. “I am sure I am missed in many parts of London. They often said a party would not truly come to life until I arrived.”
“I am sure they did,” encouraged Em. “In fact, I feel it would be selfish of you to hide yourself away at the prime of your power, to miss this important opportunity to share yourself with the adoring throngs who need your guidance.”
“Your wisdom knows no bounds,” praised Uther, his eyes sparkling with freshly found enthusiasm. He drew himself up to his feet. “My true calling – my proper place – is in the heart of London, with its marvelous cacophony of fine cuisine, of political intrigue, of clandestine meetings and tumultuous galas. You have opened my eyes, and for that I will be eternally thankful.”
He gave a flourishing bow toward the curtain, then turned and strode toward the door. He tossed it open with a pull, then turned back toward the curtain. “Farewell, my dearest Keren-happuch! Any time you venture toward London, know that I would consider it an honor to escort you to the finest establishments and introduce you to the wonders that they hold!” And then with a sweep of his hand he was off, moving down the stairs with a spring in his step.
Kay stared after him open mouthed, amazed as always at the silver-tongued talents her sister possessed. Just how did the woman do it?
There was a movement in the doorway, and Reese moved into view, the shocked surprise on his face mirroring her own. He smiled when he saw her, and she waved him in to his seat.
Em’s voice came cheerfully from behind the curtain. “What do you think, will he be on his horse and galloping full tilt toward London in five minutes, or ten?”
Reese accepted the proffered tankard from Kay and settled into his seat. He took a long pull on his ale before responding. “I put it closer to five minutes,” he chuckled. “Just how did you do it? I was ready to come in and pull him out by force, if necessary, after the way he behaved last night.”
Em’s voice took on a sharp edge. “What did he do last night? Did he hurt one of the maids?”
Reese glanced at Kay, and she dropped her eyes. Her voice was hesitant when she spoke. “M’Lady, I did not tell you because I thought it would interfere with your ability to send him away as smoothly as you did.”
“Tell me WHAT?” came Em’s voice in rising tones.
“I … I told you about of hearing of Uther’s actions chasing after both Jessica and Anne,” continued Kay reluctantly, “but I did not tell you that, in order to confirm my theory, I …”
Em’s voice was a low growl. “You what, Kay?”
Kay blushed, and when she spoke, she found her throat had closed up. The words emerged in a whisper. “I used myself as bait, to see what he would do once he got me alone.”
There was a violent rustle behind the curtains, and Kay was half afraid that her sister would come storming through the fabric to throttle her. “Are you insane?” cried out Em. “I know you can handle yourself in most situations, but what if he had hurt you! What if -”
Her voice caught.
Reese’s voice was quiet. “I was there,” he assured her, “watching over Kay. She would not have come to any harm.”
“Thank goodness someone was thinking with his head,” huffed Em, “although why you let her do it in the first place is beyond me!”
Kay flushed. “He did not know what my plan was,” she quickly defended. “He only knew I was acting oddly, and his sole thought was to keep me safe.”
Reese’s lips quirked into a smile. “She did not need it,” he added. “Your maid is fairly deft with a knife.”
There was a long moment of silence, then a low chuckle rolled out from behind the curtain. “That she is,” agreed Em. “She has a multitude of talents.” There was another pause. “Although, maid, let me make it clear that any future adventures must be revealed to me in full and in advance. Trust in me to handle the knowledge well.”
“As you wish,” agreed Kay, pitching her voice to be as meek as she could manage.
Another pause, and then peals of laughter billowed from behind the curtain. Kay found herself joining in, and Reese was smiling as well. Kay could almost imagine her sister wiping the tears from her eyes.
Finally Em’s voice came through the fabric. “Well, we are down to four, at least,” she commented, “and if nobody has come to blows yet, I count us ahead of the game.” She gave another chuckle. “My dearest Kay, the chance of keeping you fully out of trouble is about the same as keeping a cat on a fast in a room full of mice.” She sighed. “Reese, will you look after her for me?”
“It would be my honor,” agreed Reese with a smile, looking over at Kay.
She smiled back, and found herself captivated by his eyes, by the depths in them. Were they the grey of wood smoke, curling from a winter’s fire? Or were they the soft green of a spring moss, just emerging from its wintry blanket? She warmed from within; a sense of peace slid down her chest and wrapped around her heart.