drilled and trained to be prepared to protect the town and castle from the next Scottish onslaught.
Men now regularly patrolled the perimeter of the demesne, and reported seeing ominous signs of intruders. Charred wood indicated small campfires. There werehorse droppings. Matted grass. Hugh ordered an increase in the patrols.
Though the interlopers evaded being seen, Hugh warned the townspeople to be on their guard. It was hardly likely that a couple of stray men could do much damage, but caution never hurt.
Everyone in the castle knew of Siân Tudor’s visits to town, and many marveled at her ability to engage the children in games, to keep them occupied while the adults made repairs, sorted foodstuffs, grieved. She helped many a young mother with her brood during those trying times, taking the little ones out to play in the late autumn sunshine. Many of Clairmont’s aristocratic guests ridiculed her folly, criticizing her for engaging in such coarse and inferior activities.
The knights, however, seemed to enjoy seeing Siân with her group of little troopers on the hill, and the men whistled and waved to her whenever they were out in the countryside. Siân made sure to stay close to town, and the knights felt that she and the children were safe as long as they didn’t wander too far afield.
While Hugh worked out with the other knights in the lists, his attention was repeatedly drawn to the hillside where Siân Tudor frolicked with the children. He forced himself to avoid thinking about the young woman, but unbidden thoughts of her entered his mind during unguarded moments.
He’d stayed away from her since the night of the celebration, the night he’d danced and drunk wine, and forgotten for a short time that he was a scarred man, an unworthy man, one whose only value lay in his ability to protect the Clairmont border.
Hugh wondered how long the queen’s party, including Siân, would continue staying on at Clairmont. Hehadn’t heard of any plans for their departure, but considered that Castle Clairmont would become a rather dull place without the saucy Welsh redhead about.
The sound of her voice traveled fleetingly over the distance, catching his ear with her lively accent, and her expression of complete and utter abandon. Hugh couldn’t remember how it felt to know such innocent joy. His own young life had been punctuated by a series of violent endings, then a continuum of drills, practice and military training, until he reached his majority and was knighted by Wolf Colston’s German grandfather. He then joined Wolf and Nicholas to fight with King Henry in France, making his way by his sword and his wits. He’d returned to England some years later to help Wolf regain Windermere.
And lost all pride and honor in the process.
Turning away from the hillside with Siân and all the children, Hugh ran his hand across the whisker-roughened part of his face. He didn’t have time for such foolishness. He gave orders to the men to pack up their equipment, and he returned to the castle with them for the midday meal.
The children were getting hungry. Siân had seen the signs of it, but she wanted to keep them away from town and out from underfoot for just a little while longer. As soon as the hammering and sawing stopped, she would take them back for their midday meal. For now, keeping them out of trouble seemed the least Siân could do while the townspeople rebuilt the structures destroyed by the Scots.
Besides, she enjoyed being with the children. She never felt isolated or alone when she was with them. They liked her, liked listening to her stories, and playingher games, laughing with her when she was silly, squealing when she startled them. She could be herself with them, and not have to put on the airs Owen wanted her to assume when she was with the high-and-mighty ladies of the castle.
“That’s the way!” Siân called out to the children, laughing, clapping her hands with enthusiasm. “Catch those pesky
Men now regularly patrolled the perimeter of the demesne, and reported seeing ominous signs of intruders. Charred wood indicated small campfires. There werehorse droppings. Matted grass. Hugh ordered an increase in the patrols.
Though the interlopers evaded being seen, Hugh warned the townspeople to be on their guard. It was hardly likely that a couple of stray men could do much damage, but caution never hurt.
Everyone in the castle knew of Siân Tudor’s visits to town, and many marveled at her ability to engage the children in games, to keep them occupied while the adults made repairs, sorted foodstuffs, grieved. She helped many a young mother with her brood during those trying times, taking the little ones out to play in the late autumn sunshine. Many of Clairmont’s aristocratic guests ridiculed her folly, criticizing her for engaging in such coarse and inferior activities.
The knights, however, seemed to enjoy seeing Siân with her group of little troopers on the hill, and the men whistled and waved to her whenever they were out in the countryside. Siân made sure to stay close to town, and the knights felt that she and the children were safe as long as they didn’t wander too far afield.
While Hugh worked out with the other knights in the lists, his attention was repeatedly drawn to the hillside where Siân Tudor frolicked with the children. He forced himself to avoid thinking about the young woman, but unbidden thoughts of her entered his mind during unguarded moments.
He’d stayed away from her since the night of the celebration, the night he’d danced and drunk wine, and forgotten for a short time that he was a scarred man, an unworthy man, one whose only value lay in his ability to protect the Clairmont border.
Hugh wondered how long the queen’s party, including Siân, would continue staying on at Clairmont. Hehadn’t heard of any plans for their departure, but considered that Castle Clairmont would become a rather dull place without the saucy Welsh redhead about.
The sound of her voice traveled fleetingly over the distance, catching his ear with her lively accent, and her expression of complete and utter abandon. Hugh couldn’t remember how it felt to know such innocent joy. His own young life had been punctuated by a series of violent endings, then a continuum of drills, practice and military training, until he reached his majority and was knighted by Wolf Colston’s German grandfather. He then joined Wolf and Nicholas to fight with King Henry in France, making his way by his sword and his wits. He’d returned to England some years later to help Wolf regain Windermere.
And lost all pride and honor in the process.
Turning away from the hillside with Siân and all the children, Hugh ran his hand across the whisker-roughened part of his face. He didn’t have time for such foolishness. He gave orders to the men to pack up their equipment, and he returned to the castle with them for the midday meal.
The children were getting hungry. Siân had seen the signs of it, but she wanted to keep them away from town and out from underfoot for just a little while longer. As soon as the hammering and sawing stopped, she would take them back for their midday meal. For now, keeping them out of trouble seemed the least Siân could do while the townspeople rebuilt the structures destroyed by the Scots.
Besides, she enjoyed being with the children. She never felt isolated or alone when she was with them. They liked her, liked listening to her stories, and playingher games, laughing with her when she was silly, squealing when she startled them. She could be herself with them, and not have to put on the airs Owen wanted her to assume when she was with the high-and-mighty ladies of the castle.
“That’s the way!” Siân called out to the children, laughing, clapping her hands with enthusiasm. “Catch those pesky
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