Dreams of Stardust

  "I have spoken to Robin," Rhys said. "He says you are the reason my daughter stands before me."

  "Your sons were there as well, my lord, in the rescue."

  Rhys considered that, his arms folded over his chest, his expression anything but welcoming. Jake wondered, not for the first time in the past five minutes, if he was actually going to pull this off.

  "You are a merchant, I understand," Rhys said.

  Bingo. Jake nodded. "I am, my lord."

  Rhys's expression didn't change. He looked suddenly at his wife. "We will settle ourselves, then I must speak with Sir Walter to see if there is aught left in the larder or in my coffers. I will give thought to this other matter later."

  And with that, and no more than that, he turned and strode off.

  "He had you for supper, didn't he?"

  Jake looked at Robin and suppressed the urge to punch him. "Do you always sneak up on people like that?"

  Robin grinned. "I've been standing next to you for several minutes. Didn't you notice?"

  "Of course he didn't notice, you dolt," Amanda snapped. " 'Tis a horrible habit you have and one you should rid yourself of. Jake has enough on his mind without you troubling him."

  "What's to worry about?" Robin asked pleasantly. "Father hasn't even met you on the field and already he's thrashed you."

  "Are you being helpful?" Jake asked. "I'm confused."

  Robin only laughed, clapped him on the shoulder, and winked at Amanda. "Poor lad. Best bring a shovel, Amanda, to scoop up what Father leaves of him."

  "Begone, you vile cur," Amanda snapped. "If you cannot be useful, be somewhere else."

  Robin cheerfully kissed his mother on both cheeks, then ambled off, humming pleasantly to himself.

  But at least Gwen was smiling. "Master Kilchurn, is it?" she asked.

  Well, at least she knew his name. That had to be a good sign.

  "Jackson," he said with another deferential nod. "Jake, if you prefer."

  "Hound fodder, if you want to be most accurate," Robin called back at them.

  "I will kill him this time," Amanda vowed. "Watch and see if I don't."

  Gwen held onto Jake's arm and drew him along with her toward the stairs.

  "Robin must find you to his liking," she said easily, "else he would be snarling instead of chortling. Now, I've only heard the briefest of rumors from Montgomery, and I can see for myself what Amanda has done to her hair, but perhaps you would care to join me in my solar and describe the events of the summer whilst we take our ease?"

  Jake nodded and escorted them up the stairs and down to a room he had never been in. He supposed there were many rooms he'd never been in, and wondered how that boded for his future.

  "Ah, Anne, my love," Gwen said, greeting Anne with kisses on both cheeks. "How well you look."

  "I am much improved," Anne agreed with a smile. "I'm sorry not to come down to greet you. Phillip was asleep here and I didn't want to leave him. Was your journey enjoyable?"

  Gwen smiled. "You know I would rattier be home, but we did pay visits to those we needed to. Now we return to find that you all have had a most interesting few months."

  Jake procured chairs, helped Amanda sit as best she could, then stood behind her with his hands clasped behind his back.

  He put on his most medieval, most how-could-you-not-want-me-as-a-son-in-law look. Amanda reached for his hand.

  "Sit next to me, Jake," she said quietly. "If you will."

  He found a very small stool and perched on it gamely, trying to get his sword to stop sticking him in the ribs. He finally had to get up, unbuckle it, then sit back down with a relieved sigh. He found that the women in the room were all looking at him with varying degrees of amusement and fondness.

  Well, fondness from Amanda. Amusement from Anne and Gwen.

  "Which of you wishes to take the first turn?" Gwen asked. "Ah, here is Isabelle. Thank you, love, for the wine. Jake, would you pour?"

  Jake hadn't expected Isabelle to equal Gwen and Amanda in beauty, but when he saw her, he wondered why not. He vacated his stool, then took the tray from her. Having nowhere to put it, he set it down on the floor, poured five goblets of wine, and handed them all around. He sat himself comfortably on the floor next to Amanda's chair and wondered if he would survive the afternoon.

  "You needn't remain on the floor," Gwen said with a smile.

  "It's best I do," he answered frankly. "If one more beautiful woman walks in the room, I'll fall there anyway."

  "Flatterer," Amanda said, stroking his hair idly.

  "I never flatter. I am used to being dazzled by perfect gems. I am not used, however, to being dazzled by four of them at the same time."

  Anne laughed. "By the saints, Jake, Robin's grandmother would find you much to her liking. Don't you think, Mother?"

  Gwen nodded. "My mother has despaired of ever teaching my boys polite speech. They are fine warriors, but their tongues are anything but gilded. Now, Jake, if you don't mind, perhaps you would begin with why my daughter's hair is no longer than a hand's breadth and how you managed to rescue her before she cut any more of it off. We'll work our way back from there."

  Jake spent the rest of the afternoon in very pleasant company, finding himself more at ease than he could ever remember feeling before. Gwen had a way about her that gave the impression that everything he said was of overwhelming interest to her. Anne came in and out of the room, depending on what her son was combining. Isabelle merely watched him with wide eyes.

  But it was Amanda who left him catching his breath every time he looked at her.

  It wasn't that she was beautiful, because she was, or that she didn't look hopeful, because she did. It was that she looked at peace. As if she'd found her heart's desire and was content with it.

  There was still a part of him that couldn't believe that, against all odds, against lack of skill and title, against centuries of time passing, he was the one she had wanted.

  Amazing.

  The door to his right opened and Montgomery peeked in. "Are you finished here?"

  "For the moment," Gwen said.

  "Supper is ready. Then Father plans a parley in his solar." He looked at Jake. "You aren't invited."

  "Montgomery," Gwen chided, "it isn't polite to single someone out thusly."

  "But, I didn't, Mama," Montgomery said simply. "Father said not to invite him. I was going to keep Jake company, but Father says I must come too." He smiled at Jake. "You are welcome to come to supper, if you like. At least Father isn't starving you."

  "Thank heavens for small favors." Jake rose, saw the ladies escorted out of the room, then found himself stopped at the door by a hand in the middle of his chest. Amanda reached up with a wince and pulled his head closer. She kissed him softly.

  "My father's torturing you. He has done this to every man who has come to court me."

  "Then this is a good thing."

  "He's treating you as he treated the others. 'Tis a very good thing indeed."

  "I'm relieved."

  "I daresay that relief won't last long."

  But she smiled deeply when she said it and he thought he might endure quite a few tormenting dinners to see that smile again.

  Dinner was an uncomfortably short affair. He had barely managed to get a few bites past the crushing hand squeezing his heart unmercifully before Rhys had risen and was leading his family off. Amanda, who had been placed at the opposite end of the table from him, spared Jake one last look.

  Jake remained where he was, finished what he could of his meal, and wondered what would happen next.

  He could only hope that Robin had pointed out to Rhys that those little brown bags of coins in his trunk were not a miraculous windfall Rhys should spend as quickly as possible.

  The evening dragged on.

  Montgomery appeared at his elbow suddenly. He did not look happy.

  "Well?" Jake asked.

  "They're discussing your flaws."

  "Not good?"

>   "Nicholas is leading the charge."

  "Damn him."

  John popped up behind Montgomery. Jake looked at him grimly.

  "More good news?"

  "Robin is dissecting your swordplay."

  "Not good?"

  John looked somewhat baffled. "Of course it isn't good. It is Robin, after all."

  Jake toyed with his trencher. He had finished examining it and was well on his way to reducing it to crumbs when Miles sauntered over with an enormous yawn.

  "Well?" Jake demanded.

  "They're still discussing," Miles said, casting himself down into the chair next to Jake. "Father wants to see your wares."

  "Is that good?" ,

  Miles smiled. "It is, if you want to earn more gold. It isn't if you want to wed his daughter. I would think he would be more interested in your potential as a husband."

  "And what is Amanda saying?" Jake prodded. "Is she defending me?"

  "She fell asleep an hour ago," Miles said pleasantly. "She's snoring quite happily with her head in Nicholas's lap."

  Jake threw up his hands. "This is a catastrophe!"

  "You haven't heard the worst of it," Robin said, appearing suddenly in front of him.

  "Damn it, will you please stop that!" Jake demanded.

  Robin leaned on the table and smiled pleasantly. "Tomorrow morning in the lists."

  "I can do that," Jake said confidently.

  "You'll start with Montgomery and work your way up. My father is saving himself for last."

  Jake choked. He finally had to allow Miles to pound him on the back. "Wonderful," he gasped. He looked at Robin. "Do we go train some more, or should I just fall on my sword right now?"

  Robin grinned. "Get a good night's rest. Nick said you may have his bed. I suppose he's taking pity on you."

  "Nice of him."

  "Either that, or he wants something left of you by the time 'tis his turn."

  Jake couldn't laugh. He looked at Robin seriously. "And if I fail?"

  "You lose the prize," Robin said simply.

  Jake sat back and sighed. "Well—"

  "Do not fail," Robin said.

  "All I can do is—"

  "Win," Robin said simply. "There is no other choice. There is no try. There is no 'This is my best.' You must win."

  "Robin, I appreciate your faith in me, but I don't stand a snowball's chance in hell of taking on your entire family and still remaining on my feet at the end of it."

  "Don't you?" Robin mused. "Perhaps not. But there is more to being a canny warrior than skill with a sword."

  And with that, he turned and walked away. Jake watched him go, then looked at Montgomery. "Will you be my squire? Well, after I'm done with you, of course."

  Montgomery smiled. "Happily. I'll show you Nick's bed now. You'd best have sleep while you may. And don't worry. No one bests my father. Not even Robin."

  "I feel better already."

  Miles laughed at him and Jake felt an unaccustomed warmth in his heart. He looked at the three young men still left at the table with him and thought that having brothers might be a very good thing indeed.

  If he survived the morning.

  He had no other choice, because if the thought of having brothers was a nice one, the thought of having Amanda was nothing short of cataclysmic.

  He rose and walked with Montgomery up the stairs to attempt at least a few hours of sleep.

  * * *

  Chapter 34

  Amanda paced slowly along the inner bailey wall, finding it impossible to sit, not only because it pulled on her back but because she was nervous enough to be quite thoroughly sick.

  "He is doing well."

  Amanda looked at her mother, who was walking along slowly next to her. "Mother, he's fighting Miles. How poorly can he possibly be doing?"

  A sword went flying. Amanda watched it as the sun glinted off it in its arc. It fell to the ground with a thud at her feet. She was vastly relieved to see that even though it was quite a plain sword, it did have a blue stone in the hilt.

  Miles's, not Jake's.

  "The saints be praised," Amanda said fervently. "Perhaps I should retreat to the chapel for the duration of the day."

  Gwen drew Amanda's arm through her own. "My love, you would be no less unsettled there than you are here. Perhaps 'tis best you remain and watch."

  Amanda stopped and looked at her mother. "How did you bear it?" she asked. "The waiting? The wondering if Father would manage it?"

  Gwen smiled ruefully. "I daresay I did much as you are doing now. I fretted and paced and spent a great deal of time on my knees."

  "Mama, do you care for Jake?" Amanda asked. "Or am I making a grave mistake?"

  Gwen considered for so long, Amanda began to wish she hadn't asked the question.

  "This is what I think," Gwen said slowly. "He reminds me somewhat of your elder brothers, save he is not so hardened from warring. I find it difficult to believe that he is but a merchant. He is well spoken, intelligent, and quite sure of himself. Any man who has the cheek to offer for you without being your equal in station is a man who is either the greatest fool in England, or a man who loves you enough to risk everything to have you. How can I not find that sort of man to my liking? The better question is, do you care for him?"

  "Aye," Amanda said glumly.

  "Hence your shorn hair."

  "I thought to have no other alternative."

  Gwen squeezed her hand. "Love, you have always had a different choice."

  "Father wanted me to wed. I thought I had lost the man I wanted. What else was I to do?"

  "Oh, Amanda," Gwen said, reaching up with her other hand and touching Amanda's face, "forgive us, love. We just wanted you to be happy."

  "Then pull Father aside and tell him not to kill Jake."

  "I don't think 'tis your father you should worry about." Gwen nodded toward the field. "Look."

  Amanda looked and wished she hadn't. Jake was facing Nicholas and Nicholas was not showing him any mercy. The only helpful thing Amanda could say was that Jake hadn't expended all that much strength besting her youngest brothers—though with Montgomery and John, he had dragged things out far longer than he'd needed to. She had looked at her father at the time to see how he felt about that, but his expression showed nothing. Her mother, however, had smiled at her and nodded her approval.

  That Jake had finished Miles off in such a short time and without expending all his reserves of strength and ability boded quite well.

  Then again, Miles was not Nicholas and the merging was wearing cm.

  The sun wended its way toward its zenith and still Jake and Nicholas continued to fight.

  "This is good," Gwen said firmly.

  "Good?" Amanda echoed incredulously. "How can you possibly say that?"

  "Nicholas is sweating as well, my love."

  "Aye, well, I wish he would sweat less and give in," Amanda said flatly. "There will be nothing left of Jake by the time Nicholas is through with him."

  And then, quite suddenly, Nicholas was standing with his sword point down in the dirt and Jake's sword at his throat.

  "Merciful saints above," Amanda breathed.

  "Aye," Gwen agreed. "And fairly done, as well."

  Nicholas called peace. Amanda watched as her brother clasped hands with Jake and walked off the field. He walked past her to where drinks were standing ready on a bench. He drank, poured the rest of the water over his head, then came to stand next to her. Amanda wrinkled her nose.

  "You should bathe."

  Nicholas smiled pleasantly. "I will. Once this is all over. Having come this far, I cannot miss the end."

  The ring of swords had hardly begun before it was over. Amanda watched in horror as Jake's sword went flying out of his hands. Robin showed him, unsurprisingly, no more mercy than Nicholas had, pressing Jake as if he had every intention of killing him. Amanda wondered how it was that Jake held up in the face of Robin's completely unforgiving expression. She would have called
peace merely not to see any more of it.

  Jake leaped out of the way to miss a particularly vicious thrust. Robin scowled.

  "Real knights don't flinch."

  Jake smiled.

  Robin was not amused.

  But Robin was also, quite suddenly, without the knife in his belt. He looked at Jake, who now was in full possession of Robin's own knife, and his expression darkened.

  "Jake's done it now," Nicholas said pleasantly. "Do you think he would mind if I helped myself to his gold after he's dead? My roof is proving to be quite an expensive venture."

  "Be silent," Amanda whispered, too terrified to even berate him as she should have. "If you've any mercy at all, say a prayer or two for him."

  "He doesn't need them," Nicholas said confidently. "Why do you think I haven't murdered him in his sleep long before now? He's quite canny. If you must wed, then wed with him."

  She looked up at him, open-mouthed. "In truth?"

  He smiled faintly. "We'll continue to train him. There is more to being a lord than swordskill. I know several lords who can't wield a sword to save their lives. Then again, they aren't seeking to wed with my sister, but that is another tale entirely. Now, this Kilchurn—"

  Gwen's gasp interrupted him. Amanda looked to find Robin without his sword as well.

  From there, it was a very brief fight and it ended with Robin face down in the dirt with Jake pinning him there.

  Amanda looked about her. There wasn't a soul in the lists who didn't look on with expressions of complete astonishment.

  But by the time she looked back, Jake was standing and had hauled Robin to his feet, leaving her wondering if she had imagined the entire thing. Robin was loudly pointing out to anyone who would listen that Jake had indeed not bested him with the sword.

  And then a voice cut through Robin's babbling like a sword through flesh.

  "Pick up your sword, if you will."

  Amanda looked to her right to find her father standing there, his arms folded across his chest, his sword still sheathed.

  Even Robin seemed to realize that silence was the wisest course of action because he retrieved his own sword and sauntered off the field with his normal victor's swagger. He had himself a refreshing drink, then came to stand next to his mother. He looked at Amanda.