Kenton, still eating, listened to her seriously. “You are chatelaine,” he said. “What would you suggest?”
Nicola didn’t stop to think that this was nearly the first rational and serious conversation they’d ever had that didn’t involve stolen kisses or anger or harsh words. He was showingrespect for her opinion and she was showing him respect in kind. It was a calm exchange of information, the first between them.
“Rochdale and Manchester are about ten miles to the west,” she said. “Manchester has a big market every Sunday where we can purchase a good deal of stores, but I fear with all of these men we are sheltering, we will need an entire herd of pigs or sheep to feed them. We will also need grain for the animals if we can get it. This winter has been difficult so it will come at a premium if we can even find it.”
Kenton was nearly at the end of his meal but it was clear that he was carefully considering the problem. “Tomorrow is Sunday,” he said. “I am not entirely certain, however, it would be wise to leave Babylon so soon after a siege. Even though Edward’s army has departed, they could still be lurking nearby.”
Nicola shook her head. “Lurking or not, we must go,” she said firmly. “We cannot wait another week. We will be boiling hides for soup if that happens.”
“The situation is desperate, then?”
“It is.”
He lifted his dark eyebrows at her. “Then tomorrow we travel.”
Nicola nodded, satisfied, but then she began to look around the hall. Her movements were almost nervous. “There was a chest in Gaylord’s solar that contained coin,” she said, lowering her voice. “I do not know what has become of it, but I would assume you have it. That is what we must use to pay for the provisions.”
Kenton wiped at his mouth and downed what was left in his cup. “I have it in a secure place,” he said. “I will bring enough coinage to secure what we need.”
Nicola tried not to think about the fact that he essentially stole Gaylord’s money which, at his death, became her money. She understood the rules of the spoils of war. Therefore, shesimply sighed and tried not to sound as if she resented the fact that he took most of the coinage belonging to her family. Not all, but most. She still had some tucked away with her possessions. Seemingly at the end of their conversation, she moved to leave.
“Very well,” she said. “We should leave well before first light tomorrow to make it to Manchester when the farmers are arriving. I want first pick of their wares.”
Kenton eyed her as she stood up. “It is generous of you to worry over our provisions enough so that you should delay your leaving Babylon,” he said. It was a leading statement. He wanted to see if she had, indeed, been serious about leaving in the first place because it had been on his mind since she’d first spoken of it. “When did you plan on going to your widowed aunt?”
Nicola came to a halt, looking at him with an expression between surprise and hesitation. She cleared her throat softly. “I… I had not thought on it,” she said. “I suppose I will leave when it is convenient for you to send a few men with me as escort.”
“That could take a very long time. I need my men here at Babylon.”
Her brow furrowed. “How long?”
“I have no way of knowing.”
“Surely we are talking about weeks here, not months or even years.”
He wiped at his mouth and wondering if he was sounding as if he didn’t want her to leave at all. Part of him hoped she understood that, but most of him was embarrassed that he could even think such a thing. Since when did he want to keep a woman around? The answer to that question was very simple but in order to save his male pride, he thought of another excuse.
“I have no one else to be chatelaine,” he said, “at least no one with your experience. At the moment, you are quite valuable to me. I would consider it a favor if you would delay your departureuntil such time as I no longer have a need for you. Right now, I need you.”
There was a hint of something more in that last statement, something that suggested he needed her for more than to simply run a household. Nicola caught of whiff of it, like a ribbon of smoke that tantalized and then was quickly gone.I need you.Was it possible that he did in more ways than she realized?
Madness!She quickly scolded herself.You are mad to believe this knight, the enemy, has interest in you! You should clearly have no interest in him!
Aye, she knew that. God help her, she did. But the giddy beating of her heart and the pull of his deep blue eyes told her otherwise.
“Then… then I shall remain for a time if I truly serve a purpose,” she stammered, wondering why her mouth was so dry. “I would not wish to leave you in a quandary.”
“That is very gracious of you, Madam.”
“But youwillprovide me with an escort at the appropriate time?”
“If time and situation permits, I will take you myself.”
She felt both better and worse by that statement. Perhaps she was reading too much into his “I need you” statement if he was willing to personally escort her to her aunt’s. Fearful to become the man’s whore but not too fearful to become one if she actually meant something to him, her mind was wracked with turmoil and confusion.
Therefore, she simply nodded her head and moved away from the table, passing within close proximity as she did. Before she could get away completely, Kenton reached out and grasped her hand as she passed by and she immediately stopped, heart beating in her ears and her breathing coming in little gasps. His touch had that effect on her. As she watched, he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it tenderly.
“I hope you will not leave,” he confided. “I hope you will choose to remain of your own free will.”