‘You’ll find out soon enough, my Rosamund,’ Oliver said, dryly. ‘In any event, she probably thinks the clothes you arrived in were thick with lice. The ones she’s given you won’t spread vermin about the castle.’
She glared at him, flushing, and her chest heaved. ‘I’m not your Rosamund. You have no right to call me so. You don’t even love me.’
‘Who needs love, my angel?’ Oliver grinned. ‘Lord, you’re beautiful even when you’re angry. Very kissable.’
‘Have you no shame?’
He gave a slow, deliberate headshake. ‘There’s no advantage in it.’
‘No?’ Flinging him a look of exasperation, she huffed out a breath. ‘Tell me, Oliver, do you think there’s advantage in obeying Lady Adeliza?’
Oliver inclined his head. ‘Most assuredly, my angel, the greatest advantage. Lead on, I am longing to speak to Lady Cecily.’
Chapter Five
At the head of the spiral stairs, Oliver’s hand was warm on the small of her back, urging her on. She hesitated. ‘Shouldn’t you go first?’
He made a brief negative gesture. ‘The solar is the ladies’ domain. Announce my arrival – Lady Adeliza will invite me in.’
If Rosamund cherished any hopes that the lord’s squire might feel something for her they were crushed when she searched his face. His expression was calm and implacable. Determined.
‘Are you really so unfeeling?’ she whispered. ‘Does ambition override common decency?’
A dark eyebrow rose. ‘What do you mean?’
‘You intend to marry Lady Cecily and keep me – a married woman – as your belle-amie. It’s wrong. How can you do it?’ The guilt of having given her innocence to Oliver was preying on Rosamund’s mind. She knew full well she shouldn’t have done it, but the idea of experiencing – just once – the joy of having a lover she desired had been irresistible. She’d never intended matters to go further than that.
Grey eyes held hers. ‘Rosamund, I did warn you. I told you last night I wasn’t capable of love and you accepted it.’
‘Sir Geoffrey is far too high-handed. And you...don’t you care how I feel?’
‘Feel?’ He looked genuinely puzzled. ‘We should discuss this later.’
‘Very well,’ Rosamund said. ‘I’ll announce you.’
She pushed at the door hanging and the curtain rings tinkled as she entered the solar. Conversation came to a halt, and half a dozen veiled heads turned her way. Needles hung suspended over linens, flashing like weapons as they caught the sunlight. Like the hall below, the solar was round. The ceiling was domed, partially obscured by heavy beams. A wide trestle had been placed where the light from the lancets fell on it. The ladies sat round it, their sewing before them, and stared at her.
Lady Adeliza was examining a seam on one of the cloths. Dropping the cloth, she sent Rosamund a thin smile. ‘What is it, girl? Couldn’t you find him?’ she asked, in her immaculate, aristocratic English.
The woman called Inga sniggered and muttered. Her neighbour covered her mouth with her hand and Rosamund heard a stifled giggle. Gritting her teeth, she stared over the ladies’ heads. There was a cobweb hanging high in the roof beams. She fixed her gaze on it.
‘Speak up, girl,’ Lady Adeliza said, brow creasing.
‘My lady, Oliver de Warenne is waiting outside.’
‘Good. Inga?’
Inga jumped to her feet. ‘My lady?’
‘Tell Marie that he is here. She may bring Lady Cecily in.’
‘Yes, my lady, at once.’
Inga vanished through a studded door, and Rosamund became aware that Lady Adeliza’s dark eyes were studying her. She squared her shoulders.
‘Your name is Rosamund, as I recall?’ Lady Adeliza said.
‘Yes, my lady.’
‘You had best wait outside till this...interview is ended. Then you may return and Marie will take charge of you.’
Rosamund curtsied. ‘My lady.’
‘Send him in, then. Wait on the landing until you are called.’
On the other side of the curtain, Oliver caught her by the wrist. ‘I’m to go in?’ he asked, his thumb tracing tingling patterns on her skin.
She shook him off, exasperated at her reaction to such a slight contact. ‘You might have the decency to hide your eagerness, but, yes, you’re to go in. I’m to wait here.’
‘Lady Adeliza has much wisdom.’ He dropped a careless kiss on her nose, and shouldered past the curtain.
She stared somberly at the swinging curtain, absently touching her nose where he had kissed it. For years she had wanted a glimpse inside the castle and now that she was here, she didn’t think she liked it. Nothing was straightforward, there were incongruities everywhere. And so much she didn’t understand.