CHAPTER 9
Guy did come the following day, and nearly every other day after that. Father received him apprehensively each time, but I began to see them making progress. Both were uncomfortable at first, since this broke so many societal norms that both were used to, but I loved them both more as they continued to try for my sake. Each time he came, Guy brought me a gift, as was customary when paying court. His first gifts were simple; beautiful threads and material for needlepoint so that I could create designs for our clothing. As the weeks progressed though, his gifts became slowly more lavish. He brought me veils made of silk and jeweled combs for my hair, and jasmine oil for my skin. I also had heard from Charmaine that during this time, five more families had been given the same tax leniency that the Sewards had. My heart opened more and more with this news.
It was now late autumn, and Guy had been due to visit this morning. He was later than usual, so I was relieved when he arrived at the house on Aomir, leading a small female goat.
Father saw this, wiped his hands and went to the door. "Sir Guy," he said, almost amicably. "I assume you are here for Nyssa?"
"Of course, Master Edan," Guy replied. His eyes found mine and I blushed. "I had hoped you would accept the gift of this animal as well. Her name is Jemma, and she produces good milk. Perhaps you could sell her milk for cheese or make your own."
Father was taken aback, and narrowed his eyes. "We have sheep, Sir Guy, but as of yet, no need for a goat."
Unflappable, Sir Guy gave Father one of his most winning smiles. "Gifts are not meant to fulfill a need, merely to be an offering of good will," The last was said in a low undertone.
Gruffly, Father walked forward to examine the animal. She was a beautiful goat, snow shite and very calm, as he picked up her hooves and examined her eyes and nose. "She looks to be in good health," Father remarked. He looked up at Guy then, his eyes softening a little. "Thank you."
"You are most welcome," Guy replied. "And I have something for Nyssa as well, if you will permit me."
"Yes, yes," Father said absently. "I will lead her into the back pasture and be with you presently."
As Father walked Jemma to the back pasture, Guy dismounted and immediately came to take me in his arms. Checking to see that Father was out of sight, he drew me close to him and gave me a passionate, if short kiss. "My love," he said huskily. "I wanted to give this to you in private." He withdrew a beautiful gold necklace from his saddlebag and I gasped in delight. The chain was delicately inlaid with golden lilies, and ended with a lily shaped diamond pendant. I had never seen anything so fine in my whole life, let alone touched it. I looked up at him to see him regarding me with a grin that was both pleased and roguish.
"Does it please you?" he asked.
"Oh…" I couldn't say anything else. He moved behind me. "Then let me put it on you." He pulled me to his chest, almost as he had the day in Lindson's, and gently laid the necklace around my throat, fitting the clasp in the back. He placed another kiss where the clasp met, then leaned close to my ear and held me. "I want to see you wear this always, until I have crafted a ring for you."
"I will never take it off," I said breathlessly. "Thank you, Guy. It is so beautiful."
"It becomes you," he said, stepping in front of me with a soft smile. We heard Father coming back from the pasture, and he stepped away from me, a respectable distance, but still closer than Father approved of, I could tell. "Does Jemma please you, Master Edan?" he asked.
"She seems a good animal," Father replied. "Will you stay for lunch, Sir Guy?"
"Sadly, no," he said, and I noticed his eyes looked troubled for the firs time today. "I have news, Master Edan, which is not to my liking, but I must tell you and Nyssa."
Father looked concerned. "Would you care to come inside to tell us?"
"If I had time, I would do," he answered. "I have been called this afternoon to France on the Sheriff's behalf. He has important political business to attend to, and has demanded my presence."
All of the air went out of the afternoon as I heard this. Father looked less surprised, but equally displeased. "I see."
"This is not my choice," Guy said. "I must do as my lord demands."
Swallowing, I said, "When will you be back?"
"I do not know." His eyes avoided mine.
I felt as though an arrow had split through my heart. The necklace Guy had given me lay cold against my neck, no comfort in this ill news. My hands trembled and I breathed out quickly. "Where…how…"
"I believe my daughter is concerned that you may not come back and she will be bound to a memory," Father cut across me smoothly. "As I have the right to end this courtship, I demand that you send word to us so that she may be free of you if this comes to pass. Nyssa is too precious to me, with too many prospects, Sir Guy."
Guy's gaze still avoided both my father's and mine. "I will send word if I am able," he said. He refused to look at me.
Unable to stop myself, I began to cry. "How can this be? Will I ever see you again?"
"That is my hope, lady," he said softly. His eyes stuttered to my face, clouds of sad grey-blue. Despite this sadness in them, I felt, knew, that he was not telling us all. Angrily, I glared at him. "Is this really the truth, Guy?"
Once again, he refused to look at me. "As much as I can tell," he said. He looked at Father. "Master Edan, would you permit me to kiss your daughter goodbye?"
"It is her decision," he answered.
Guy glanced at my angry, wounded eyes. He moved to me, tilting my head up to his. I wanted to strike him, hurt him the way he was hurting me, but I could not resist the touch of his lips, a much more chaste kiss than the one we had shared previously. Tears flowed from my eyes as it ended, and I looked away from him. "Go," I said.
"My lady—"
"Please…just go." I said, stifling a sob. Turning away from him, I ran into the house, slamming the door, and crawled into the back room, sobbing and wailing, pain in every fiber of my being. I heard Aomir's hoof-beats make a steady tattoo away from the house, and let out another deep wail. I knew that he had not told us everything, and we might never know. I had given my heart to a man that had left me without knowing if he would ever be back, or send word. Despite myself I clutched at the necklace he had given me, wishing to hold him in my arms, to keep him from leaving, and remembering the first day I had heard his voice in this very room.
I rued that day.
