Chapter 33
As Guy and I spoke, we both flew into action. Guy hurriedly pulled on his breeches began working on his doublet. The room was freezing and my nightdress was on the floor, so I hurried to pick it up, but the two steps I took stopped me short.
"Ow!" I squealed, my legs shaking. I stumbled for a moment, then regained my balance. "That stings!"
Guy turned and half smirked at me as he buttoned his doublet. "Sore, are we, my love?" he asked, sounding both pleased and concerned. My legs trembling, I glared at him. "You know damn well I am."
Guy's half smirk widened and he winked at me. "Don't worry, love. It was our first night together, after all."
"I think you're just trying to keep me trapped in this room and using the sword to walk," I shot at him, annoyed.
Guy reached down to the floor, then picked up my sword. "Oh, this sword?" he said. "Is this the one you mean? Perhaps I'll keep it for myself, then."
"Oh, you sod!" I squawked, hobbling across the room, and clamoring to take it from him. He teased me, holding it just out of my reach. And that was how Thornton found us as he burst through the door; a naked woman scrapping with Gisborne for her sword. Guy immediately stepped in front of me to hide my nudity, and I peeked out from behind him like a frightened child.
Thornton was such a dear man. His looks of surprise never failed to amuse me.
"My lord, you need this information right away," he stammered, trying to avert his eyes. "Your correspondent requests a meeting with you in the agreed place this afternoon. There is news that must be delivered in person to your source. It is too fragile to be put into a letter."
Guy's eyes widened and he looked slightly afraid for the first time. "Does the letter reference the meeting spot, Thornton?" Guy asked.
Thornton's face paled. "I'm afraid it does, my lord. No one would have seen this letter but myself, but as I said it was taken from me. I…do beg your forgiveness, my lord." He bowed his head, expecting to be lashed furiously with Guy's acrid tongue, but I stepped in.
"Thornton, you have done well, and there is no way that this could have been prevented. Sabine probably already had it before Guy found her in his rooms, and was looking for more. You likely stopped her from killing me and finding more information."
Guy glanced at me. I could sense his rage seething, but he kept it in, and said gruffly, "My lady is correct. Please send a maid up for her to wash and dress, Thornton. Both of us will go to the grove to meet with him today. I'm sure Hood expects Nyssa to collect the information and I will not let her go alone, not with him in the woods." He strode manfully towards his own rooms to change, and Thornton quickly asked, "Are there gowns for my lady to wear?"
"Go to my mother's chest," Guy called back, his voice touchingly serious. "They are of a similar size, I believe."
Eyes downcast, Thornton walked to a chest behind the door as I covered myself with my shift, and opened it with a key from his large key ring. "Thank you for that kindness, my lady," he said, his eyes darting back towards the door, lest he be caught speaking to me. "Sir Guy is much kinder since you have come to live here." He moved towards the chest and lifted the lid. "No one has opened this for years, my lady," he said reverently. "These belonged to Lady Gisborne. I think you will find them most satisfactory."
When he pulled out the first one I nearly gasped. I had never seen, let alone worn material so fine. It was surely made in London or Paris, with sparkling beadwork around the bodice, long, draping sleeves and swirling patterns on the front of a deep green gown. Guy had been right; it looked to be my size as well. I reached out my hand and almost drew it back. "I can't wear this. I've never worn anything so fine," I said lamely.
"My lady," Thornton said quietly, "I should think you will have to become to used to it. After last night," I blushed furiously, "I am fairly certain that you are to be the next Lady Gisborne."
"But…those are for a noble woman," I stammered.
"My lady," said Thornton, his brown eyes compassionate, "if anyone has earned the title of noble, it is yourself."
I smiled then, touched. He handed the dress to me, then called the maid into the room to wash and dress me. She brought a tub full of hot water and sprinkled it with rose petals as she readied the soap. The servants all must think me very snobbish, I thought, as Thornton left. I was no better in class than they, and yet they had to serve me. As the maid, barely fifteen, indicated I should step in, I asked,
"What is your name, miss?"
"Tara, my lady," she asked, keeping her eyes cast down.
"Tara, I want you to always address me as Nyssa when we are in private, and only in public around those upper class snobs, call me Lady Nyssa. I don't plan to give myself airs, I am a woolmaker's daughter. And I want you to tell me if anyone ever mistreats you, or if there is anything you need for your family." She reached out to start soaping my arm, and I grabbed her hand. "I mean it, Tara."
"Yes, my lay—yes, Nyssa," she said, a disbelieving smile in her face. She continued washing me, dried me off and then helped me to dress.
I soon found out why noble ladies often fainted. So many stays, ties and restrictions! The fabric was gorgeous but the style was so opposite of my normal, free-moving shift. "Can you do the corset a bit looser, Tara?" I asked, wheezing.
"Of course, my lady…or you can go without it," she said, slightly rebellious. "It is only a fashion statement after all."
"Thank the Lord for that," I said, rolling my eyes. "This is deucedly uncomfortable." Tara unlaced and pulled it off, and I breathed a sigh of relief. She then pulled the dress top over an undergarment, and laced it loosely up the front. I decided in that moment that a lady's maid was either one's best friend or worst enemy. I thanked her profusely, just before Guy rapped on the door.
"Are you ready?" he called impatiently though the door.
"Half a moment, Guy," I snapped back at the door. "I have twenty more garments to put on than you do." Tara's eyes widened in shock and glee as the door handle turned and Guy stepped into the room. He cut an imposing figure clad in a clean, sapphire blue shirt that matched his eyes, and a different set of leather breeches. His doublet was slung over one arm, his own sword strapped at the ready. As he regarded me, Guy's eyes were nervous and stormy, but lightened when he saw me in his mother's dress. As usual, his eyes travelled up and down my figure and his step slowed to an almost arrogant gait as he approached me. I could tell that he approved of what he saw by the hungry look on his face. I then noticed his eyes light on my chest, and a slight frown appeared.
"Are you…not wearing…"
"That horrid torture device that passes as fashion?"
"Yes."
"Hell, no. You bloody wear it for five minutes and see how you like it."
Guy shifted uncomfortably. "The dress looks…most odd without it."
"I told you I don't care about your posh upper class traditions. I don't want my breasts spilling out for everyone to see, like Sabine's always were." Tara's face now contorted, trying not to laugh and squeak simultaneously. "I won't last an hour in that thing, and we have a long day ahead." I took the matching cloak Tara was holding and wrapped it around myself. "Now, no one will know, because no one will see." I smiled up at him challengingly. "Shall we clear out?"
"Riding may be most uncomfortable for you without the corset," Guy hissed at me as we walked downstairs.
"If it is, it won't be for the lack of a corset. It's your fault I can't walk and you expect me to ride, you bloody lunatic," I tossed back at him.
A slow, wicked smile spread across Guy's face, and his rich laughter echoed down the hallway as he took my arm and led me to the stables. It was a bot of a walk, and I held onto him as I really was having a hard time walking. We went down two more flights of stairs and rounded the corner to find Guy's stable boy John smiling, and holding Lily and Aomir at the ready for us. The pair of them looked quite content together, and I clapped my hands happily to see Lily again. Guy turned to John and said,
"John, if you would not mind, please fetch a small pillow for my lady to use. She is unused to riding a horse," he said, winking at me. "Of course, Sir Guy," John said smartly, hurrying back to the barn.
I glowered. "Unused to riding, indeed! Five crowns that I'll outpace you before you've had a chance to see it happen," I said out the side of my mouth.
"Done," Guy said, sounding bored but smiling with his eyes. He swung himself up onto Aomir, clicked him into movement, and grinned down at me. "I'll just start then, shall I?" he called, trotting towards the main road.
"But I'm waiting for my pillow!" I shouted. "That's not fair, Guy!"
"And I don't need a pillow," he called back, breaking into a canter. "However I'm sure I could buy a nice one with that five crowns you owe me…"
"Bleeding sod," I cursed, as James came out and hurriedly laid the pillow on my saddle, helping me to mount Lily. I gently placed myself on her back, sucking in my breath. Oh yes, this was going to be a bit challenging. But nevertheless, I urged Lily into a gallop, hurrying along the main road until I caught sight of Sir Guy. He smiled when we pulled up next to him, neck in neck, and then I could not help but laugh. "You delayed with on purpose with that pillow and I thought you were concerned for me!" I cried at him, annoyed and amused.
"Who says I wasn't?" Guy grinned back. "Now you'll never know. Hya!"
We continued down the road, until Guy abruptly reined Aomir in on the main road. "Slow, boy, slow," he said gently to the big stallion. Aomir tossed his mane in protest, wanting to run, but Guy held him back. Lily caught up and I held her back as well, breathing a bit heavily. "What is it, Guy?" I asked.
"Get down for a moment," he said, sliding off of Aomir. I glared at him. "I already owe you five crowns," I said. "Is this another trick?"
"No, I am completely serious," Guy said back, now tying up Aomir to a nearby post, as I realized with shock where we were. I looked at him questioningly, then slowly dismounted from Lily, and did the same. "Are you certain about this?" I asked, slightly nervous.
"Positive," Guy answered, and took my arm as we entered the walk to the business door. I walked gingerly with him, still feeling awkward. He noticed this, and lifted my chin to his. "Let me handle this," he said, "and you enjoy it." He held my hand gently as we walked inside
The shopkeeper's voice rang out in a friendly, patronizing tone. "Ah, Sir Guy! So very glad to see you in my shop today! And is this your lovely bride-to-be again? Welcome, ma'am," he said, stooping to kiss my hand, and then stopping in mid-gesture as he looked up at me in shock.
"Hello, Morrison," I said coolly.
"I haven't time for pleasantries; save them for priggish bitches like Sabine," Guy said sharply, but in his deep voice I heard a withheld smile, like a cat playing with a mouse. "Lady Nyssa and I are here to buy her wedding dress," he continued, as Morrison began to sweat. "We are to be married this day. You'd best give me the finest dress in the shop and give her the finest price, or she will know, and I will get very, very angry."
