The Falls of Erith by Kathryn Le Veque Page A

plate protection at all times as some knights did. Now, clad as if going to
war, he looked imposing, powerful, and frightening.  He smiled down at her, his
blue-green eyes glowing.
    “My
lady,” he greeted in his soft, deep voice. “This day has you looking well.”
    She
smiled faintly. “And it has you looking as if you are preparing invade a small
country,” she replied, to which he snorted. “Why have you returned? Has
something happened?”
    He
wriggled his eyebrows in response, dismounting his charger. The two squires
were there to take the reins, the older one passing a lingering glance at
Brooke. The girl looked back. But the adults were oblivious to the youngsters
exchanging glimpses as Braxton focused solely on Gray.  In the short time he’d
spent away, he’d missed the sight of her.
    “Plans
have changed,” he said vaguely, removing one of his heavy mail gauntlets. “May
I be so bold as to ask you to accompany me into your hall?”
    Gray
nodded while Braxton removed his helm, handed it over to the younger of his
squires, and extended an elbow to her. When she looked at him, still puzzled by
his swift reappearance, he merely smiled. It loosened her enough to the point
where she smiled back. Then she took his arm; it felt solid, reassuring, and
safe.  She realized she was glad to see him.
    Even
as he led her up the stairs, there was tremendous activity going on in the
bailey. Men were clustered in well organized groups and several of them were
offloading wood and other materials out of one of the wagons.  That was about
all Gray saw before Braxton took her into the keep, yet she could still hear
the noise behind her. Once inside, Braxton took her straight into the hall.
    Gray
recognized Braxton’s three knights, lingering near the massive dining table.
Servants were bring out pitchers of the nasty wine and trays of dried fruits,
as it was the only items of hospitality they had to offer.  As she drew close,
she noticed that there was a myriad of items strewn over the table; bolts of
fine fabric, pins, belts, silks, and a box containing spools and spools of
thread.  Her mouth popped open with astonishment at the sight while Brooke,
having rushed in behind her, began to squeal with delight.  Brooke was all over
the table, exclaiming about the beauty of the items, as Gray stood there with
her mouth hanging open.  Braxton stood beside her, watching her astonished
face.
    “I
hope these are to your liking,” he said quietly. “I was not sure what women of
fine fashion would like, so I asked a merchant in Kendal. He told me that these
items were most popular right now.”
    Before
Gray could reply, Braxton turned to Dallas and muttered something. The young
knight went over to a pile of fabric at the far end of the table and drew forth
a heavy blue brocade cloak lined with luxurious gray fur.  He returned with the
garment held high as Braxton pointed to it.
    “The
merchant assured me that this cloak is the warmest one he had,” he fingered the
gray lining when it came near. “I know it seems foolish purchasing a cloak when
the weather has been so warm, but winters this far north can be exceedingly
bitter. I was not sure if you had something suitable for the approaching
season.”
    Gray
stared at it. It seemed that she was having difficulty speaking. “For… me?” she
whispered.
    Braxton
smiled. “Of course. Unless you do not like it, whereupon I will take it back to
the merchant and bring you back something you will like. Or you can keep it and
I shall go buy you another one you will like better.”
    Hesitantly,
she reached out to finger the fur. It was some kind of fox, complimenting the
beautiful blue fabric.  Before she could say anything, Brooke found a cloak for
herself in the pile at the end of the table and she hooted with delight.  She
swung it around her shoulders, delighting in the beauty of it, but couldn’t
seem to navigate the fasten. Geoff was standing the closest to her and came