The Black Raven - Katharine Kerr [110]
Could he be referring to the note?
“I did, my liege.”
He stepped toward her, she stepped back and reached the wall. Maryn put one hand on the wall near her head and leaned toward her, but he kept himself from actually touching her. Lilli felt her heart pounding and clutched her bundle to her chest.
“My liege,” she stammered, “Nevyn could come down any moment.”
“Would it distress you if he did?”
“It would most assuredly distress him!”
At that he laughed, straightened up, and stepped back.
“My lady speaks true,” Maryn said. “And it’s not a pretty sight, Nevyn when distressed.”
The prince bowed to her, then left, striding across the ward as if not even a downpour could trouble his dignity. Lilli took to the stairs, but the climb bothered her more than usual. By the time she knocked on Nevyn’s door, she was gasping. Nevyn opened the door, caught her arm, and helped her inside. She laid the bundle down on the table and sat down heavily in the chair.
“What’s so wrong?” Nevyn said.
“Rain. Thick air.”
“I begin to worry about the winter. How it will affect you, I mean.” Nevyn opened the napkin. “Ah, my thanks! You’d best rest before you try to eat.”
Lilli nodded for want of breath to speak. Nevyn took half the bread and one apple, then sat on the wide win-dowsill to eat. He was looking down at the ward, and all of a sudden he scowled.
“I wish our prince had enough sense to get in out of the rain,” Nevyn remarked.
“Is he still out there?”
“He is, staring up at this window. What was he doing, lying in wait when you walked over from the great hall?”
“Just that. I don’t understand! He could have any woman in this dun. I’m not even that pretty. Everyone tells me I’m too thin, and I puff and gasp all the time.”
“My dear child!” Nevyn turned away from the window. “I’m afraid you’ve worked a mighty act of dweomer that’s captured his very soul.”
“I never meant to! What did I do?”
“You said him nay. I don’t suppose there’s been one lass in his entire life who ever refused him before.”
Lilli stared, feeling utterly stupid. Nevyn was smiling, but in the most kindly way possible.
“You see,” he went on, “now that you’ve rebuffed him, he’s not able to leave you alone. It’s the challenge of the thing. Not, I hasten to add, that the challenge is more important than your charms. But the former adds considerably to the latter.”
“I do see. And I suppose my being fond of Branoic’s not helped the matter any.”
“It’s not. Are you truly fond of Branno?”
“I am. He’s the only man I’ve ever met who listens to me. Well, except for you, my lord.”
“That recommends him, indeed.” Nevyn considered for a long moment. “I don’t know how your Wyrd will run, Lilli, when it comes to mastering the dweomer. You’ve got gifts, but many do, and it’s a rare soul who can master them. But I do know Tieryn Peddyc wanted to see you settled in a good place in life, and so do I. I’m not a young man anymore, and I’d hate to think what might happen if I weren’t here to protect you.”
Lilli turned ice-cold and laid a hand at her throat.
“I’d hate to think as well,” she whispered. “If I couldn’t stay at court, I’d end up living on my brother’s charity.”
“Now, here, I’ve upset you! Forgive me. I’m not planning on dying anytime soon, I promise you.” Nevyn smiled at her. “Eat your breakfast, and we’ll put these matters to one side.” He glanced back down at the ward. “Ah, the prince has gone in. Later I’d best attend him to make sure he’s not given himself the rheum.”
Lilli giggled and helped herself to bread.
“My lord?” she said. “The strangest thing happened this morning. Someone slipped a love note under my door. I’ve not the slightest idea who did it.”
“The prince, most like.”
“Well, but surely he wouldn’t let a scribe know?”
“Ah.” Nevyn suddenly smiled. “Of course you don’t realize that Maryn can read and write. His father was a most farseeing man and insisted upon it. Here, you’ve gone as red as a beet!”
“Well, I was thinking that it couldn’t have been him, because I’ve never known a noble-born