WolfeBlade: de Wolfe Pack Generations by Kathryn Veque (top 20 books to read .TXT) 📗

held up the low, barrel-vaulted ceiling. “Do you require something?”

The doorway leading into the kitchen was low and he was hunched over as he stood in it. “The de Wolfe army has arrived,” he said. “I promised them a hot meal within the hour. Are we close?”

Gavriella nodded, licking the spoon. “Almost,” she said. “We have a nice stew and plenty of bread.”

“Are you cooking the stew in the yard?”

“Aye.”

“Then you’re going to have to cover it because it is going to snow soon,” he said. “Be ready to start serving the meal in about an hour.”

“We will.”

Lukas threw a thumb over his shoulder. “The commander of the de Wolfe army is in the hall,” he said. “Will you please show him where his knights will sleep?”

Gavriella nodded quickly, removing the apron she was wearing. As Lukas headed off, she hung her apron up on the peg as she left the kitchen, heading into the ground level of the keep. She wanted to check on the chambers before she attended the commander, so a quick perusal of the rooms showed that they were indeed prepared, if not a little crowded. There were three beds in each chamber, all six with comfortable mattresses and blankets. A fire burned in the hearths, so the chambers were nice and warm.

Satisfied, she headed towards the hall.

Gavriella was clad in a heavy woolen dress against the cold temperatures, a garment made out of undyed wool. It was a pretty garment, with long sleeves that she could wrap her hands up in to keep them warm. As she came out of the keep and noticed the snowflakes starting to fall, she smoothed at her hair, which was braided and gathered at the nape of her neck. Since she’d been working in the kitchens, and around fire, it was best to keep her hair out of the way. She continued to smooth at it, tucking strands behind her ear, as she reached the door to the hall.

There were a few servants moving about the great hall and the hearths were blazing, making it almost cloyingly warm. She could see a figure sitting near the southernmost hearth, his back to her. As she drew closer, she could see that he had a cup of something steaming. Warmed wine, she assumed. He was a very large man, she could see from the breadth of his shoulders, and his head was lowered so she couldn’t get a good look at him.

She came up behind the man, clearing her throat softly.

“My lord?” she said politely. “I am Lady Gavriella. My father is Lord de Leia. Welcome to Falstone.”

The man stood up and looked at her, tall and imposing, like a god from Olympus. Everything about him radiated power. Though the hall was dimly lit, even with the blazing hearths, there was no mistaking the features.

For a moment, Gavriella thought she was dreaming.

Then, reality hit.

“Andreas!” she gasped.

He smiled faintly and her knees collapsed. She ended up on the bench next to her, but had Andreas not grabbed her to help her find it, she would have ended up on the floor. As it was, they sat down together, staring at each other, gripping each other.

The shock in the air was palpable.

“Greetings, my lady,” he said softly. “You look… beautiful.”

Gavriella’s mouth was hanging open as she looked at him. Then, she looked at his arms, his chest, squeezing and poking as if to convince herself that he was real.

“It really is you,” she whispered, trembling. “Andreas… how is this possible? How did you find me?”

He didn’t say anything for a moment. He didn’t even answer her question. He simply sat there and looked at her.

“Will you answer a question for me?” he asked quietly.

“Anything!”

“Why did you not show up in the tavern those months ago?”

As he watched, tears filled her eyes. Little did he know that, at the time, she had resigned herself to never seeing him again, thinking it was for the best. Had the situation kept going the way it had, the lady with secrets would have had to reveal them.

Damaged goods.

But here he was, as big as life, and she didn’t think that way anymore. She was so glad to see him that she was nearly faint with it. Perhaps it was foolish of her, but she couldn’t help it.

“Because my aunt sent me home the very night we returned from Southwark,” she said, trying not to weep. “My cousin saw you and I return together and she told my aunt… terrible things. I was sent home against my will, I assure you.”

“Your cousin saw us?” he said. “What did she say?”

She let go of him with one hand, using it to wipe the tears that were starting to trickle. “Awful things, Andreas,” she said. “They knew that I had been missing all day and they were waiting for me when I returned from our most remarkable day. When I told them where I had been, I was accused of terrible things. Such horrible things. My cousin and I fought, and my aunt banished me from The Asher as a result. She sent me home that night.”

He stared at her a moment before sighing heavily. “Is that what happened?” he said. “But why did you not send word to the tavern? You knew I would be there.”

The tears were spilling over. “I knew you would be there, but it was impossible to send you a missive,” she said. “I was locked in my chamber until my escort took me away. I had no way of sending you word. Not even the servants would come near me, so there was no one to ask. Andreas, I am so sorry. I know it seemed as if I did not come to you deliberately, but I swear to you that is not true.”

He began to nod his head as if the events were becoming clear now. He mulled it over, finally snorting with realization. “So that’s what happened,” he said. “It was not