Read Online Lespada by Kathryn Le Veque - Free Book Online Page A

with her fists, my lady,” he replied. “She hit me with the leg of a chair.”
    Lady Katharine’s eyes narrowed at the injury and she unfortunately caught a glimpse of Phillip; his nose was swollen and purple. She jabbed a gnarled finger at him.
    “And what happened to you?” she demanded.
    Phillip’s smirk was gone and he cleared his throat softly. “A door to the nose, my lady.”
    “Lady Devereux?”
    “Aye, my lady.”
    Lady Katharine shook her head. “God’s Blood,” she breathed. “I have never heard of such nonsense.”
    Hugh stood next to his mother, still feeling the sting of embarrassment and inadequacy from earlier in the day when they had all failed to charm, or subdue, Lady Devereux. Davyss’ collection of knights were some of the most powerful warriors in the court of King Henry the Third but they had failed to effectively restrain one very small lady.  It was a shameful display that they hoped would never become public knowledge.
    The carriage carrying Lady Katharine moved from the gatehouse towards the massive lower bailey beyond.  At sunset, the smells of cooking fires and roasting meat were heavy in the air.  Hugh rode beside the carriage astride his big bay charger.
    “All that is in the past, Mother,” he assured her. “She surely understands her place now.”
    Lady Katharine cast him a long look. “What makes you say this?”
    “Because she has been confined to her chamber since arriving here earlier today,” he replied. “Davyss spent a good deal of time with her earlier. I am sure he explained things to her.”
    “Where is your brother now?”
    “In the hall.”
    “And how is your brother’s mood since his undoubtedly productive discussion with Lady Devereux this afternoon?”
    Hugh looked at her; he resembled his mother a good deal with his dark eyes and angular face. “Why do you ask?”
    “I am curious. Answer me.”
    Hugh shrugged as the passed into the vast bailey with its collection of cooking fires and scent of men and animals. “He seems well enough.”
    Lady Katharine didn’t say anymore as the carriage neared the great all, a massive thing planted in the middle of the lower bailey.  Its stone walls soared skyward and the roof was sharply angled, covered with a matting of pitch and sod.   The enormously long lancet windows cast bright streams of light into the darkened bailey, the result of a massive fire in a hearth that could have easily fit ten men inside it.  Hugh helped his mother disembark and escorted her into the hall. Her severely wimpled ladies, three of them, followed close behind.
    There was one very big table near the hearth, large enough for fifty men. Servants moved around the room, lighting tapers and bringing food to the table. The hall itself was spartanly furnished with a cluttered dirt floor and dogs huddled in the corners. It smelled almost as bad as the bailey outside.  Davyss was sitting facing the door when his mother and brother entered. He watched his mother come near, his expression unreadable, and took a long drink of his wine. 
    Lady Katharine reached the table and was helped to sit by Hugh and Nikolas. The bench was dusty, with bits of old food on it, and they brushed it off for her. Nikolas took her cane and leaned it against the hearth as Lady Katharine’s women took position behind her; never would they dare sit in her presence.
    Katharine watched her eldest closely; there was something about his expression that had her curious as well as concerned.  The man seemed to have difficulty holding her gaze which was unlike him.  Davyss was, if nothing else, fearless and confident. He always looked people in the eye because he believed you could tell a good deal about what they were thinking simply by the countenance of their eyes. Were she to use her son’s logic, his thoughts were not good.
    “Davyss,” she accepted a cup of wine from one of her women. “You did not greet me at the gate.”
    Davyss eyed his mother. “My