“You gave a rabbit a name?” he said again. This time, he stroked his beard, and his long finger rubbed against the scar along his cheek. “I don’t believe I’ve ever known of a rabbit to be named. ” He looked as i
f he were about to laugh.
“Methinks ’tis because you see them only as fodder for your soup pot,” she retorted. “Good day, Sir Nevril. ”
“Tabatha. One moment, if you will,” he said, moving quickly to stall her. Something clinked and she noticed for the first time he was wearing mail, though it wasn’t a surprise that he should be. He was, after all, Lord Warwick’s master-at-arms. A heavy sword hung from its scabbard.
“I’m late. The poor thing is near starving,” she told him, sidling to the right. “I’ve no time to talk with you. ”
“I doubt the beast will expire if you exchange two more words with me. You seemed not to be in a hurry before I approached. Aye, I saw you dandling about, trying not to look over at the training yard. ”
“Trying not to look at the training yard?” she exclaimed. “Pah! If you only knew…. I have no interest in watching any man learn to slay another with a sword! I care not for matters of war or battle. Now, sir, if you will allow me to be on my way. ”
He stepped aside, a surprised expression on his face. “Very well, then, Tabatha. But I merely meant to ask how your mistress was faring. I was with the party who found her yestereve, as you must recall, and my lord wondered aught to me this morn. I bethought you would know the whole of it and how she feels on this day. ”
Tabby stopped and turned, hugging the basket to her. “She is well. ”
“And her horse? The one which returned without her?”
“Surely you have heard, it must be put down for fear of the madness. Today they mean to do it. My lady will be resting in her chamber, for she cannot bear to watch. ”
“And there can be no funeral for Sir Piall,” he said. “For we buried him there in the wood, giving him as much a blessing as we could. ”
“Aye,” Tabby replied. “My lady mourns him, and at this moment is with Father Anselm to pray on his soul. ”
“Surely a man who gave his life in such an honorable way shall not be denied entrance to Heaven, whether unshriven or nay. ”
Tabby nodded fiercely, thinking of her father. “Aye, Sir Nevril. On that, at the least, we can agree. ”
“And the rabbit? Lady Judith isn’t opposed to having such a four-legged beastie hopping about her chamber?” His eyes were grave.
“She was not altogether pleased,” Tabby admitted. “But when the king had no real complaint, what more could she say?”
“The king?” Nevril looked at her in surprise.
Tabby wanted to give herself a firm kick—or mayhap the man in front of her should be the one to be kicked. “I should not have said anything. ” But then she felt she must explain, for the man was looking at her as if she were mad. “The king made a visit to our chamber last eve, to assure himself my lady was unhurt. ”
“How kind of the king,” he replied.
“Please do not speak on it,” she added in a rush. “My lady gave strict orders there should be no gossip about it, and I even ensured the pages and serfs who brought her bath did not encounter his majesty. ”
“I do not gossip,” he replied, clearly insulted. “That is a woman’s task. But since you are asking a boon of me, I must be allowed to ask one of you in return. ”
Tabby truly wished to kick him now. How had she come into such a pickle? “What sort of boon?”
“I should like to meet your—what was his name, did you say? Maggot?”
“Maggin,” she replied fiercely. “I do not trust you, sirrah. You might pluck him from his cage and drop him into your stew pot. ”
“I vow I will do nothing of the sort,” he said soberly. “At the least, as long as Maggin is still kicking and his nose is quivering. ”
She couldn’t control a sound of disgust and he laughed, which made her even more angry. “Why do you want to see him?”
The spark of humor drained away. “I merely wished to see how the fellow fares. Despite your belief, I do not like to see any creature in pain. ”
“Then mayhap you ought sheath your sword and put your bow and arrows away,” she grumbled.
“Aye, and then what would you eat and who would protect the lands on which you live?” he countered.