This morning she was astonishingly calm about the open warfare which she had more or less declared. She acted as if she had already won and was merely waiting for him to concede defeat.
Gareth wondered if she realized that he had never surrendered to anyone in his entire life.
He reached the first of the long series of workrooms and stepped into the open doorway. The scent of flowers, vanilla, and mint hit him like a soft pillow in the face.
"Clare?"
"In here, my lord," Clare called from the adjoining chamber.
Gareth walked through the mixing room into the drying room. He saw her standing at one of the wide tables. Something inside him twisted with yearning.
He had come close to losing her yesterday. The last thing he wished to do today was argue with her. He sighed. He knew better than to show weakness.
Clare held a handful of dried flowers to her nose. Her eyes were closed as she concentrated on the fragrance. Sunlight streamed through the window behind her, creating a golden halo around her graceful figure.
She was the most wonderful thing in his life, Gareth thought. She had given him a home.
He shook off the strange blend of emotions that he did not fully comprehend and went toward her.
"What are you doing?" he asked, more for something to say than any real curiosity.
"I'm mixing a special pomander for the abbess." Clare opened her eyes.
"A very complex recipe that will be hers alone. Do you think she will appreciate it?"
"I'm certain she will." Gareth hesitated. "The household is in an uproar."
"She will be here any day now. Mayhap even this afternoon."
"Uh, Clare, I know you're very excited about this visit."
"I certainly am. Abbess Helen has been most gracious to me in her letters. I am eager to repay her kindness."
"Mayhap I should tell you?"
"Have you freed the prisoners, my lord?"
"Nay."
"I know you'll do the right thing before the day is out."
"Hell's teeth, woman, hanging them is the right thing."
"Not in this case. Have you taken a close look at Lucretius's knights?
They are not much older than Dalian."
"Well, what about those professional thieves Ulrich captured at the harbor?" Gareth retorted. "They cannot be excused by reason of youth.
One of them is forty, if he's a day. He's made a lifetime career out of robbing people."
"Aye, but if we are going to free the others, we may as well free him. I do not want even one corpse hanging above my beautiful flowers."
"Clare, you're a woman and you have led a rather sheltered life here on Desire. If you?" Gareth broke off as voices rose outside.
"Lady Clare, Lady Clare, your guests have arrived," a servant called.
"Lady Joanna said to tell you to come quickly."
"Abbess Helen is here." Clare opened her fingers and let the dried flowers drop back into the bowl.
"Clare, wait." Gareth reached for her as she sailed past him. He missed.
Clare rushed out through the door into the courtyard. "Joanna? Where is the abbess? Mayhap she will stop first at the convent to meet with the prioress. By Saint Hermione's girdle, we are not ready. I wanted all to be in perfect order when she got here."
Gareth walked slowly out of the drying shed and found Ulrich standing nearby. Together they surveyed the busy scene.
"The abbess is here?" Gareth asked.
"Aye. She came over from Seabern with an escort a short while ago. One of the men just rode up from the village with the news."
"An escort?" Gareth raised an inquiring brow.
"It seems that Thurston of Landry and three of his knights just happened to be traveling in the same direction as the abbess. They offered to provide protection for her and her retainers. The entire crowd should be here any minute."
"Just what I needed," Gareth said.
A screech of dismay rose above the commotion in the courtyard. Gareth glanced at Clare, who was gesticulating wildly with her hands.
"What do you mean, Thurston of Landry is on his way here?" Clare yelled at Joanna. "Tis impossible.
He cannot be here."
"Calm yourself, Clare," Joanna said. "We shall manage."
Clare scowled furiously. "How dare Lord Thurston do this to me? Has he no consideration? I am entertaining an abbess tonight; I cannot be bothered with a stupid baron."
"We shall manage," Joanna said soothingly.
"Nay, 'tis simply not possible. He has ruined everything. How am I to deal with my father-in-law when I am trying to entertain a great abbess?"
"An excellent question under the circumstances," Gareth observed to Ulrich.
"You're smiling, my lord. You know it makes me uneasy when you smile."
Ulrich hesitated. "What about the prisoners?"
"You had better hold them in the cellar for another day or so. There is too much chaos around here as it is. Hanging a bunch of thieves would no doubt create even more of an uproar."
"Aye," Ulrich said. "It should prove to be an interesting evening."
Shouts from the watchtower and a cloud of dust heralded the arrival of the company and a host of retainers.
"They're here," someone yelled. "The abbess and Thurston of Landry are at the gates."
Clare stalked over to Gareth. "This is really too much. The least your father could have done was send word that he intended to pay a visit."
"I suspect he made his decision on the spur of the moment when he learned that the abbess was on her way to Desire."
"But why would he do that? It makes no sense." Clare broke off as the riders clattered through the gates.
There was a general air of confusion as servants rushed to take the horses' heads.
"Come along, Clare. We must greet our guests." Gareth took her arm and started forward.
"That lady on the palfrey is the abbess." Clare's disgruntled expression gave way to renewed enthusiasm. "She appears to be in excellent health."
"She generally is."
"What do you mean?"
"Never mind." Gareth watched as Thurston dismounted and gallantly went to assist the abbess. The pair turned to meet their host and hostess.
"My Lady Abbess." Clare rushed forward to kiss the ring of the tall, handsome woman in the Benedictine habit. "Welcome to Desire. We are honored."
"Tis good to see you again, Lady Clare." Abbess Helen smiled. "It is always a great pleasure to visit with you. I continue to enjoy our correspondence more than I can say."
"You are too kind." Clare turned with obvious reluctance to Thurston.
"My lord, you honor us with your presence."
The frost in her voice appeared to amuse Thurston. "I have been looking forward to meeting you again after all these years, Lady Clare."
"What a pity you did not send word so that we could have prepared a proper reception," Clare muttered.
Thurston kissed her hand with the easy grace he always displayed around women. "My apologies. It was a sudden decision on my part. Allow me to tell you that I am pleased to learn that my son met your requirements in a husband."
"Aye, well, I was not quite certain that he would do, at first, but as it happens he is very well suited to the position."
"I had hoped that would be the case."
Gareth watched with satisfaction as Clare impatiently withdrew her hand from his father's grasp. Few women were immune to Thurston of Landry's charm. Clare appeared utterly oblivious to it.
Clare's brows drew together in a sharp frown. "My lord, I do not wish to be rude, but I must warn you, if you have come to summon Lord Gareth away from Desire for some purpose, you are wasting your time."