"What happened?" Leoric asked the knight.
Caerwyn sighed heavily. "I'm sorry for burdening you like this, Your Grace, but I couldn't think of anywhere else where My Lady would be safe," he spoke sombrely.
Sir Caerwyn's tune seemed to have changed since last week, when he left Valewyn in his care after the back-street fight. Leoric was sure the knight wouldn't have done that if he didn't trust him, which meant he won the man's approval. At least that was something.
"One of My Lady's close maids, Elin, was the one who consumed the poison," Caerwyn continued explaining, itching to pace. "My Lady has known the woman since childhood and I think she blames herself."
"I'm sorry to hear," he murmured.
That explained why Valewyn was so meek, how she couldn't keep the worry from her face. She couldn't even meet his gaze. She'd shrunk back to being that eight year old girl in the carriage and he couldn't comfort her.
"I know Your Grace has other interests, but I ask that you be kind to My Lady," Caerwyn's voice became icy, almost warning and Leoric believed it.
"I don't know what you're inferring," he refuted.
"You are aware you have another woman's scent on you, Your Grace."
Leoric blinked at Caerwyn a moment, the thought not connecting—until it did.
"If Your Grace has a lover—"
Leoric sighed. "I was at my cousin's house," he explained, "his wife recently had a baby boy and I visited to be polite—and because the boy is currently my heir."
This all felt messy and poorly strung together. Due to the late hour and sweet aroma that clung to him, it was assumed he was at a brothel—good graces.
"I apologise for myself and My Lady, Your Grace," Caerwyn interjected as if reading Leoric's thoughts and maybe he had.
"There is no need to apologise on behalf of Lady Valewyn—and I'm sure she'd agree." Leoric let out a light laugh, something small, bitter sweet. "I know she does not care for me and so this is all probably hard on her."
"Forgive me, but I think you're wrong, Your Grace," Caerwyn's stone-face and straight-back, certainty leveled there. "I've known My Lady for a long time now, Your Grace, since before I pledged to her," he started. "She's the strongest and bravest person I've known, and I used to serve her father in battle."
Leoric couldn't deny that Valewyn was an incredibly strong woman. She held herself like a war banner and commanded presence like a marshal.
"My Lady has had the world out to get her since she was a girl, even before she was a captive of Celandre, she was terrorized by the prince—"
That was news.
"—and when she came home to find her father and brother dead, she didn't let it break her," Caerwyn paused, clearly lost in a memory for a moment. "I think My Lady knows that she's safe with you, and that's why her walls come down—it's just, she doesn't know how to trust people."
He'd noticed cracks and slips, but Leoric couldn't comprehend that maybe that was her fighting to hold up her defenses.
"So, you're saying that Lady Valewyn pushes me away because I can see through her?" he asked.
"No, Your Grace, I'm saying you make her feel seen, and that scares her."
It scared her to be seen and something in him switched. She hid herself from everything and everyone while slowly giving herself away.
"I should explain my absence tonight." Leoric began heading to the door.
"Your Grace, it's late and My Lady is probably getting ready for bed," Caerwyn interceded, catching Leoric in the doorway.
"Very well," he said over his shoulder. "Invite Lady Valewyn to breakfast for me."
"Yes, Your Grace, I'll try." Caerwyn bowed and Leoric headed for his rooms.
He'll bathe before bed tonight, though he felt tired.