The butler guided them to a dining room which held a twelve person table. At the head of the table sat Lady Theron, her conservative black dress highlighting the jewelry she wore. Alburet was impressed. She smiled at them as they entered, “Welcome. Alburet, I hope you have something to report since you asked for this meeting?”
“Lady Theron,” Alburet bowed to her formally, Wilbur following suit while the ladies curtsied. “I hope I have found what it was you told me to seek. The final decision, of course, rests with you. Might I introduce my wife Stacia, who you’ve met once before. The lovely lady with us is Erin Crowley, her sister, who works for my guild as a receptionist. The gentleman escorting her is Wilbur Gilden of Gilden House, who is employed as a guard here in the city.”
Lady Theron’s lips compressed visibly when Alburet mentioned Gilden House. “I am well acquainted with the House of Gilden. You must be Gustuv’s youngest,” she said, turning her eyes to Wilbur, her voice frosty.
“That is correct, Lady Theron,” Wilbur replied. “I am here at the request of Alburet. If I have distressed you, I will take my leave,” his tone was respectful the entire time.
“Lady Theron,” Alburet interjected. “Wilbur Gilden has been honest and forthright in all the dealings I’ve had with him, unlike his brother Skippy Gilden. I ask that you give me a chance to explain my choice.”
Lady Theron settled back into her chair and nodded once, “I shall listen. You should be aware though that it was due to his father’s actions that I lost my standing with the guards.”
Alburet winced, “Something I was unaware of. However, I will stand by my choice, Lady Theron. Ah, do you wish to hold our meeting before dinner?”
Meeting his eyes Lady Theron shook her head, “No. We shall carry on as planned for the evening. Please, be seated,” she motioned to the chairs.
The men seated their women before seating themselves to either side of Lady Theron. Once they were seated Lady Theron rang a small silver bell. Immediately, a door behind her opened and a number of servants filed out carrying plates. The meal, not as grand as the one at the castle, was just as good if not as exotic. At the end of the meal Alburet took up the toasting glass.
“Lady Theron, thank you for having us and showing us how nobility hosts guests. I hope to be able to discharge my duty to you once we are able to discuss the quest you gave me. May tonight give you that which you have sought after.”
After they all sipped, Lady Theron got to her feet. “Now that dinner is done, let us adjourn to the drawing room.” She led them just down the hall and into a richly appointed room that was at odds with the more austere halls. She took the large comfortable chair next to the lit fireplace, “Please, sit as you would.” The two couples took the two loveseats near Lady Theron. As soon as they were seated, Jarvis came in with a fully laden coffee cart. He served them each, inquiring about their preferences and stepped behind Lady Theron. “Now that we are all comfortable, Alburet, tell me why you believe Wilbur is the answer.”
He sipped his coffee before replying, “You tasked me with something quite hard to find, Lady Theron. I happen to know Wilbur Gilden from my first day in the city. It was not a very pleasant first meeting, which is entirely my own fault. Since then, we have come to an understanding, and perhaps even formed a friendship of sorts. He is the unwanted son of House Gilden. His family looks down on him because of his decision to take employment as a guard. His brother Skippy is less than enthused with his choice and has been making Wilbur’s life unpleasant. So, I have found a man of noble birth who is more than willing to also be a guard. Wilbur is in love with Erin Crowley, a woman of common birth, if uncommon beauty. Due to her family’s station, Skippy Gilden has been trying to force Wilbur away from her. This has caused a widening of the rift between the House of Gilden’s brothers. Erin doesn’t care about Wilbur’s family, or the family name. She wants only the man himself. Wilbur, though, feels that without his name he is not worthy of her, which leaves them in a bit of a bind. So, I present to you the answer to the quest you gave me, if you are willing to take it.”
Wilbur’s face was blank as he tried to work out what Alburet could be talking about. Erin was equally puzzled, looking at Alburet in bewilderment. Lady Theron sat back sipping her coffee for a long moment.
“Erin Crowley,” Lady Theron said, looking at the woman next to Wilbur. “From the Crowley line which runs the Dead Man Inn?”
“Aye, tha’ be me family,” Stacia replied. She tried, and failed, to suppress her accent.
“How do you know Wilber Gilden and why do you love him?” Lady Theron asked Erin, her eyes like gimlets as she watched the younger woman.
“He was me escort at Stacia’s weddin’,” Erin said slowly, trying to figure out how to answer the question. “He was kind, funny and interested in me. He was gentle and did nay comment on me appearance except in passin’, unlike many who smother me in false words. He did nay attempt to be anythin’ other than a gentleman, which meant it took me some persuadin’ to convince him to let me walk him home. We talked about little things, but mainly I asked about his job as a guard. He had a fire to him when he spoke of how he was doin’ what he loved. I was jealous of his passion for it, wishin’ I could capture his eye in such a way. Over the days since we have met and talked, even hunted together, and every day I just feel me love for him deepen. Why I love him? Tha’ be a hard question for me. I just do. I know to the core of me bein’ tha’ he be the one for me.”
Lady Theron’s smile was honest and broad, “I know how it feels to love and not know why, child. You will never really know what pulled you together, but you know the truth of it to your very soul.” Her smile changed, becoming sharp, “I have an offer for you. I can have all restrictions on your family’s inn removed. I can see to it that you and your sisters receive the best educations and are brought into society as proper ladies. I can see to it that you and your sisters have the opportunity to marry into noble families. All you need to do is walk away from Wilbur. Just stand up and walk out right now, and my driver will take you home. Never speak to him again, and I will do all of that.”
Erin’s brow furrowed, “Are ya batty? Mayhap a bit touched in the head? I would nay do such a thin’.”
Wilbur’s jaw dropped and his face went white at Erin’s response. Stacia’s hand gripped Alburet’s hand, fearing how Lady Theron would respond to Erin’s blunt words. Alburet raised a single brow and watched Lady Theron.
Lady Theron’s head came up and her nostrils flared, “Did you just imply that I’m going senile, young lady?”
“Aye,” Erin said, getting to her feet. “Ya must be mad to think I would be walkin’ away from the man I love for any bauble ya might dangle before me. I be a Crowley, we do nay turn our backs on those we love, no matter what.”
A small chuckle escaped Lady Theron, which slowly deepened into a laugh. “Well said, if blunt and lacking diplomacy, Miss Crowley. Please, sit. I apologize, and I will not say another word on that subject. It was but a test to see how attached you are to the man beside you.”
Erin sat back down with a scowl on her face, “I do nay think I like the way ya nobles act.”
“You are not alone in that,” Lady Theron replied. She turned to Wilbur. “Is she, Sir Gilden?”
Wilbur stiffened before he met her eyes, “I would rather never have to deal with the petty politics of court, Lady Theron.”
“Good,” Lady Theron murmured. “It is those that revel in those mindless games that do the most harm to the Crown. Why did you choose to be a guard?”