The Black Knight of Ashfern

Chapter 12

"Forgive the intrusion, my Lord, but there is a matter in town that requires your attention," Baringer announced, his eyes steady on his Master as he stood just by the door.

"Bloody hell! What do I pay these fools for if they require my attention at every turn? What is it they want now?" William snapped as he rose from his desk, his mood growing darker by the second as he scowled at the older man, disregarding the uneasy atmosphere that filled the room.

"I was not told, Sir. I was merely informed that your presence was required. It has something to do with your latest cargo shipment. Details beyond that were not provided." His Butler replied, maintaining his frosty disposition with admirable skill.

"Fine. Have my...have the carriage readied and tell Hoss he's to come as well." William ordered, stepping out from behind his desk as he approached the door. "And so are you, Miss Harris. And do not think to naysay me for not asking. I said I would hear your terms; I never said I would oblige them." he bit out, marching from the room without a backward glance. "Find a coat and gloves for Miss Harris," William instructed a passing maid, not even bothering to look at who he ordered as he pulled on the gloves and coat he was given. "Not going to reprimand me, Nan?"

"What would be the point, Sir William," Nan replied, stopping a short distance from the main entrance as she slipped on the coat and gloves that had been provided. "Thank you, Maggie," Nan said to the girl who had brought her items.

"Did I not instruct you to call me by my name, Nan?" He scowled, once satisfied with the arrangement of his gloves.

"You did." She nodded, then stepped out the open door. Giving him nothing more. And by God, he wished she would. In truth, William enjoyed her anger and reveled in the possibility of her cool demeanor slipping away, revealing some facet of herself she had yet to show. Allowing him to view something for herself was not willing to show him. A thing he looked forward to all the more and only encouraged his ill-treatment if only to see her flustered. She had stripped him, practically laid him bare mere moments ago, with but a few words and eyes that looked right at him. Not his scars, his clothes, his home, or his title. Just him. And for some bizarre reason, William now felt the need to do the same to her. He wanted to see what she would not show, so he disregarded her terms and goaded her anger.

Unfortunately, she did not rise to his bullying.

"And you feel the need to disregard this term in our arrangement."

"As you have so easily disregarded mine. Yes. Provide me with a written contract of all we have both agreed to. And I shall sign and adhere to it as soon as you do. But if our arrangement is to be purely verbal and the terms only acknowledged when you wish to. Then I see no reason why I cannot do the same. "Nan replied, shaking her head at him. Now, as expressionless as she had been that day on the beach when she had found him.

For an instant, William felt an unpleasant twinge strike his being, and though no physical blow had been dealt, the aftereffect of the sensation left an odd wake traveling through him. Suddenly, being before Nan and subject to her scrutiny was uncomfortable. Turning about sharply, William descended the steps of his home once again without so much as a backward glance. Guilt prevented him from looking and possibly seeing the pained expression he had placed on her gem-like face. Though he somehow knew the mask she now wore would permit no such show of emotion.

He had cut his diamond dame and now pondered the outcome of his hasty actions. It bothered him, then frustrated him that her regard would do anything to him at all. She was a beggar. There were countless girls just like her all over England, but even as he thought it, knowing the truth of it. It was even more likely that should he meet every one of those girls; he would never find one like Nan because even if she were like Nan, she would not be Nan. Nan was a rare and true oddity in her class. And he, in his short-sightedness, had upset her.