Richmond’s mouth went dry. His facade was still straight and proud as he watched the aged crony hobble toward the keep, but his heart was being twisted and enlightened more violently than he ever thought possible.
“Richmond?”
He whirled toward Arissa, his control slipping at the sound of her angelic voice. His gaze came to rest on her beautiful face and she smiled timidly, gesturing in the direction of the keep.
“I am hungry. Do you think we could find something to eat before the competition begins?”
His mouth worked for a moment as if he were struggling to find the correct reply. Loudly, he cleared his throat, moving towards her purely out of habit. But as he drew closer, Mossy’s words slammed into him again with such force that he grunted.
But that was before she loved you.
He coughed politely, covering his blunder. Yet the look in Arissa’s eyes when he offered her his arm suddenly took on new light in the face of the old man’s muttered statement. The seductive smile she had displayed as he gripped her, the open encouragement in her gaze suddenly made sense until he was nearly wild with the overwhelming likelihood. Could it be….?
Richmond led her back to the keep in stunned silence, where Penelope, Emma and Daniel found them. Daniel boasted of his winnings in the wrestling matches as Penelope and Emma surrounded Arissa, commencing the usual mindless chatter. Arissa listened, but she did not comprehend their words. Her mind was else occupied.
She had no idea what to think. Confusion reigned supreme as she pretended to respond to the conversation going on abouther. Richmond, several paces ahead, was all but ignoring her as he and Daniel conversed. Truthfully, her mind hadn’t been working correctly since the moment he had touched her cheek; it was as if the world had faded until all that mattered was his tender touch against her skin. The sensation had been so overwhelming that she had completely given in to the heat flooding her limbs, causing her eyes to close and her knees to weaken.
She hadn’t even been aware of her lolling head until he had grabbed her by the neck. A powerful bolt of excitement had slammed into her body, a sob escaping her lips from the sheer force of the blow. Next she realized, he had pulled her against him.
And then her eyes had opened. His eyes, blazing hotter than the sun, had made her smile. Gazing into the blue flame, she knew. He wanted to kiss her as badly as she wanted him to.
Damn Mossy for interrupting them. Had they been allowed to progress, she might have been able to taste his lips as she had always wanted to. But now, he was all but ignoring her and her heart was breaking. Mayhap…. mayhap he had come to realize the foolishness of her brazen actions. ’Twas she who had melted against his innocent touch, and it was she who had unskillfully seduced him with her naive grin and eager manner. She had all but thrown herself at the man.
Richmond procured the entire group a spit of roasting gamecocks. Arissa accepted the food from him, picked at it, and tossed it to the ground. Her stomach was churning with humiliation and she was no longer hungry. She could feel Richmond watching her, a familiar heat she was well acquainted with, but she simply could not bring herself to look at him.
She wished she could get away from him, anything to ease the tension in the air. She knew, however, he would shadow her wherever she went. The only way he would not follow her was ifshe was escorted by another capable knight, a man he trusted. Or….
“My lady, a pleasure to come across you again,” Tad de Rydal was suddenly in front of her, his arrogant face flushed with joy. Arissa gazed up at him, suddenly seeing an escape to Richmond’s presence. Although she had no liking for the pompous knight, he would be a safe enough diversion from the situation at hand. With enthusiasm she did not feel, she smiled brightly.
“And you, Sir Tad,” she said. “Have you been enjoying yourself?”
“Indeed,” he replied. “But I would enjoy it a far sight more with a beautiful maiden on my arm.”
Emma, realizing the fabled Tad de Rydal was in their midst, wedged herself next to Arissa, hoping her friend would introduce them and thereby open the door for Emma to escort Tad about the grounds. Arissa knew how badly Emma wanted to meet the de Rydal heir. But instead, Arissa did the unexpected.
She extended her slender hand. “I would be honored to accompany you, Sir Tad. Would you be so gracious as to allow me?”
Tad’s blue eyes gleamed, Emma’s face fell, and Richmond was, frankly, shocked. Before anyone could utter a word of protest, Arissa tucked her hand into the crook of Tad’s armored elbow and they strolled off across the compound companionably. In tears, Emma turned away.
“I shall never forgive her,” she hissed. “She knows I was desperate to meet him!”
Penelope patted her friend on the shoulder. “He’s her guest, Emma. We cannot monopolize all of her time. I am sure she will introduce you to him later.”
Instead of being placated, Emma stamped her foot and sniffled loudly. “She’s preparing to join the damn church. What can she possibly want with a man? I wanted Tad de Rydal!”
As Penelope attempted to comfort her, Richmond watched the distant couple like a hawk. Daniel, beside him, scratched his head.
“De Rydal’s a rake,” he murmured. “You had better follow, ’else Lady Arissa’s charms are not the only delicacy he will attempt to sample.”
Richmond did not reply. After a moment, he meandered in their direction.
*
After an hourwith Tad, Arissa was ready to scream. Not only was he a conceited arse, but he was boorish and dull. All he seemed capable of commenting on was himself, his training, and the fortune he would inherit. Arissa sat and listened, yawning. She wished she had stayed with Richmond.
The nooning hour came to bear and guests and peasants alike were treated to a sumptuous fare. Roast rabbit, gamecock, venison, and pork were displayed on open flame. Half of the men forewent the trenchers and ate the meat directly off the spit. Since the main dining tables were being used to display the mounds of carefully prepared food, guests collected all they could carry and wandered about in search of a quiet eating place.
Arissa saw the meal as her opportunity to be rid of Tad, but he saw it as a chance to share a trencher with a beautiful lady. Several times she attempted to excuse herself, but he would merely grab hold of her arm and laugh.
