“Come along,” her father took her arm. “We have a choice viewing area reserved for us.”
Choice indeed. The roped-off area with two chairs was almost directly in line with the straw targets, affording the entire group a birds-eye view of the event. Lambourn soldiers kept the rabble away as the earl and his wife gained their seats, watching with anticipation as the marshals positioned the first collection of contestants.
Daniel, Carlton and Tad were in the first group. Lady Maxine waved demurely to her strong husband, who responded with a bold wink. Penelope merely gazed dreamily at Daniel, who carried her favor tucked obviously in the crease of his breastplate. Emma and Regine spent their time eyeing Tad and each other. Only Arissa was not focused on anyone in particular. She leaned toward her mother.
“Did you know that Richmond is championing me in this event?” she asked.
Lady Maude fanned herself daintily with a silken fan, painted with birds. “As he should, dear. ’Tis only right that Henry’s greatest knight champion the honoree.”
“He shall win, too,” Arissa glanced over her shoulder at Penelope and stuck out her tongue. Penelope returned the gesture.
A small horn blared, readying the competitors for the first round. All attention was riveted to the field and the noise level dropped. Men finished their wagers in the remaining few seconds before the match began.
Arissa’s pale green eyes were fixed on the field before her, mildly interested in spite of the fact that Richmond was not in the group. As the field marshals began laying down the rules, her gaze wandered the crowd of waiting contenders until she came to rest on a tall, familiar figure.
Richmond was not looking at her; his blue eyes were fixed on the field before him as they should have been. Arissa began to toy with the ribbon, stroking its carefully stitched edges as her glittering eyes beheld the object of her adoration.
The incident earlier that day returned to the forefront of her thoughts again. Fluid, wicked emotions stirred and her limbs began to ache with the newness of the desire that he had managed to spark. The fact that she had practically seduced the man was of little concern; she was focused on the mere idea that he had responded to her. She wondered if he would respond to her again. Given another chance, she would most likely do the same thing again.
Where Richmond was concerned, it was becoming increasingly difficult to control her emotions. She remembered thinking yesterday to distance the man, to forget him. Goals that were now impossible. She had been a fool to ever think such a thing.
She was leaving for Whitby after the New Year and she vowed to know the feel of Richmond’s lips upon her own before that time, if only for a brief, glorious, stolen moment. She would live on that moment the rest of her life.
*
There were hundredsof people observing the archery matches, milling about, wagering and laughing. Two men in particular wandered through the crowd casually, their seasoned eyes roving the people, the wenches, and the finely dressed men. They were older men clad in peasant clothing, concealing their mail and weaponry underneath. Their gaze seemed particularly riveted to Arissa.
“Is that her?” one man murmured to the other.
The second man passed a casual glance in the direction of the earl’s party. “She looks nothing like Henry. God’s Balls, she could be Welsh.”
The first man shook his head slowly. “She does not bear the features of a Plantagenet. Is Owen sure with his information?”
The second shrugged. “As sure as he can be. She’s where Owen’s source said she would be, in the heart of Berkshire’s family, and she’s the correct age. Fortunate that the earl saw fit to throw her a lavish party and we were able to slip in with the other celebrants.”
The first man looked doubtful. “It doesn’t matter. Any great house shelters sickly travelers, which is what we are,” he shook his head at the sight of Arissa’s black hair. “She must favor her mother. Where did Owen’s source come by his information?”
The second man watched his feet as he walked. “It all began with a letter. A former captain for King Richard, seeking vengeance against Henry for usurping his cousin’s throne,” he adjusted his hood as the wind blew it away from his face. “Ifthe information regarding the girl’s existence is correct and we manage to abduct her, Owen is most eager to use her to his advantage.”
The first man nodded slowly, his eyes still roving the crowd. Suddenly, he came to a halt.
“Do you know who that man is?” he nodded his head in the direction of a very tall, very broad knight. When the second man indicated negatively, he continued. “You have heard of Richmond le Bec, no doubt.”
The second man took another look at the massive man. “Thatis le Bec? God’s Balls, I thought he was dead by now.”
The first man took off walking again, followed closely by the second. They guided themselves deep into the crowd, away from the competitors and away from Richmond le Bec.
“He’s Henry’s most powerful knight next to Northumberland,” the first man hissed. “There must be a reason for his presence.”
“There is. Henry probably sent him to convey his best wishes to the girl.”
The first man shrugged. “Could be. But if Richmond le Bec is here as Henry’s liaison, ’twill make an abduction more difficult. Undoubtedly, he will be protecting her.”
The second man scratched his head, mulling over the possibilities. “We will simply have to wait for an opportunity, I suppose. If one does not present itself, then we shall return to Owen with the confirmation of his information. There is nothing more we can do if Richmond le Bec is here as Henry’s watchdog.”
The first man drew in a long, thoughtful breath. “Keep her in your sights, then. We will not want to miss our chance.”
Re-adjusting their costumes, they faded into the crowd.
