William frowned. “Define his actions, Richmond.”
Richmond shrugged, crossing his arms. “He was rather bold with his language and his actions. When I intervened, he challenged me.”
William’s eyes widened. “Why did you not tell me of this earlier? How dare he call you out in the midst of a social occasion!”
“It was of little consequence. A humiliating lesson learned and he was sent on his way.”
William turned to his daughter. “What did he say that was so terribly bold, Arissa? And, more importantly, did he try to harm you?”
Arissa swallowed hard, glancing at Richmond before she spoke.
“He…. he called you an idiot for pledging me to the church. When I attempted to defend you, he grabbed my arm and told me a woman of my beauty was made for a man’s pleasure.”
William was outraged and Richmond’s expression bordered on pure hostility. Although Richmond had been lingering in the shadows monitoring the situation, the muffled conversation between Tad and Arissa had been unclear to him; he had intervened not as a result of the words spoken but as a direct reaction to Tad’s movements. Had he known the extent of the young knight’s statements, he would have interceded far sooner.
A fierce sense of jealousy filled his veins. How dare the bastard direct such harsh words at a woman as fragile and sweet as Arissa.HisArissa. Damnation, he had been aware of her feelings all of ten minutes and already he was acting the protective husband.
As Maude moved to comfort her daughter, William turned to Richmond.
“I want him out,” he growled. “I do not care what it takes– I shall leave the details to you. But avoid insulting Ovid if you can. He’s a powerful baron and I shall not have the man going to war against me.”
Richmond cocked an eyebrow. “As you and I have agreed, I am not the diplomatic sort. When I throw de Rydal from this keep, I will not stop to ask him if I have been offensive in manner. Mayhap you should speak with the father while I deal with the son. If Ovid understands Tad’s offense as you explain it, he will most likely allow me to complete my duty as I see fit.”
William nodded shortly. “Agreed,” he turned to his daughter once more. “I am sorry, Riss. I had no idea that he had been so terribly brutal with you.”
Her gaze moved to Richmond, feeling more love and pride than she ever thought possible. “Richmond saved me, father. Tad never truly had a chance.”
Richmond heard the words, saw the expression. Never in his life had he felt so fulfilled, as if discovering Arissa’s feelings had suddenly made him a whole, undivided man. It was all he could do not to match her dreamy gaze.
William grunted as he moved from the solar, intent on dealing with his unruly guests. Maude remained with Arissa as Richmond moved to follow William. A lingering gaze passed between them, expressions filled with a thousand words of thanks for what had occurred between them this day.
Richmond allowed his gaze to rest on her beautiful face longer than he should have, his promises to her rolling over and over in his mind. He had promised to marry her, no matter what the cost. And he would. The fact that she was a princess far beyond his reach no longer seemed to matter anymore; she loved him, and he loved her. Lowly knight or no, he would have her.
At the moment, however, he was forced away from his thoughts to the task at hand. Richmond tore his gaze away from Arissa, bowing silently to her mother as he excused himself.
Wrapped in her mother’s arms, Arissa stared at the open doorway long after Richmond had vacated the room. Still, she could scarcely believe what had transpired between them. It was still difficult to grasp, even as she continued to taste him upon her lips.
She wondered when she would awaken from her most vivid, wondrous dream yet.
CHAPTER SIX
“Ithought yousaid Tad was leaving,” Emma shielded her blue eyes against the afternoon sun. “He’s on the field with the others.”
Arissa’s gaze lingered on the sun-lit field. The Stick and Ball game was about to begin and the two teams were catching a bit of practice before the match commenced.
The men clutched angled sticks in their hands, broad and thin and designed to precisely smack the object of the game, a small leather ball. The entire purpose of the event was to move the ball through the opponent’s team to their protected end of the field. When the opposition was conquered, a score was made.
It was a brutal game with few rules of conduct, making for an exciting and bloody match. It was extremely popular with the men-at-arms and the peasants, but on a few occasions the knights and nobles would compete simply to appease their own lust for sport. As Arissa and The Horde gazed upon the field, Bartholomew and Daniel took the field for the earl’s team.
“Richmond was supposed to escort him from Lambourn,” Arissa replied to Emma’s question, belatedly. “Truthfully, I have no idea why he’s still here.”
Emma sighed. “How awful that he insulted your father to his face. I wonder what possessed him?”
Arissa kept her gaze averted, lest Emma see her guilt. Another small lie to appease her friend’s fragile feelings, the omission of certain facts that had constituted her explanation regarding Tad’s departure. Certainly she couldn’t know of thecoarse statements Tad had made, the guttural remarks that had sent her father and Richmond into a rage. It would have broken Emma’s heart.
“I do not know, truly,” Arissa said, hoping to change the subject. “Goodness, I did not think Bart enjoyed Stick and Ball anymore. I have not seen him play since we were children.”
“Look, Riss,” Penelope tugged her arm, diverting Emma’s attention as well. “Isn’t that Richmond taking the field?”
