Adalia’s smile faded and she began to grow nervous. “N-nay,” she stammered. “You… you have done nothing. I… I simply thought… Good day to you, my lord.”
With that, she raced off before Mathis could stop her. He watched her run to the other side of the field where the women were gathered, but he lost sight of her as she hid amongst the crowd. He was rather sorry he chased her off. Another hand abruptly appeared and plundered a sweet from his basket. He looked over to see Pryce standing next to him.
“Who was that?” Pryce asked, sticking a cake in his mouth and chewing. “God’s Bones, these are good. Did she bring them?”
Mathis nodded. “She did,” he said. “That is Roi’s daughter, Adalia, but I am at a loss to know why she brought them to me.”
Pryce tried to take another cake, but Mathis smacked his hand away and took his basket, heading over toward the other side of the field. He wasn’t done with Lady Adalia, not in the least, but as he skirted the field, he saw Cheltenham and a man he didn’t recognize approaching the field from across the road. Trailing behind them, he could see Roi and Diara.
He felt a little stab to his heart at the sight.
It was the stab of resignation, of acceptance. There was no longer a chance for him, so he accepted that. As much as he could, anyway. Most importantly, Diara seemed to be truly enamored with the man she’d married, and he would not begrudge her for her happiness. He was glad for her. In the end, that she was happy was all that mattered to him.
Taking a deep breath, he headed in Roi and Diara’s direction.
They were talking and laughing about something as he approached, and he felt rather awkward for breaking into their moment, but he had something on his mind that required Roi’s opinion. Diara was giggling about something, but when she saw Mathis, she held up a hand to him in greeting.
“Good morning to you,” she called. “I am very sorry you are on the losing team of men. Mayhap if you ask nicely, Roi will allow you to be on his team.”
Mathis smiled weakly. “I do not want to get in the middle of Roi and his brothers, who seem to want to disable him,” he said. Then he looked at Roi. “Did they manage to injure you?”
Roi shook his head. “They did not,” he said. “But the day is still young.”
“And they are quite determined.”
Roi snorted. “Nothing has changed since we were children,” he said. “But… it is enjoyable. It has been ages since we have played out in the open like this, like children.”
Mathis nodded. “For me also,” he said. “But speaking of children, I’ve come about one of yours.”
Roi looked at him curiously. “Oh?” he said. “Which one?”
Mathis held up the basket. “Adalia,” he said. “She brought these cakes to me and then ran off when I asked her why. I did not mean to offend her. I only asked her why she gave them to me.”
Roi passed a knowing expression to Diara, who nodded her head when she realized what had happened.
“Do not be troubled,” Diara said to Mathis. “It is my fault.”
Mathis cocked his head curiously. “Your fault?”
“Aye,” Diara said. “You see, last night, Adalia asked who you were. She must think you are very handsome, but she was mortified when I suggested an introduction. She is a very shy lass, Mathis. Very sweet but very shy. I told her that you werefond of sweets, so I believe that bringing you those cakes was her way of introducing herself. She was trying to do something nice for you.”
The light of understanding went on in Mathis’ eyes. “I see,” he said, looking to the basket. “They are quite delicious. As I said, I did not mean to offend her by asking her why she brought them to me.”
Diara watched him closely. “Would you be interested in a formal introduction?” she asked. “Lady Adalia is a de Lohr, after all. She’s very pretty and clearly talented.”
Mathis could have throttled her. She was asking in front of the young woman’s father, so if Mathis refused, he risked Roi’s anger. He was only just dealing with a broken heart over Diara marrying another man and had no interest in entertaining his own romantic prospects at the moment, but he supposed it would do no good for him to lament that which he had lost for the rest of his life. Diara was gone, and he had accepted that.
Besides… Adaliawasquite lovely.
It wouldn’t kill him if they were formally introduced.
“Only with Roi’s permission,” he finally said. “I will do nothing without his permission.”
Diara looked at Roi, who was looking at Mathis as if mulling the whole thing over. “Let me think on it,” he said. “Mathis, you and I must speak before I do anything.”
“Of course, Roi.”
“She is my eldest daughter, after all.”
