He stared at her a moment, as if hardly believing she would dare insult the prodigious institution of knighthood, before finally breaking into snorts of humor. “I would say that is a fair statement,” he said. Then his laughing abruptly stopped. “Just how many knights have you known?”
She grinned, something slightly mocking and even more evasive. “I meant the knights at Pickering and Whitewell. My uncle’s fortress is full of knights who believe the sun would not dare rise or set without them.”
He did not know why he suddenly felt a stab of jealousy at the thought of Alixandrea surrounded by dozens of brazen knights, all vying for her glorious attention. It further occurred to him that he had been an idiot for the past ten years, resisting Lord Ryesdale’s request for the marriage when he should have claimed her the very moment she came of age. Had he only known. Gazing into her rosy beauty, he could hardly believe she belonged to him.
“I see,” he said after a moment. He took a few steps towards her. “My father has requested your presence in the hall this eve so that he may introduce you to the castle. As the Lady of Wellesbourne and my wife, you will be given all due respect.”
She nodded. “I would be pleased to attend him, my lord, only… only my clothes do not seem to have arrived yet.”
“They are here, in the courtyard. I told the servants to hold on bringing up your capcases until I called for them.”
“My thanks,” she said. He was standing there, looking at her with an odd expression on his face. She began to feel theslightest bit awkward. “Was there anything else, my lord? I should probably dress quickly if your father is expecting me.”
His brow furrowed as if something puzzled him. Then he shook his head, turned around, and headed to the door. He was nearly to the panel when he came to a halt again and looked at her.
“May I ask you something, my lady?”
“Of course.”
He began to retrace his steps towards her with deliberate thought. It was apparent he was grasping for words. “You and I have been betrothed for ten years.”
“Aye, we have.”
“And in all that time, did you have any reservations about this union?”
“What do you mean?”
“That, perhaps, you did not want to marry me?”
Her bronze eyes glittered in the firelight. “Do you mean did I have similar thoughts to your own?”
He came to a halt. “What doyoumean?”
“You do not want to marry me, that much is clear. Luke was very plain. I suppose I should like to know what that reason’s name is.”
She was not only beautiful, she was intuitive. But it did not take a genius to sense his reluctance. He’d never tried to hide it.
“That reason was very long ago,” he said quietly. “It no longer exists. And my reluctance to our union had nothing to do with her, at least not for the past several years.”
“Then why the delay? Why the unwillingness? Why not just break the contract and allow me to marry another rather than wait for you?”
“Isthere another?”
She was going to provide him with an evasive answer, but thought better of it. Ambiguity was no way to start a marriageshe had waited long enough for. Besides, there was no point in lying.
“Nay,” she replied softly. “There were a few who tried, but no one who caught my eye. I was, after all, promised to The White Lord. How could anyone compete with that?”
His blue eyes moved over her features, sensing her honesty. After a moment, his smile broke through. “They could not, of course,” he said. “And thank God for it.”
She met his smile but was a bit confused by his statement. “I do not understand.”
He took a few steps until he was directly beside her, gazing down at her magnificent bronze-colored head. He could smell the scent of violets. It had been so long since he had smelled anything even remotely sweet or feminine that it almost made him light-headed.
“It means that we shall be married on the morrow and be done with any further delay. I command it.”
She had to crane her neck up sharply to look at him. It was an uncomfortable position so she stood up, thinking it would be easier on her neck. But he was so tall that it made little difference.
“As you wish, my lord.”
