Dagobert breathed a silent sigh of relief, knowing that somehow the fates had smiled upon him and he had fulfilled her desire after that first night without even knowing what it was.He still wished he knew what she had asked of the goat.
“’Tis settled then and as good as done,” he concluded, extending his hand to her.“Would you sup this night, my lady?”
“In truth, I have little appetite,” she said, but Dagobert insisted, wanting to ensure she spoke to the goat this evening.Eustache would have much to say about the risk of him joining her with so many guests in the keep, but despite the risk, Dagobert meant to sleep with his bride.
“Lady Iolande has ordered fish prepared and acassoulet,” he informed her, knowing how she loved the baked bean dish.Alienor hesitated, and seeing that she was tempted, he pressed his advantage.“A vegetableratatouillewith the first few herbs from the garden awaits you, my lady, and fresh berries from the coast.”
“Truly?”she demanded in surprise when he mentioned the fruit.
He beckoned to her with one finger.“You must see the repast for yourself.”His heart fairly stopped when she smiled.
“Aye, it seems I must.”She took his hand and let him usher her from the room.Dagobert retrieved the lamp, not wanting it to burn untended, and followed Alienor down the hall.He halted with surprise when she spun suddenly to address him.
“I would thank you,” she said quietly.
He wondered if he could truly drown in the golden depths of her spectacular eyes.
“I do not understand, my lady.”In truth, he understood little in this moment, and watched with fascination as she colored once more.
“You did not make me feel the fool for my error last night,” she explained.“’Twas most gallant and I would thank you for your kindness.”
To his complete shock, Alienor stretched on tiptoe and pressed a chaste kiss to his cheek.Her flush deepened before she turned and fled his presence.Dagobert was left standing thunderstruck with a maelstrom of emotion raging in his heart, not knowing whether to let jealousy, pleasure or satisfaction win the day.
Alienor feltthe weight of someone’s perusal upon her as she descended the stairs into the crowded hall.It was simple to spot the stranger who watched her from his place at the high table.His ebony hair was cropped short at the nape in the manner of knights, its waves sticking damply to his head.His dark gaze was intense, and his jaw and neck were reddened, perhaps as a result of the wine he had imbibed.
His bold stare was a mockery of convention and good manners, but no one rebuked him.Not for the first time Alienor wished that her husband could or would stand openly in his own keep, that he might defend her place in his household if not more.The addition of many fighting men to those who were routinely present gave the hall a noisy and raucous air, more like a disreputable tavern than the fortress of a lord.
Truly Alienor had waited too late to join the company, and she briefly considered turning back upstairs.Her stomach growled in discontent and she knew she had to eat.Iolande was not to be seen, and the ever-vigilant Eustache was deep in discussion with another knight attired in the same azure and gold as the rude one who studied her.Even Alaric had seemingly become lost on the stairs behind her.
Resolving that there was naught for it, Alienor strode across the room with a confidence she was far from feeling and took her place at the unicorn’s side.She steadfastly ignored the insolent knight’s gaze.She would eat quickly and return to the solar with all haste.
“My lady!”Giselle exclaimed with evident surprise from beside her elbow.
Alienor turned with a smile to find her maid’s eyes bright with wine, as well.“Alaric said there wascassoulet,” she explained over the din of the company.The girl nodded, expertly evading pinching fingers as she hurried to the kitchens to fetch food for her mistress.
The unicorn nuzzled against her knee and Alienor rubbed its chin, noting how similar in texture its silky beard was to the banner she worked upstairs.Would her spouse be pleased with her stitching?She could only hope ’twas so.Recalling her vow to talk to the unicorn, she bent down, freezing when she met the amused gaze of the knight who had been surveying her.
“And where has this tasty morsel been hidden away?”he asked with a smile
Alienor straightened with indignation but before she could form a reply, a cool hand rested lightly on her shoulder.She watched wariness light in the knight’s eyes.
“’Twould be most rude to devour my daughter-in-law, Chevalier Jordan,” Iolande said.One of that lady’s wolfhounds dropped to its haunches beside the two women, its gaze fixed steadily on the visiting knight.
“I meant no harm,” he said with outspread hands, lolling unsteadily back on his bench.
Alienor stifled the urge to tell him she knew he feigned the extent of his drunkenness.
She would have wagered her last silverdenierthat he was not the least bit drunk, despite appearances to the contrary.He was leery of the dog, though, and Alienor was glad.She patted the beast and met the knight’s gaze boldly for a moment.
Giselle appeared with Alienor’s meal and she thanked the maid.The food awakened a hunger she had not known she possessed and she ate with enthusiasm.Iolande strolled away when the knight seemed to have diverted his attention to his companions, but gave Alienor’s shoulder a pat of encouragement before she parted.The dog, of course, followed her.
The unicorn seemed hungry and Alienor fed it some of her trencher, smiling to herself as it licked her fingers with his blue tongue.Truly, she must find a moment to speak with the creature for she had no desire to sleep alone this night.She knew not what sorcery permitted her husband to know what she told this beast, but it had worked before and she would try again.Her blood quickened at the thought of her husband keeping the chill of the early-spring air from her skin.She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she jumped when the knight addressed her again.
“Tis you who are wed to the beast then,” he said.Alienor saw the assessment in his eyes of a perfectly sober and calculating man.
“Aye,” she answered, and took a deep draught of the red wine in her chalice.
“’Tis a sad waste that such a fine lady should be wed to a rutting goat.”
