“I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Lady de Ferrers,” she said. “We had heard that your husband arrived yesterday.”
Annavieve nodded. “He did,” she said. “We have just come from London. How long have you been here at Longcross?”
Vietta warmed to the conversation with the young duchess who was perhaps her own age. “A week,” she said, making a face and watching Annavieve laugh. “Papa insisted I come. He has brought the entire household along with him to watch my brother compete. He is very proud of him.”
Annavieve looked out to the knights gathering in two groups. “Where is your brother?”
Vietta stood up, pointing to the same group that Kevin was in. “He is over there,” she said, sitting back down again. “He is riding a new charger and has all new weapons. Papa spared no expense for this competition. He is competing against Canterbury, who is also a de Lohr. Papa does not want to be embarrassed in front of relatives.”
Annavieve giggled. “Must your father have family bragging rights, then?”
Vietta laughed. “Absolutely,” she said. “He is the great-grandson of the great Christopher de Lohr, the first Earl of Hereford. Have you heard of him? The Earls of Canterbury are descended from Christopher’s younger brother, David, so Hereford must always have the edge over Canterbury.”
Annavieve continued to giggle, shaking her head. “I do not understand men’s vanities,” she said. “But I am sure it does not matter how your father feels for my husband is positive that his men will win. I think they will, too.”
Vietta simply grinned. “I would not presume to dispute a duchess,” she said. “But I am happy to watch the event with you if you will allow me.”
Annavieve was thrilled. “I am honored,” she said. “And please… you may call me Annavieve.”
Vietta was touched. “It is I who am honored,” she said. “But I do not think I should lest my mother or nurse hear. They will become angry that I am so familiar with the Duke of Dorset’s wife.”
Annavieve leaned towards her. “Then you may address me quietly,” she whispered. “No one will hear.”
Vietta agreed and Annavieve felt as if she were part of a great secret, part of something for the first time in her life. She was included in something excited and even silly, having evidently found a friend in the lovely and talkative Vietta de Lohr. The woman was indeed quite friendly and genuine, it seemed, and she began to point out knights that she recognized on the field, including the two knights riding for Canterbury. She also pointed to people in the lists, admiring women’s dresses or telling Annavieve of some gossip she might have heard about a particular person.
Annavieve was fascinated by it all, swept up in her first true gossip session with a young lady who seemed to know of everyone. It was surreal for the formerly sheltered lady. As they chatted like magpies, the knights, who had been in two groups as the field marshals organized them, now started making sweeps in front of the lists, working up the crowd. Now, the spectacle truly began.
The first thing Annavieve learned was that the big horses men used for battle were heavy, excitable beasts. They would thunder past the lists, kicking up dirt into the crowd and throwing foam from their mouths. People would duck when the foam flew, hoping they wouldn’t be hit by it. The fully armored knights astride these steeds were cool and collected, lifting a hand to the crowd only to hear them scream wildly in response. The men surrounding Annavieve, seated in their boxes with their wives and retinue, seemed to be far more seriously when inspecting the men who rode by as if to size up the competition. The women were simply looking at the men. Annavieve was looking at the knight Vietta had pointed out as her brother, Fen de Lohr, when a big knight suddenly put himself in her line of sight.
Kevin, in all of his battle-primed glory, was now in front of her astride a big roan beast with a fat arse and a cropped tail. The beast was extraordinarily big and muscular, but Kevin handled him deftly. Annavieve’s heart swelled giddily at the sight of him but she wisely kept her mouth shut. She simply looked at him and did not speak. Truthfully, it wasn’t necessary because her eyes spoke a thousand words. All he had to do was look at her to know what she was feeling. To Annavieve’s right, Victor stood up and addressed Kevin.
“I see that you are riding the new horse,” he said, pointing. “That beast cost me a good deal of money so take care with him. I had to bribe one of de Moray’s knights to sell him to me.”
Kevin flipped up his visor, patting the excited charger on the neck. “He’s magnificent, my lord,” he said, “although I fear my own steed is jealous of him. He is back towards the rear of our group, throwing a tantrum as we speak.”
Victor grinned. “You will not ride him in the mass?”
Kevin shook his head. “Nay, my lord,” he replied. “He bites terribly and although I will win today, I do not want to maimmen in the process. And I cannot muzzle him because he will fight with me until I take it off, so it is best that he is kept to the rear. I reserve him only for real battle because he is better than ten good knights in the heat of combat.”
Victor laughed at the thought of Kevin’s incorrigible white horse. “I like that big white beast,” he said. “You and I must speak of him sometime. I think I want to buy him.”
Kevin shook his head. “Never,” he said. “That horse is as a brother to me. A very spoiled brother, but a brother nonetheless.”
Victor cocked an intimidating eyebrow. “We shall see if I do not purchase your horse,” he said, willful man that he was. He pointed to the roan. “Meanwhile, that horse shall do very well for you. And I expect you to win.”
Kevin nodded firmly. “As do I, my lord,” he said. “In fact, that is why I am here. I was wondering if you would allow me to carry a favor from the duchess for good fortune.”
He hadn’t even looked at Annavieve as he spoke, his entire focus was on Victor. It had been a remarkable show of disinterest in the duchess other than to carry her favor, which was the polite thing to ask. Begrudgingly, Victor looked to Annavieve.
“Give him something,” he said, rather coldly.
Annavieve looked stricken by the request. “I… I am not entirely sure what I have,” she said, nervous and embarrassed that she had not brought a favor. The thought never crossed her mind. “I do not have a kerchief.”
Victor looked greatly displeased but before he could explode, Kevin spoke. “You are carrying a purse, my lady,” he said kindly. “Give it to me. I will carry that.”
Annavieve rose to her feet and made her way over to the edge of the box where Kevin was waiting. The small silk purse waswrapped around her wrist and she untied it, handing it over to him.
“There is a comb in it, my lord,” she said quietly. “I am sorry that I was too stupid to think of bringing a ribbon for you.”
