The night was in full swing.
To be truthful, she liked it. It was much bigger and much more exciting than The Neath, whose meals were generally limited to her father and any guests he might have. His men didn’t even eat with him. There was excitement in a castle filled with soldiers, from the stories they told to the games they played to the singing they indulged in.
In fact, Juliandra had learned a few songs she couldn’t repeat, one titledTilly Noddenand the other one titledAlice Had A Phallus. They were naughty, but great fun. She was rather sorry she couldn’t sing them to her father when they returned home, for she was fairly certain he would have found them hilarious.
If his daughter hadn’t been the one singing them.
Juliandra was in the hall, making sure things were going smoothly, when one of the gate sentries approached her and told her that there were minstrels at the gatehouse asking for shelter and food. Traveling entertainment was rare and always highly desirable in the wilds of the Marches, so Juliandra invited them in. They were brought to her, five of them, and she put them near the hearth to sing for their supper.
It was an unexpected occasion, having music while eating, and Juliandra was pleased with the evening’s showcase. Men were already enjoying their food as the minstrels sang and even acted out their songs, quite entertaining for the diners. Juliandra was watching from the edge of the room, near the servant’s entrance, when she saw Kevin and his knights enter.
Immediately, she waved to the servants, who collected the food meant for the knights. Just as Kevin and the others sat down, they were swarmed with servants, who brought them steaming food and that strong pear cider.
Juliandra joined them.
“It seems we have entertainment for tonight,” she said as she sat down next to Kevin. “I hope it is to your liking.”
Kevin glanced over at her. It was the first time he’d seen her since watching from his tower chamber. As his infatuation with her grew, he purposely forced himself to stay away from her, fearful she might discover his secret yearning for her.
“Everything you do is to our liking, my lady,” he said as she poured him some of the strong cider. “Ever since you have taken over the duties, the hall has never run so smoothly.”
Juliandra smiled modestly. “Thank you, my lord,” she said. “I enjoy it.”
“Do you?” he asked, jesting with her. “Because it is a great deal of work. I know, for I have seen how hard you have been working.”
“She has done a remarkable job,” Cal piped up, interrupting their conversation. He lifted his cup to her. “My lady, a toast to you. The most beautiful woman on the Marches.”
As Juliandra smiled hesitantly, embarrassed by the brash young knight’s flattery, Bannon spoke up.
“Isn’t your mother on the Marches?” he asked. “And your sisters? You have just put Lady Juliandra above them?”
Cal eyed Bannon with some distaste. “I cannot think of my sisters as being beautiful, although men have said that they are,” he said. “And my mother is a lovely woman and not to be trifled with, but she is also married. And my mother. Lady Juliandra is neither. I am, therefore, free to express my appreciation of her beauty.”
There was a hint in that answer, something that made Kevin take notice. Bannon had warned him that Cal had his eye on Juliandra, but he’d never seen it so plainly as he did now.
Bannon had been right.
He needed to stop whatever Cal was thinking before it grew into a problem. To put the man in bad graces with Juliandra, he looked straight at Bannon.
“Did he not say the same thing about that smithy’s daughter in Shrewsbury?” he said. “I seem to recall almost those exact same words. It seems to me that Cal has that speech well-practiced.”
Bannon picked up on what Kevin was trying to do right away and he happily jumped on the anti-Cal bandwagon.
“Those were his exact words, aye,” he said as Cal’s eyes widened. “It wasn’t just the smithy’s daughter. It was also the baron’s daughter near Wolverhampton. What was her name? Elenore, I believe.”
Kevin nodded as Cal sat across the table and sputtered. “Ah, the fair Elenore,” he said. “At least, that’s what Cal said. Repeatedly. Did you not also suggest marriage to her, Cal?”
Cal was beside himself. “I said no such thing!” he gasped. “By what right do you spread such lies?”
Bannon was starting to chuckle. “Lies? Who says they are lies?” he said. “It is well-known that you troll for women as a fisherman would troll for fish. Throw out a net to as many as you can and see what comes back.”
As he and Kevin snorted, Cal was starting to turn red in the face. He looked at Juliandra. “I have no idea why they are doing this,” he said. “It is lies, all lies. I donottroll for women.”
Juliandra was trying not to grin at the embarrassed young knight. Kevin and Bannon were being rather dastardly in the way they were teasing him, but it was quite humorous. Cal de Poyer was a handsome young knight, but far too immature for her taste. She had seen that over the past two weeks, the way he was quick to temper and quick to speak, whether or not he knew anything on the subject. But he was also big and strong, and she’d heard Kevin say that he was hell in a fight, so he had his redeeming qualities.
But she simply wasn’t interested.
“Have no fear, Cal,” she said. “Your secret is safe with me. I’m afraid you cannot say the same thing about your friends.”
