The door swung open, and he was blinded by glinting jewels and bright yellow fabric.
‘Really, Fletcher,’ Kendra said. ‘Have you no patience? This is my chance to truly capture the king’s attention. I am hardly going to rush the process.’ She stepped past him and wandered to the other side of the corridor.
He swore under his breath and turned back to the room, ready to drag Lyndal from it, then froze when he found her standing in the doorway. She wore an off-the-shoulder gown the colour of the sky as the sun sinks below the horizon. It was a colour he remembered from his youth. Pink and orange, all at once. The bodice moulded to her waist, embroidered with silver thread that resembled light reflecting off the water. The skirt fell in a way that drew his eye all the way down.
‘I had planned to wear something else,’ Lyndal said, looking down at the dress. ‘But the queen sent this to my bedchamber, no doubt fearing I would embarrass her in my common clothes.’
Thank God she was talking, because Astin had lost his ability to speak. A single glance had siphoned the air from his lungs. She was the ultimate offering to Belenus. If the sun did not break through the clouds the moment she stepped outside, then he would fall down from shock.
‘You hate it,’ she said. ‘It’s too much, isn’t it?’ She waited for him to respond.
‘You look…’ He just had to pick a word. One more word. Any word would do at that point. ‘Ready.’
Her eyebrows rose slightly. ‘I look… ready?’
‘Ready to leave.’
Something resembling disappointment passed over her face. ‘Good. I am ready to leave.’ She ran a hand over her neat hair, which was pulled back and tucked at the neck. Then she touched a finger to the corner of her painted mouth. ‘Let’s go.’
He gestured for her to walk ahead, then immediately regretted it when he saw her from behind. The dress was cut low, her shoulders and upper back on display. And whatever soap she had washed with that morning lingered in his path, causing his body to soldier up in all the wrong ways.
He was really going to have to pull himself together in order to do his job.
After loading the women into the waiting carriage, they made their way to the gate, Astin following on foot. The portcullis rose on their approach, and the party passed beneath the archway into the farming borough, following the road all the way to the square located in the centre of the borough.
Celebrations were well underway by the time they arrived. Soggy red banners hung high above the crowd, the festive music competing with the buzz of conversation and laughter. Some were already dancing while others took advantage of the break in the rain, sitting with plates of black bread and oil balanced on their laps. A queue for ale ran adjacent with the crowd of farmers and merchants. The nobility were gathered in a separate section enclosed by heavy red rope.
A young merchant man approached the carriage as it rolled to a stop, a wide grin on his face as he eyed Lyndal. ‘My, my. Haven’t we moved up in the world?’
Astin stepped in front of the man. ‘That’s far enough.’
‘It’s quite all right,’ Lyndal said, a hand landing on Astin’s arm. ‘Egbert is an old friend.’
‘Don’t you mean jilted lover?’ he retorted.
Astin stiffened.
‘Ignore him,’ Lyndal said.
‘Oh, I remember you,’ Kendra said, stepping up beside her cousin. ‘You are that belt maker who came to the house last year and asked for Lyndal’s hand.’ She looked to Astin. ‘Father thought she could do much better.’
Egbert frowned. ‘Ouch.’
‘And now you’re happily married,’ Lyndal said. ‘How is your wife?’
Astin continued to watch him.
‘She’s good. You should come for a dance later, for old times’ sake.’
Kendra laughed. ‘That is hardly appropriate.’
‘Let’s see how the day progresses,’ she said, her tone apologetic.
Kendra threaded her arm through Lyndal’s and began dragging her towards the nobility.
‘If you see my sisters,’ Lyndal called over her shoulder, ‘will you tell them I’m here?’
Egbert gave her a wave before joining the ale queue. Astin threw a warning stare at him, then followed the women.
