“Aye, my lord, we plan to attend,” she said, noticing other couples turning in their direction as if to attempt to overhear.
“Are you aware of the tradition of a lady offering a favor to their preferred participant?”
Did he mean like the scarf the queen had tied to one of the player’s spears?
“Aye, I am aware.”
He smiled then, showing white perfect teeth. “Good. I shall see you on the morrow then.”
He then turned on his heel and walked away from her in the direction of the royal couple.
Did that mean he wanted her to tie a scarf to his spear? She had no idea and had no one to ask. Of one thing she was very certain. As much as she needed it, sleep would evade her this night in place of images of a black knight with deep blue eyes to torment her.
*
“Am I dreamingit or do you wear a smile?” the king asked Alexander as he approached the dais and sat beside him.
“I do not know what you mean, Your Majesty,” Alexander said with a grin.
He could have kicked himself after she walked away from him. Butif he was going to invest any of his interest in this lass, he had to know if she was different from the rest of them and not just because he wanted to bed her every which way he could think of to pleasure her.
He was not proud of himself for asking another lass to dance whose name he did not remember. But he had to confess, he did not quite know what to do with himself after she left him standing there. When the other lass approached him, he was grateful for the opportunity, though it was not fair to her for he had no interest in anyone other than Lady Marion.
A small part of him liked that she watched him the entire dance, and he hoped it was because she wished she was his partner.
He would see her again on the morrow. Would she bring a favor for him? Would she bring one for another? The thought didn’t sit well with him, making him shift slightly in his seat.
“You are very distracted at the moment,” the king said. “Have you heard a word I’ve been saying about tomorrow’s games?”
“My apologies, Your Majesty. I am a little distracted. I am looking forward to the games tomorrow.”
“I was talking about the order of procession prior to the games. I wish to have you ride out first.”
“Me, Your Majesty?”
“Aye, you. You are the strongest participant and so should take the lead in the procession.”
“If that is your wish, I will happily comply.”
“It is my wish. Now tell me what distracts you,” he said and looked around the hall. “I do not see you looking at anyone in particular, and so therefore I can only conclude you are pining for a certain red-haired lass.”
If he admitted it now, there would be no end to the king’s hounding for a betrothal, and Alexander wasn’t sure enough of his own feelings on that matter to agree to anything. He was very much taken with her, and he was sure he would dream of her this night. But lust isfleeting. He’d barely had a conversation with her to know anything of her character. Nay, he would admit nothing this eve and rather reassess in the light of day.
“I am pining for a good night’s sleep after a long day.”
The king shook his head. “What is wrong with everyone wanting to leave early because they are tired. Very well, I release you to your chamber, but you will have no excuse for perfection at tomorrow’s games.”
“Aye, Your Majesty, that is a fair trade.” To both royals, he said, “I thank you both for a bonnie evening and bid you both a good night.”
With that, he bowed to them and walked toward the edge of the hall, praying no one stopped him along the way. By the time he reached the entrance to the courtyard, Alain was waiting for him and Alexander had already removed his mask and was rubbing his face.
Handing the mask to his friend, he asked, “How was your night?”
“Mine was nowhere near as interesting as yours appeared to be, my lord.”
“Do not start with me, Alain, or you will be walking back to Inverary.”
“Och, that’s a pretty big threat. She must have really stolen your heart, then.”
