Which had agreater effect on her, between the sight of him being thrown off the horse or his bare chest, she could not say. But the latter was an image she would not soon forget. Wearing neither his helmet nor his mask, their encounter was the first time she had seen his face and the descriptions of him had not been exaggerated. His deep-blue eyes and straight nose were accentuated perfectly by his sensual mouth. He was more handsome than a man should be permitted, and Marion was certain he was not a man who would be so easily forgotten.
Sitting with the queen again at the midday repast, she picked at her food. A part of her wanted to go to him and sit with him while he recovered, but she was very aware that would never be permitted.
“Our cooks will be disappointed if you do not at least try some of your meal, Lady Marion,” the queen said. “You have seen he is not damaged in a permanent way and so you should take ease in that knowledge.”
“I know you are right, Your Majesty, but I do feel responsible for the distraction, for I fear ’twas my kerchief that affected his line of sight.”
“My lady, you cannot control the wind,” she said, shaking her head. “It is a normal practice for a favor to be placed in such a location and so the accidentwas just that.”
“Perhaps you are right,” Marion said. “I have never seen a man fall like that, and I confess, I am still affected by the event.”
“A fair statement to make. Come, let us begin our tour of the gardens. You have already seen the menagerie, and I want to show you my roses.”
Marion followed the queen to the gardens and listened intently as she described all of the wonderfully blooming varieties of the woman’s favorite flower. Row upon row of various colors and varieties demonstrated again that God was an artist at heart. The air was thick with the luscious floral scent enveloping them as they strolled through the garden for the next couple of hours.
Once they had seen and talked about nearly every flower there, they sat on a stone bench facing the palace. Marion marveled at the scope of the structure in its beautiful golden-yellow sandstone. There were too many carvings to count, but the favorite thing Marion liked about the place was how it overlooked the loch and its rolling hills beyond.
As she scanned the detail on the palace, she noticed a person looking out from a window high above them. She didn’t have to think very hard to know who it was. The queen appeared distracted by a butterfly that had landed on a flower close by, leaving Marion to take in the man. Still shirtless, she let her mind drift to the memory of him standing before her, clutching his shirt and tunic when all she wanted to do was to wrap her arms around him to ensure he was unharmed. She closed her eyes briefly and when she opened them again, he was gone. She wondered if he was even there to begin with or if she was losing her wits.
“Do you see this?” the queen asked her.
Marion looked up to see a beautiful white butterfly perched on the woman’s hand, opening and closing its wings slowly.
“Isn’t she the most beautiful thing you have ever seen?”
“She is, my lady, but may I ask how you know ’tis a she?”
The queen looked at her with a quizzical expression. “Truthfully, I do not know. I just assume all butterflies areshesin the same way all wasps arehes,” she said with a chuckle.
“Most wasps are hes,” Marion said. “All except for the queen.”
“And for that I am grateful to be a queen of people, not creatures with stingers.”
Marion watched as the butterfly settled onto the queen’s hand and ceased its movement. Male or female, it appeared to be content in its current location. Marion looked up just as a man exited the palace and appeared to be making a direct path toward them. She quickly recognized him as the man who was with the earl. He’d said he would update her on the earl’s progress. Her belly tightened into a knot. She prayed the news was good.
“Good afternoon, Your Majesty and my lady. I have a message from the earl for Lady Marion if I may?”
“You may share your message,” the queen said. “I trust it is not a private message?”
“No, Your Majesty, it is not a private message.” To Marion, he said, “The earl would like to share his evening meal with you; however, he is not able to navigate the stairs and so the king has offered his solar as an appropriate place to dine. You will be chaperoned by myself and a maid of your choosing if you accept.”
“I will provide an appropriate chaperone for her,” the queen said. “And my husband is correct in that the solar is spacious and offers a beautiful view of the loch and the setting sun. What time did the earl wish to dine?”
“He said to leave that up to you, Your Majesty.”
“And how did he know Lady Marion was with me?”
“He is able to see you from his chamber window, Your Majesty,” Alain said.
So, she wasn’t losing her mind. The thought of being alone with him even with a chaperone thrilled her to her core though evoked hernerves at the same time.
“Lady Marion? Will you accept the earl’s invitation?”
“Aye, Alain, you may tell the earl I will accept his invitation. I shall inform my parents.”
“And I will have a chamber prepared for you. There will be no need for you to keep your parents waiting or to travel after dark with all the potential dangers about. I shall handle everything,” the queen said and walked off briskly, talking to herself and the butterfly that did not appear to want to leave her hand.
“Come, Lady Marion. I will escort you to your father.”
