Page 18 of May Queen: May Day

“Oh, that,” she said, feeling relieved he wasn’t talking about her father anymore. However, she realized she had to come up with a better story or he was going to see right through all this.

“All right, I did lie,” she admitted, running her fingertip around the rim of the goblet. She peeked up to see his eyes fasten to her finger. He was being drawn in by her as much as she was him. “I wasn’t really going into the woods to look for wild boar.”

“I know. Now, tell me what you were really doing there?” He shook his head as if to break out of his trance and grabbed a sweetmeat from the tray and popped it into his mouth.

“I – I was changing my mind about . . . about marrying you.” She looked out of the corner of her eye to see his face. He stopped chewing and an odd expression washed over his face.

“Why?” he asked again. “Why don’t you want to marry me?” She almost laughed aloud since he sounded so insulted.

“Pardon me, my lord, but might I speak freely?” she asked, mustering up as much sweetness in her voice as she possibly could.

“Of course.” He sounded very concerned.

“After all the . . . I mean that . . . after what I’ve heard about you, I was wondering if mayhap I didn’t want to marry you after all.”

“Those are all rumors!” He slammed his hand down on the table, scaring her. Then he jumped to his feet. “I am not at all like the gossip you’ve heard. You have to believe me.”

Flora relaxed. Her plan was working beautifully. He’d already forgotten all about Gretta as well as the fact she’d disobeyed his orders.

“Do I?” She picked up a chunk of cheese from the tray and nibbled at it, keeping her calm composure.

“You will marry me as was arranged between your uncle and me, and I will not hear another word against it.”

“I wasn’t aware I was speaking against it,” she told him.

“You also will stop trying to run away from me, and acting as if I am some kind of ogre.”

“Ogre,” she repeated, nibbling on the cheese. “I think I might have heard that word mentioned about you in between ‘simpering knave’ and ‘weakling’.”

“That’s it!” he spat through gritted teeth. “I will not stand here another minute and listen to idle gossip. And neither will you mention those rumors again, or I will lock you in the dungeon and throw away the key.”

“Isn’t that a bit harsh, especially since I’m soon to be your wife?”

“If my wife-to-be cannot still her tongue from speaking rumors about her husband-to-be, then I don’t think it’s harsh at all.” He stormed off toward the door and she smiled inwardly, knowing he was going to leave. She’d managed to use his insecurities against him. This was all working well to her advantage. It was actually a lot easier than she’d thought it would be.

He walked over to the door. To her surprise, instead of leaving, he slid the crossbar into place to lock it.

“What are you doing?” She jumped up, nearly knocking over the wine.

“I’m tired,” he said, sliding a trunk in front of the door next.

“Why are you doing that?”

“It’s just a little extra insurance that you won’t sneak out as soon as I close my eyes.” He walked over and picked up a small table and chair and loaded them in front of the door as well.

“Do you really think that is necessary?” she asked with a sniff.

“With you, I am not sure that this is enough.”

“Why don’t you just chain me to the bed if you think I am that dangerous?”

He looked over at her and grinned. “That is an idea. However, I don’t think for a minute you are dangerous. Just very sneaky. Since I tend to be a sound sleeper, I’m hoping the noise of you moving the furniture will wake me, if naught else.”

“Why don’t you bolt the shutter closed as well since I might leave through the open window?”

He walked over to the window and looked out, almost as if he were contemplating the suggestion. Then he closed the shutter and shook his head. “You’re not going out that way unless you’re trying to kill yourself, which I don’t think you are.”

“Then let me ask you, Sir Knight, just what is it that you think I am trying to do?”