Page 77 of Picking Up the Gauntlet

“I have to go now.” She pulled away from him.

“Wait, Raven. Please. You need to understand that I want to marry you more than anything in the world. But it just... can’t be.”

“I’m a fighter, Jonathon, and have always been. Now, you need to fight for what you want as well.”

“I can’t give you what you want. I am only a commoner. I have nothing at all to offer.”

He saw the tears in her eyes, as well as aggravation. It confused him and made his heart break at the same time.

“The only thing I wanted from you, Jonathon, was your love.”

With that, she hurried out the door, leaving Jonathon standing there feeling as if his life was over. He turned around to see Avery and Gerold watching him from the entrance to the bedroom.

“Go to sleep,” he told them, dousing the fire on the forge. “There is nothing to see here.”

“You’re just going to let her go?” asked Avery.

“Damn it,” spat Jonathon, throwing an iron poker across the room. “What the hell am I supposed to do?”

Avery and Gerold didn’t say a word. Probably because there was nothing to say. Nothing Jonathon said or did would do anything to change the outcome of tomorrow.

Or would it?

* * *

Raven bolted into her bedchamber, slamming the door behind her. Lark was up and pacing the floor, waiting for her to return.

“Cousin, what’s the matter?” she asked, running over to Raven. “Did ye get yer armor?”

“I got it,” she said, opening the bag and dumping it on the bed. “However, it’s not what I wanted.”

“Och, that is bonnie.” Lark ran over and held up the helm in the firelight. “I love the flowers and little etched hearts.”

“Well, I don’t,” she complained, plopping down on a chair to remove her shoes.

“Why not? I think it’s the bonniest armor I’ve ever seen.”

“Exactly. That’s why.” She pulled off a shoe and threw it across the room. “I need people to believe I’m a man tomorrow at the tournament. No man would ever have little flowers and hearts etched on his armor.”

“Oh, I see what ye mean.” Lark giggled and put the helm down on the bed.

“It’s not funny, Lark. Tomorrow is my only chance to keep myself from having to marry a noble, and hopefully to be able to choose Jonathon to marry instead.”

“What do you mean?” Lark sat down on the bed, pulling the breast plate over to inspect it. “Ye’re goin’ to ask to marry Jonathon?”

“Aye. Well, I mean, I want to. That was my plan. Right after I won the tournament.”

“Ye’re goin’ to ask yer father that right in front of everyone?” Lark looked horrified by the thought.

“I know it’ll make Father angry, but I was hoping if I did it in front of everyone, he wouldn’t be able to say no. I only wish Jonathon would have approached him first. I’m starting to wonder if he really wants to marry me after all.”

“Dinna be angry with Jonathon,” said Lark. “Ye need to realize that he has too much to lose if he asks and yer father says no.”

“Lose? Like what?”

“Well, his customers, for one. No nobleman, or even Uncle Corbett is goin’ to get work done in his father’s shop after hearing that! And if anyone finds out that ye two made love, there’s a chance that Jonathon might lose his life. His family might suffer too. Ye canna blame him for not wantin’ to stick his neck out regardin’ this. Dinna ye see that?”

Raven stopped and thought about it for a moment. Just like her mother told her, she needed to stop thinking about her own wants and needs, and think about how her decisions were going to affect those she cared for or loved. “I suppose you’re right. But that still won’t stop me from trying.” She finished undressing and blew out the candle. “I just hope everything goes the way I plan tomorrow.”