Chapter Five
To say her nerves were on edge would be a gross understatement.
Marion tucked a kerchief into the pocket of her skirt and left her chamber.
She’d taken a little extra time with her hair this morn and had chosen a pale-green gown for the day’s event which was of a lighter fabric to allow more comfort from the summer heat.
She was particularly fond of this gown and its fine stitching along the edges.
The sleeves were long, but not as heavy or floor length as the one she’d worn the day before or last eve.
She met her parents, sister, and two younger brothers to break their fast. This morning, their cook had prepared bread and cheese together with boiled eggs fresh from the hennery, and though her belly took the brunt of her nervousness, she managed to eat a healthy meal before heading out.
“I heard you up and milling about last eve, Marion,” Alice said. “Did you not sleep well? Anything in particular on your mind?”
Nothing she would confess to her meddling sister for certain. “Nay, just overtired from the festivities, I would imagine.”
“She might have had something to keep her occupied, had she not wanted to leave so early. Just when the earl had started to show an interest in her—”
“Now, now, wife. There’s no need of stirring that up. She was tired and we came home and that is the end of it.”
“The earl?” Alice asked. “What earl?”
“The Earl of Argyll, no less,” her mother said.
Alice grinned. “Is he handsome?”
Marion was absolutely not about to answer, and she was grateful her mother also did not comment.
“He is handsome enough,” her father said, “but more importantly, he is a good man with a good head on his shoulders. He has had the burden of looking after his family, along with the clan and the region for three years now, and he has done so admirably. You could do far worse than he.”
“I am not doing anything with anyone. I am going to these events because you have forced me. I had one dance last eve, and you are already selecting wedding clothes. Please do not embarrass me today.”
Marion wasn’t sure she could take it if her parents really showed a greedy side in front of the earl or the royals.
For good reason, she did not want any of them to think she was like that.
There were certainly enough young ladies with marriage on their minds for everyone to leave her alone and in peace.
“No one will embarrass you, sweet daughter,” her father said. He then looked at his wife who was practically pouting. “That much I promise you.”
“Very well, I shall hold my tongue. But mark my words, the longer you are in a man’s company, the more likely he will propose. And that is all I shall say on the subject. Now, if everyone is ready, we shall call for the carriage and make our way to the palace.”
They rode to the palace, only making small talk about the day’s events.
The joust would commence first and then repast, and after that, the men were all invited to a boar hunt while the ladies would be offered a formal tour of the gardens and menagerie.
Marion had seen both but was eager to learn more about the animals mostly, but from what she’d seen of the gardens, they were very elaborate.
It appeared everything the king drew his attention to turned into the most incredible array of beauty and style.
The carriage stopped just inside the courtyard, and they exited and made their way again to the tournament area on the back of the castle by the loch. The queen smiled widely when she made eye contact with Marion and patted a seat next to her.
“How fare thee this morn, Lady Marion? Did you rest well?”
“Aye, that I did, Your Majesty. And you, did you rest well?”
“I did indeed. I do hope you are looking forward to today’s schedule. I believe your earl is to lead the procession.”
“He is not my earl,” she said quietly.
“I believe he might think differently,” she said in a low voice, thankfully, so that only Marion could hear.
“What makes you say that, Your Majesty?”
“A young lady’s father has enquired after the earl who retired not long after you left, by the way. My husband told the father he was wasting his time and that the earl would not be interested in the man’s daughter, for he had already formed designs on someone else.”
“But you do not know that someone to be me, do you?”
“I do not know it for certain, but I did see how he looked at you last eve and how he held you while you danced.”
“He danced with more than just me, though,” Marion said. “It is possible he was referring to someone else.”
“Would you like me to ask him?”
Marion was mortified at the thought. “No, please, I beg you do not.”
The queen smiled. “Then no more talk of denial. The earl likes you, Marion. There is nothing wrong with allowing that to happen. Are you afraid of him?”
She shook her head. “I am not afraid of him. I am just not eager to be married off to a man I just met.”
“Married off? No one is saying that. But there is no harm in allowing a man to get to know you and for you to get to know him to see if there is something there.”
The queen did make sense. It would be easy to jump to conclusions based on her mother’s vocal intentions.
Marion didn’t want to offer attention to anyone if she were not genuinely interested in them.
So that was the question. Was she genuinely interested in the earl?
She reached into her pocket and withdrew the kerchief she’d brought.
The queen caught sight of it and said, “I am pleased you have that with you. I expect that is for the earl?”
“Aye, but I do not know where to put it.”
The queen chuckled softly. “You put it wherever you like. I placed one for my cousin before yesterday’s joust. You may do so for today’s. It can be tied to his spear or handed to him to tuck into his gauntlet. The choice is yours.”
There was something rather naughty at the thought of tying the thing to his spear and so Marion knew what she would do if the opportunity presented itself. And she was not about to tell the queen the earl had encouraged her.
Silver horns blew their clear tones announcing the participants’ entrance. Marion leaned forward to get a clearer view of them trotting in atop their horses in a singular line with a shining black-armored rider leading them.
She was nudged by the queen when the rider stopped before them and bowed to them.
Marion’s heart beat like a rapidly thumping hare as she stood and took the steps needed to greet the rider.
His mouth was hidden behind his helmet, but his eyes were not, and they bore into hers as he raised not his arm, but his spear to her.
She drew a shaky breath as she slowly wrapped the kerchief around the tip of his spear and tied a double knot to secure it.
“I wish you luck, my lord,” she said.
“And I thank you for your favor,” he said. “You shall sit with me during today’s repast, aye?”
She released a slow breath and nodded then smiled. “Aye, my lord. I will sit with you.”
He then bowed to her and took his position among the participants who were in line to receive blessing from the king.
Marion sat as the king then stepped forward with much the same messaging as the day before. This time her eyes never left the black knight’s as his never left hers.
The king’s words were a blur to her as her senses seemed to heighten.
She became keenly aware of every inch of him and let her mind drift back to their dance and how safe and right she felt in his arms. The muscular curvature of his breast plate was the exact shape of him and clearly was molded for him specifically.
Marion’s cheeks heated at the thought of seeing that chest bare.
What would he feel like? A wave of his leather scent washed over her, giving her goosebumps on her arms. The spell was only broken when he had to move to the edge of the tournament area to take up his place for the first joust. As he passed by, she was certain he winked at her.
*
Alexander was in very real danger of becoming obsessed with the lass if he did not get himself together.
Alain strapped his spear to his arm as Alexander got into position.
Maybe it was a mistake in having Lady Marion tie her favor to his spear.
He should have taken it from her and tucked it into his armor, for now, in lining up to best his opponent, he would not be able to miss it.
And worse, he now couldn’t very well remove it for fear of disappointing her.
“Are you unwell?” Alain asked with concern in his tone.
Alexander shook his head. “I am well.” He blocked the lass from his thoughts and focused on the rider opposite him.
Leaning forward, he waited for the flag to drop then kicked his heels into the horse’s side and rode hard toward the rider.
A split second before hitting the man in the chest with his spear, the kerchief moved over the top of the spear and an image of her lovely face floated before his eyes.
The sight of it was enough to distract him so that his aim shifted, and he missed the rider.
He was not so fortunate, for the rider had aimed to unseat Alexander and was successful since he was not hit.
With his balance displaced, he fell hard to the ground on his back, the wind leaving his body with a great woosh. His head snapped backward as his skull slammed against the back of his helmet. He closed his eyes as stars formed and the world spun about him.
“My lord!” Alain’s voice was distant as Alexander tried to regain his bearings.
When he opened his eyes again, his helmet was off and both Alain and the king were staring down at him with a worried expression.
“Can you sit up?” the king asked.