Chapter Eleven #5
The frizzing iron had done just that, it crimped her long hair until it was a mass of wavy brocade.
The castle maid had pulled the hair around her face back, braiding it, and then wrapping that braid around her head to keep the hair off her face.
Yards of wavy, silky hair cascaded down her back in glorious fashion.
Tiny tendrils of crimped hair caressed her lovely face.
Dustin hardly recognized herself, and she was absolutely delighted with her hair.
She knew that only unmarried women wore their hair free at court, sometimes adorning it with pretty barrettes or thin nets, but she had far too much hair for those trappings.
She had no choice but to leave it free and lovely.
She admired herself in the mirror, turning around and around until she was dizzy and laughing, hoping her husband liked it, too.
With her hair dressed and finished, she pulled on delicate cream-colored hose and slippers to match, which were too tight because they had been her mother’s. But she didn’t care, she was actually pleased with her appearance this night and nothing could spoil her mood.
The castle maid had one more trick up her sleeve before leaving.
She took the beeswax and ocher that Dustin had brought with her and mixed it together until she had a shade that was barely colored red.
Then, she added a bit of oil, just enough to make it workable, and then deftly painted Dustin’s lips with it.
Dustin studied herself in the mirror, vastly pleased with her slightly red, slightly glossy lips.
She kept rubbing her lips together nervously, unused to the cosmetic.
Yet with her hair up and her lips painted, she didn’t feel like quite such an outsider.
She could not wait to be seen, positive the results were pleasing.
She wasn’t disappointed. Leeton and Dud could only stare at her in awe. Leeton was the first to remember his manners, taking her hand and kissing it softly. Dustin simply beamed.
“Do you really like it?” she grilled them.
They nodded firmly. “Aye, my lady, there is no one who can match your beauty,” Leeton said truthfully.
“ ’Tis not too much? Too red? Too much hair?” she pushed, wanting to know if they were being honest with her. She could probably wear an old sack and they would tell her she was the fairest maiden in all the land.
“Nay, my lady, you are…..ravishing,” Leeton assured her.
Dustin blushed appreciatively. “Thank you. Do you think Christopher will think so?”
Leeton’s smile faded a bit. “Oh, yes, my lady, he will. I promise you that.”
Pleased with herself, she wandered over to the window to wait for her husband to return for her.
There was a knock on the door several minutes later. Leeton unsheathed his sword as Dud rose to answer.
Edward and Sir Trent stood in the doorway, dressed in their armored best. They pushed their way into the room, stunned into reverent silence when they beheld Lady de Lohr. Edward, after a moment of gaping at her, swallowed hard and turned to Leeton.
“Go and change into appropriate attire,” he said. “Trent and I will keep the lady company. Return here when you are finished and we will escort Lady de Lohr to the feast.”
“Why would you escort me?” Dustin wanted to know. “Where is my husband?”
“He is indisposed, Lady de Lohr, nothing to be concerned with,” Edward replied evenly. “He will join us shortly.”
Dustin, disappointed, wandered back over to the window and sat in a chair, staring at her hands. Edward followed Leeton and Dud out into the hall, making sure the door was closed tightly before turning to them.
“What is wrong?” Leeton wanted to know. He could hear something in Edward’s tone.
“I am not sure,” Edward replied in a whisper.
“Marcus was cornered by Ralph an hour ago and was ordered to champion the prince in the tournament. Marcus, of course, refused and nearly killed the man. Now they are all in the prince’s apartments, and Christopher and David have gone with him for support.
Unfortunately, the prince demanded a private meeting and Christopher and David are waiting in the hall like caged beasts.
’Tis not a pleasant situation, to say the least. That is why we are to escort Dustin to the feast and wait for them there. ”
“Damn,” Leeton muttered. “Champion John? Who in the hell would want to do that?”
Edward cocked a wry eyebrow. “No one, which is why they are trying to order Marcus into the position,” he replied.
“Even though Christopher commands the troops, knights are not truly considered a part of that vocation. John is trying to insist that knights fall under the command of the ruling body.”
“If Marcus were to champion John, then he would be competing against Christopher,” Dud thought aloud. “As awesome a prospect as that is, it is also frightening. They would surely kill one another.”
The men stood a moment in silence, each contemplating their own horrific thoughts until Edward stirred for the door.
“Off with you both,” he commanded softly, “and a quick return.”
Without another word, Leeton and Dud disappeared down the corridor.