Chapter 5
“Och, Raven, I’m so glad ye decided to dress like a lady after all.” Lark followed Raven into the bedchamber and closed the door behind her. “Ye always need to look yer best and to act like a proper lady if ye’re goin’ to catch a nobleman’s eye.”
“I assure you, I don’t care about catching any nobleman’s eye.” Raven walked over to the bed where they’d left her fancy purple gown. She pulled off her tunic, up over her head, throwing it on the bed. Then she kicked off her boots and removed her trews.
“If no’, then why are you changin’ yer clothes as if ye do care?” Lark helped her to don her gown.
“I just feel like it, that’s all.” Raven pulled the gown down and laced up the bodice. “Lark, will you help me to plait my hair really quick?” she asked, thinking about the way Jonathon’s hair had felt brushing against her cheek. It was soft and smooth. In a way, it felt exciting.
“Of course I can. But I still think there’s a reason ye’ve changed yer mind.”
Raven sat down in silence. Lark ran a brush over her hair.
“No reason,” Raven finally said, picking up a bottle of rose water from the dressing table.
She usually only used this after bathing or washing her hair.
She uncorked the bottle and sniffed it. Unless she was mistaken, when Jonathon was atop her, she saw him actually sniff her. He seemed to like her scent.
“That personal guard of yers is very handsome.” Lark started to plait Raven’s hair. “What was his name?”
“Jonathon. Jonathon Armstrong, but he’s not my personal guard. Not really.” Raven put a dab of rose water behind each ear.
“Yer brother said he was.”
“I know what Rook said, but that is ridiculous. Anyone can see that I don’t need a personal guard,” she said with a roll of her eyes.
“Besides, he’s only the town’s armorer who hires out his sword on occasion for extra coin.
I swear, some men will do anything for money.
” She continued to splash a little rose water between her breasts.
“By the way ye’re bathin’ in that rose water, I’d think ye fancy the man. That is why ye suddenly care about how ye look and smell, right?” Lark giggled as she continued fixing Raven’s hair.
“That’s absurd!” Raven corked up the bottle and put it back on her dressing table with a huff.
“I’m a lady. A noble. A titled woman. He is nothing at all.
He’s just a commoner. Why would I even care about him?
” She tried to sound and look as if she weren’t interested in the man, but damn, if his body pressed up against hers didn’t have her mind reeling right now.
She’d liked it. She’d really liked it. Raven had said some nasty things to the man, but honestly, it was only because she was so angry with her brother and father.
Now, she almost felt bad talking to the man that way.
“Hmmm,” said Lark in a playful manner. “I hear armorers make good money. She continued fixing Raven’s hair. “Plus, he obviously kens how to wield a sword if he’s a mercenary, so he’s got to be a good protector. Dinna ye agree?”
Raven’s head jerked upward and she glared at her cousin.
“What are you trying to say?”
“I mean, even if ye dinna need to be protected, who cares if he’s with ye?” continued Lark, turning Raven’s head and continuing to plait her hair.
“I care. I’m not going to be followed around all day by anyone.”
“Ye realize that yer father and brother must trust him completely to make him yer personal guard. That should tell ye that they like the man. Do ye like him as well?”
There was no way Raven was going to answer that. It was absurd to be attracted to a man below her status. While she didn’t want any of the noblemen as her husband, she also didn’t want to be longing for anyone below the salt.
“We’re finished here,” said Raven, having had enough of this ridiculous conversation. She stood up, not wanting to waste her time talking about a mere commoner.
“Wait. Ye need a flower in yer hair.” Lark reached over to a vase of flowers on the table and plucked off the end of a narcissus. She stuck the golden flower into Raven’s plaited hair. “There, that makes ye look bonnie and also more like a lady.”
“Hrmph,” grunted Raven, thinking she shouldn’t have bothered.
Mayhap a moment of infatuation with Jonathon had made her want to look good, but she was starting to change her mind quickly.
She never should have acted so impulsively.
It would be best to just wipe the thought of that handsome man right out of her mind.
“This flower is also said to ensure happiness and good fortune.” Lark reached up and fussed with the flower.
“I am already happy, and I have good fortune,” said Raven, pushing her cousin’s hand away.
She didn’t want to hear what Lark told her of what the flower promised to bring.
Wearing a nice gown and rose water was already making her uncomfortable.
The last thing she needed was to be doting over flowers that were supposed to bring good luck.
“I don’t need a flower for anything. I make my own good fortune,” Raven told her.
Lark’s smile faded, as if she didn’t understand. “It’s also said this flower symbolizes new beginnin’s,” explained Lark as Raven strapped on her weapon belt right over her gown. “Mayhap this means ye’ll find a man ye want to marry?”
“Never,” said Raven with a pout, heading for the door.
“I don’t ever want to marry, and there is no man who could possibly take my interest since they are all dolts.
” She swung open the door, surprised to see Jonathon standing there.
His sudden presence made her jerk backward and hold a hand over her heart.
“Hello,” said Jonathon with a wide smile, showing off his straight, white teeth. He reached up and brushed a stray lock of hair from his eyes. God’s toes, why was her heart beating so fast around him? It must only be because he surprised her, that’s all.
“How long have you been out here?” snapped Raven, suddenly worried that he may have heard them talking about him. She hoped not. All she needed was this commoner to think she fancied him. If so, he would never leave her alone.
“I’ve been hired to guard you, my lady, so I’ll escort you to the great hall now,” said Jonathon, holding out his arm, not answering her question in the least.
“I’m afraid not. I’m with my cousin,” she told him. “It would prove rather rude if I took your arm while she followed behind us. She’s a lady too, you know.” Raven hoped she’d put an end to all this nonsense now.
Jonathon lowered his arm and looked over at Lark who was standing right behind Raven.
“Oh nay. I would never want someone as fine as Lady Lark to have to follow behind us.” He lifted his arm, holding it up to Lark now.
“It would be an honor to escort you as well, Lady Lark,” he said with a slight bow.
Damn, thought Raven, this man was so polite. He knew his position around the nobles, and must be trying to win points by acting this way.
“Don’t bother,” said Raven, throwing her nose in the air. “Lady Lark won’t-”
Her words were cut off by her cousin’s answer.
“Och, I’d love that. Thank ye, Jonathon,” said Lark with a giggle, taking his proffered arm.
Raven looked over at Lark and shook her head, silently warning her not to do it. She wasn’t watching her, or mayhap she just didn’t care. Lark smiled at Jonathon and laid her hand atop his arm with no qualms whatsoever.
“Hurry, Raven. Take his other arm,” said Lark. “If we dinna move quickly, Uncle Corbett is goin’ to be furious with us.”
“I’m certain no man could possibly be angry with you, Lady Lark,” said Jonathon, giving all his attention to Lark and ignoring Raven completely. “You are so kind, and pretty, if you don’t mind me speaking so freely.”
“Not at all,” answered Lark, beaming with excitement.
“Your accent makes you unique as well,” Jonathon continued. “You–”
“Enough! Let’s go,” said Raven, taking Jonathon’s other arm and all but pulling him down the corridor. If she had to stand there and listen to his silly, shallow compliments any longer, it would bore her to tears.
“Excuse me, Lady Raven?” asked Jonathon as they walked.
“Yes?” She paid him a sideways glance from the corners of her eyes, not wanting to look directly at him.
She’d seen his bright blue eyes with tones of indigo near the edges when he was atop her on the floor of the kitchen.
They were truly spellbinding eyes, and she didn’t want to be drawn into them again.
Or did she? Sadly, after hearing what he said to Lark, part of her wanted him to say kind things about her, too.
Then again, what did any of it matter? He was only here temporarily.
After the tournament she’d probably never see him again.
“That flower in your hair,” he said, cocking his head and stretching his neck to see it. His sudden perusal of her made her feel warm inside. She wondered if he’d notice she was wearing rose water as well.
“What about the flower?” she asked, thinking he liked it. Mayhap it was a good idea that Lark suggested she wear it after all.
“There is a big ant crawling on it. May I kill it for you?” He reached up for it, but Raven pushed his hand away.
“Never mind. I’ll do it myself.” She ripped the flower from her hair and threw it to the ground, proceeding to stomp on it, crushing not only the ant but also the delicate petals.
When she looked back up, both Lark and Jonathon were staring at the ground with their mouths hanging open.
“I didn’t want to wear the stupid thing in the first place,” she said, with a sardonic smile.
Raven hurried off to the great hall, no longer wanting to be holding on to Jonathon’s arm when she entered the room.
She didn’t need a man’s assistance, and she certainly didn’t need a personal guard.
That became even more clear to her when she stepped into the great hall to see her father talking with two of the ugliest men she’d ever seen in her life.