An Uncertain Choice(41)

I pointed the scarf toward Sir Derrick — ?or at least I believed it to be him. “Sir, this is for you.”

As the red dragon knight bowed upon his steed, the townspeople erupted into clapping and cheering. The knight spurred his horse toward me, pulling it alongside the tent in front of where I stood. I had to bend to hand him the scarf, and as I did so I caught a glimpse of gray eyes through the slit in his helmet.

It was indeed Sir Derrick.

The intensity in his eyes sent a shimmer of anticipation through my chest and into my heart.

He reached for the scarf, but for an instant I clung to it, suddenly needing to do something more that would let him know my favor went deeper than mere gratefulness for his daring deed with the criminals in the marketplace.

The advice of the women rushed back through my mind. This was neither the place nor the time to begin a conversation with him or ask him questions. But I could smile at him, couldn’t I? And compliment him?

“I wish you well today,” I whispered, giving him what I hoped was my prettiest smile. “I’m sure you’ll be glorious.”

When I released my grip on the scarf, he didn’t budge. Instead he leaned in closer. “And when I win the tournament, my lady, what shall you bestow upon me then?”

“What will make you happy, sir?” I repeated the words I’d spoken to him that day in town when he’d accompanied me with my deliveries to the poor.

His eyes crinkled at the corners, the sign of his smile and his remembrance of the question I’d asked. “I shall think on it.”

“Then I’ll be anxiously awaiting your answer.”

His gaze dropped to my lips. His eyes darkened, and the crinkles disappeared. “Perhaps I’ll lay claim to my reward at the day’s end.”

My heart gave an unexpected flip. I didn’t know quite what to make of his words, except that perhaps he might claim a kiss from me.

He started to back away. I couldn’t let him ride away without encouraging him further. “If you wish to lay claim, sir, then make sure you win.”

The crinkles returned to his eyes and merriment danced to life there. He said nothing more as he rode away. But he lifted my scarf high into the air toward the townspeople, earning more cheers and whistles.




My spirit stayed high the rest of the day. I found myself enjoying the company of the other ladies, even if their banter was inconsequential and about matters that hardly interested me. As the day progressed and my servants brought me news that the poisoned nobleman still lived and was recovering, I found myself appreciating the tournament even more.

The knights took turns charging at each other, gradually eliminating all but the best. Of course, the three noble knights were among the men left unseated for the final rounds. Yet, I was more than a little relieved when Sir Collin and Sir Bennet were finally bested, leaving Sir Derrick in the last joust of the day with one of the other noblemen. How would I have chosen whom to cheer for without stirring more angst between them? I supposed it was inevitable that I would have to single one of them out for more attention. If I was to have any chance of getting married in less than two weeks, I couldn’t dawdle in making a decision. And that meant narrowing down the prospects to one.

Was Sir Derrick that one? Even though he didn’t choose to be?

Throughout the day, I’d learned that Sir Derrick had apparently already gained a reputation throughout the realm for his jousting skills. Even so, I couldn’t mask my nervousness when he took his place at the end of the long list and positioned his lance in one arm for the charge.

The herald finished recounting their great deeds and then sounded the trumpet. The loud blare pushed me to the edge of my chair, and I gripped the armrests until my knuckles turned white.

Sir Derrick dug his spurs into his warhorse and jolted forward. Dust from the hot afternoon swirled around the horse’s thundering hooves. Sir Derrick picked up momentum, aiming his lance at the crest of his opponent’s shield. The other knight had done likewise, and they galloped at full speed toward one another.

My fear rose, almost as palpable as the stench of horseflesh and sweat.

Sir Derrick rode straight and tall, the tail of my scarf gliding in the wind from his helmet, where he’d tied it. The strength in his arm didn’t waver. His lance was unswerving. The power of his body matched that of his beast.

Even so, I had to keep from closing my eyes in a grimace at the moment of impact between the two knights. Their lances cracked against each other’s shields with deafening booms. The impact jarred both of them, and Sir Derrick struggled to stay atop his horse, gripping the beast with his thighs and righting himself just in time. But his opponent was not so fortunate. He wobbled and then slipped off, falling to the ground with a thud that surely knocked the wind from him.

My breath whooshed out too — ?containing more relief than I’d realized.

The crowd broke into wild cheering. Sir Derrick had been their favorite all day, just as he’d been mine, even though I’d done my best to cheer all the knights equally.

When he reached the other end of the list and reined his horse, he turned. At the sight of his opponent still on the ground, unmoving, Sir Derrick spurred his horse back toward the knight, jumped off, tore of his helmet, and threw himself on the ground next to the man. He’d already loosened the man’s headgear by the time the squires reached their master.