An Uncertain Choice(58)

“Can you not remove the restraints?” I pleaded with Bartholomew, who stood next to Derrick.

Bartholomew hesitated, and from her chair in the corner Trudy clucked a loud warning.

“Please?” I gave my guard what I hoped was my most winsome smile. “How can he play chess with me if his hands are bound?”

For the first time Derrick seemed to notice the table next to me with the chessboard atop it. His eyes lit up and a grin played at the corners of his lips.

“I don’t want you to get in trouble, my lady,” my guard said, his kind eyes pleading with me to listen to reason.

“As much as I want to spend time with you, my lady,” Derrick said, “I agree with your guard. I don’t want you to bring any trouble to yourself.”

“Why would I get in trouble?” I asked, dismissing the abbot’s warning about my people trusting me to be a strong leader. “No one need know.”

Bartholomew studied his prisoner for a long moment.

“Please, Bartholomew.” I meant the words with all my heart. “If anyone else awakes, I give you my permission to take Sir Derrick back immediately.”

“But Abbot Francis Michael told us he would flay us alive if the prisoner escaped.”

The harshness of the abbot’s stipulation took me by surprise. Why would the abbot say such a thing? He wasn’t in charge of my servants. “Surely he was jesting,” I started, although I’d never known the abbot to say anything he hadn’t meant.

“If I’d wanted to escape, I would have done so by now,” Derrick added. “But if it makes you feel better, then why don’t you chain my legs instead of my hands?”

With both of our reassurances, Bartholomew relented. And in a matter of minutes Derrick was sitting across the table from me, his legs chained beneath him but his hands free. Bartholomew stood only a few feet away, and Trudy had settled in her chair nearby. Even so, I perched on the edge of my seat, nervous and excited to spend time with Derrick again.

Pup sat by Derrick’s side, his tongue lolling from his mouth, his adoring eyes beaming up at the knight. I could only smile at the dog’s devotion to the man. “I see you still claim Pup’s undying affection.”

Derrick ran his fingers through the dog’s thick white fur. “If only I might say the same of you.” Although his words were playful, there was something in the depths of his eyes that took my breath away.

Under his scrutiny, I ducked my head and waved at the chess game spread out between us. “I decided I must see for myself what kind of chess player you really are.”

“Oh, I see.” His tone hinted at humor. “You hoped that in my vulnerable state you might discover my secrets of success at chess.”

“Why, sir.” I sat up in surprise. “I thought I was the one with the secrets regarding chess. And that you were in need of my tutelage?”

A crooked grin tugged at one corner of his mouth. “I guess we shall have to see who is in need of whose tutelage.”

“I’ve witnessed the recklessness of your playing.” I leaned forward. “And I have no doubt you are in need of my help.”

“I’ve no doubt, either.” His voice dipped for my ears alone. “I am most certainly in need of you.”

A thrill spread rapidly through me all the way to my toes and fingers. I didn’t dare meet his gaze. Instead, I focused on the chessboard and moved my first piece, my knight.

What could he mean? Did he think there was hope for us after all?

With only four days left and with only the chance of secret meetings, even if we cared for one another, how could we manage to arrange a marriage?

He moved one of his pawns, then sprawled back in his chair and scratched behind Pup’s ear.

I studied the board, trying to anticipate Derrick’s strategy and where he might move next. I was thankful my old tutor had enjoyed playing chess with me over the years and that he’d taught me all he’d known. After several minutes of analyzing the various possibilities, I finally moved one of my pawns.

Derrick responded without any thought, swung his horse into an L, and took my pawn.

“That was too quick.”

He grinned in response and sat back.

I peered at his pieces, attempting to determine why he’d taken my pawn and what moves he might be planning next. “Have you no strategy, sir?”


“I have no need for any.”

“Then you won’t make it far against those who do.” I positioned another pawn in a place where I could tempt him into taking it so that I might then kill his rook.

He fell prey to my tactic, and with a smile I swiped the piece.

“You’re quite skilled, my lady.”

“Thank you.” I placed his piece in front of me. “Instead of merely reacting, perhaps you’d be wiser if you took the time to think through each move.”

“I’ve never had reason to think ahead.” Once again he moved a piece haphazardly and then focused on Pup and rubbed his neck.

“It’s never too late to start.” Somehow I had the feeling we weren’t talking about chess anymore. And when the warmth of his gaze fell back upon me, I couldn’t keep from shifting my attention away from the board and onto him.

“What will you do with your future?” I asked with a boldness that came out of need. “That is, after the duke returns and wins your freedom?”