Page 33 of Quest for her Knights
The large dining room is beautiful and looks right out of the Victorian era. A long wooden table is covered with an array of food and four men sit around one end. Leaving the other dozen or so seats vacant.
The lords immediately stand as I enter. My eyes roam over them with interest. This was my first official meeting, and I wanted to make a good impression. I’m pleased to see they’re all decent looking, with brown hair of varying lengths, and green eyes.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Princess Elora. Welcome to our home,” the first man says as he moves forward to greet me. I suddenly realize I have no idea how I’m supposed to greet them.
Do we hug? Shake hands? Fist bump? My wide eyes meet Ranger’s and he gives his head a small shake, which I take tomeandon’t do anything, so I just stand there as the man stops five feet in front of me and bows.
“I am Archie Carmichael, and these are my brothers, Byron, Cameron and Donald,” he says, pointing to each of the three men who have come to stand with him, each giving me a bow when their name is announced.
“It’s so nice to meet you all, thank you for having us in your home.”
“Of course, would you like to take a seat and enjoy some lunch with us? I’m sure your journey has been tiring,” Byron says, motioning to the table. They seem nice and welcoming, so I gave him a smile as I nod and move to the table.
Cameron pulls out the seat at the head of the table for me and I thank him as he pushes my chair in. They take the seats on either side of me, facing each other and as I watch them, I start to grow nervous.
Glancing up, I look for my knights and find them standing around the room, along with some other men who also look like guards. Were they not joining us? I open my mouth to ask, but Ranger must have known what the confused look on my face was as he shakes his head quickly, making my jaw snap shut.
I turn my attention back to the lords as they ask what I’d like to eat, then place food on my plate. It’s sweet and makes me relax a little. I could do this. It was a first date with four lords, so what? I’d had plenty of first dates before.
We start eating and an uncomfortable silence starts to surround us. The only sounds are of our cutlery hitting the plates. My eyes take in the lords, who are all staring at their plates like they’re the most interesting thing in the room.
Maybe they’re just as nervous as I am? When the silence becomes more than I can bear, I decide to speak. “So, tell me about yourselves,” I say, gaining me four sets of surprised eyes.
“Us?” Cameron asks.
“Yes,” I reply, wondering why they seem confused at that question. “Tell me what you do with your time.”
“Well,” Archie starts, “We watch over the surrounding lands and make sure everyone is acting in a peaceful manner. We help in any ways we are able, or offer solutions to help the betterment of their land.” Well, that sounded… nice of them.
“Oh, I see, and what do you do for fun?”
“For fun?” Donald asks before taking a bite of his mashed potatoes.
“Yeah, like when you aren’t… overseeing the lands, what do you do?” I notice them all share a quick nervous look before their expressions relax.
“We all enjoy playing instruments. Donald and I play the lute, Cameron plays the violin, and Byron plays the flute.”
“Oh wow, you’re like a family band!” I say with a smile, which causes them to frown. Right, they wouldn’t know what a band is, or perhaps it has a different meaning here. “A familyorchestra,” I correct myself. “Do you play together often?” I ask, hoping to change the subject.
“Sometimes, yes.”
“I’d love to hear you sometime,” I say, batting my eyelashes at Archie. This is a first date, right? I’m supposed to flirt a little. But I can’t stop my eyes from darting to Arrow and Ranger, who are standing beside each other in my direct line of sight. Arrow is frowning at me, and I see Ranger’s hands clench into fists.
Why is he upset? Did I do something wrong?
“We could play something for you after lunch, if you like?” Cameron offers, bringing my attention back to him.
“That would be wonderful! Thank you, Cameron,” I say with a soft smile. He gives me a tight-lipped one in return before turning back to his plate.
“So what does the Princess of the North do for fun?” Byron asks from where he sits to my right.
“I love to read, and I love making my own clothes. I mean… ordering my own clothes.” God, I sound like a rich twat. What do princesses do with their time?Stare at handsome knights while fanning themselves?
“That sounds nice,” Byron says, a little too politely.
“Does it?” I laugh. “It sounds boring, even to me.”
“And playing the flute sounds so exciting?” he asks with a raised eyebrow, making me smile.
