Page 12 of Promises Made at Midnight
Bridgette’s brow furrowed. Who performed at a renaissance fair and didn’t know who Queen Elizabeth was? “You’re joking?” she asked, and saw it was his turn to lift his brow in question. “Jesting?”
“Ah. Nay, I was not jesting with you. You must be from abroad,” Ulrick assumed. “Mayhap we should have speech with Lord Dristan to ensure there is no mistaking the King’s arrival. I would not want His Majesty to think I offended him and must forfeit what little lands I possess. Dunster Castle is not as large an estate as Berwyck but ’tis mine just the same.”
Sir Ulrick offered his arm to her. She stood and hesitantly slid her fingers into the crook of his elbow. She was surprised when her fingertips began to shiver. She could feel the muscles beneath her hand.How many hours did this guy spend in the gym to get his body in the condition it was in?She raised her head and for the first time stared directly into his eyes. They were as blue as the clear sky above her and Bridgette almost lost her breath.
“Lead on, Sir Ulrick,” she declared brightly. She couldn’t wait for Megan to see her being escorted about by this flat-out gorgeous knight. Her friend was going to be pea green with envy.
As they began to make their way from the area, Bridgette’s steps faltered when she looked over her shoulder. Ulrick tightened his grip to steady her. She did a double take to peer at the place the granite statue of her knight should be. Instead, she only saw a very rudimentary stone well.
CHAPTER9
Ulrick escorted the Lady Bridgette back toward the festivities. He tried not to stare but ’twas difficult when the woman next to him was one of the most beautiful women he had ever encountered. High cheekbones with a straight nose framed a face with clear skin and a neck as graceful as a swan. Her dark green eyes rivaled the brilliance of the leaves of a forest after the rain and her face was so beautiful it must make the angels weep in heaven.
He dared not look lower, and yet how could he not when he could see the creamy soft mounds of her breasts pushed up so the fabric of her dress barely covered her nipples. A jeweled necklace, surely costly, hung from her neck with the largest bauble nestled in her cleavage, tempting him even further. Her purple gown must be in the height of fashion somewhere abroad for, although similar to others he had seen women wearing at court, ’twas still… different… Not that he was an expert on what frippery women wore these days. Generally, Ulrick was more concerned about the treasure that awaited him beneath their gowns than anything else.
They approached the center of the village when Lady Bridgette came to a sudden halt. Her hand trembled whilst her fingertips clutched roughly to the fabric of his tunic.
“I don’t remember this part of the fair,” she whispered in concern, “and I was paying close attention to the orientation speaker.”
“What speaker?” he asked, confused not only by the pattern of her speech but also what she thought was so unusual about what was before her.
She ignored his question but looked up at him with a frown. “It looks so… real.”
Ulrick was unsure how to answer her and began to wonder if perchance she sustained a bump to her head that had addled her wits when she fell. Mayhap he should seek out Kenna, Berwyck’s healer, and see if she could find out what was ailing the Lady Bridgette.
Before he could mention assisting her to the castle, she began tugging on his arm and pointing in the direction of a cleared field. A raised platform had been constructed for Dristan, Amiria, and those within their party so they might take their ease beneath the shade of an awning. Dristan’s standard, depicting a fire-breathing dragon, flew high above upon towering poles.
“Jousting? I don’t remember that on the program. Can we go watch?” Bridgette exclaimed, with renewed excitement, “that is, if you’d like to go with me. You may have other plans for the day.”
“I cannot in all good conscience leave a woman unattended. I will accompany you, my lady, until you are reunited with those in your party,” Ulrick answered, knowing he must needs perform his duty to the woman.
“Awesome!” she exclaimed rather loudly, before covering her mouth. “Damn… sorry about that. I’ll try to get myself back into character, I promise.”
Ulrick shook his head, more concerned than ever the longer he heard her strange speech. There was surely something wrong with Lady Bridgette. He peered at her an instant before they began to make their way across the field. Her eyes were lit with excitement at the sight of the tourney, clearly proving the woman was of a normal mind. He ignored the small nagging voice in his head and the odd premonition that another one of those future women had landed in his arms but a short while ago.
Lady Bridgette began ushering him to where the crowd had gathered to watch the competition as best as they could, but he would not see a lady of worth standing next to the common people of the village. He began escorting her to the platform where he could see his liege lord and his guards already seated.
“Come this way, my lady,” Ulrick urged, taking her elbow and guiding her in the direction of his usual seat.
“But we can’t go up there,” she whispered. “I can see for myself that it’s reserved for a knight of honor, considering his standard flies overhead. Since I don’t recognize the flag, I can’t in all good conscience barge in on another guild.”
“Aye, we can. I am one of the personal guards of Dristan of Berwyck, and I assure you my place, and yours as my guest, is near his side.”
“Well… if you’re sure.”
“I am.”
Ulrick held out his hand and he watched her come to her own decision. As she grasped his outstretch limb, a tingling sensation shivered up his entire arm and down the back of his spine. He knew she felt it too, when her eyes widened to stare up at him with wonder.
“Did you feel that?” she asked, not attempting to hide her shock.
“Aye,” Ulrick replied, not capable of giving any further comment as he, too, was just as surprised at the phenomenon that had occurred between them.
“What does it mean?”
“I have no idea, my lady,” he replied, as they continued to stare one to the other. Any further conversation was halted when he heard his name called. “My liege lord calls to me. Come with me and I will present you.”
They came to stand before Dristan and Amiria. Ulrick bowed and he watched Lady Bridgette perform a curtsey.
