Page 14 of Promises Made at Midnight
Ulrick. His name resounded inside her head, and she knew without any doubt she’d be safe with him if only she could find him. She needed to head back to the jousting field. Quickly turning, she didn’t expect someone directly behind her and she ran right smack dab into a man who was encased in metal chainmail. As she fell backwards, he grabbed at her arm before she ended up in the dirt.
With wavering legs, she was brought up against the knight and began to quickly disentangle herself from his embrace. He, on the other hand, tried his best to keep her near to his side. She gave him a push. “Thank you for saving me from landing on the ground but that’s as far as my gratitude is going, I’m afraid,” she said, through clenched teeth. Eyes peered at her through the slits of his helmet before he wrenched the iron from his head. He tossed back his hair to look at her fully with an appreciative stare.
“My lady,” he said, in an overly friendly tone.
She couldn’t believe who she was staring at. Would this man stop at nothing in his attempts to stalk her, no matter where she went? “Brad? What are you doing here?”
His brows furrowed before he looked behind him, perhaps wondering if she had been speaking to someone else. “My apologies if I startled you, my lady. I but offered my assistance so you did not harm yourself.”
“Brad?” she asked again.
“Nay. I do not know this Brad of whom you speak. I am Godfrey Hawkins, at your service,” he declared, with a short bow.
Her hand went to her forehead in confusion. Of course, it wasn’t Brad, but it sure could have been a version of him a few years younger. If it was true what people always said, that everyone had a twin walking the face of the planet, then surely she was looking at Brad’s doppelganger. The knight standing there, looking her up and down, was just as handsome as Brad and just as cocky, if the grin he had plastered on his face was any indication of the man’s true character. They were physically different but not by much. Godfrey had dark brown hair where Brad’s had been lighter, and Godfrey’s eyes were brown instead of green.
She was losing it… that’s all there was to it. She needed to find Ulrick fast. “I have to go,” she murmured, as she began to walk back toward the jousting area.
“You cannot go,” Godfrey said falling into step next to her, “not when you have not told me your name, fair lady.”
She barely acknowledged the compliment, considering she was obviously not playing a role anymore. And then she saw Ulrick up ahead of her as he pushed his way through the crowd to reach her. Good Lord, he was tall. He reminded her of a huge mountain, towering over everyone near him in his magnificence.
Bridgette picked up her pace to reach the one man she knew would help her. True, she didn’t know him, but he must be the reason she found herself in this crazy ass position of… well… whatever position she could call this that she was in!
The closer he came, the faster she began to run toward him, until she hurled herself into his waiting arms. She didn’t care that she was practically throwing herself at a complete stranger, but she needed him. He wrapped his arms around her as if he, too, had known they were supposed to be together. Her heart picked up its pace while her breathing quickened. Her whole body didn’t feel as though it was her own. Tingling currents raced through her veins, as if Ulrick was pouring his life force into her own. She sighed and his arms tightened around her, until a voice behind her interrupted.
“Sir Ulrick, I was not aware that you were acquainted with the lady,” Godfrey grunted, then began clearing his throat as if that would pull them apart.
Ulrick gazed down upon her before setting her on her feet. “You know Godfrey? Are you his kin?”
“We just met, and no, we’re not related,” Bridgette replied, and took hold of Ulrick’s hand. There was no way she was going to let go of him.
“Are you not jousting in the next meet, Godfrey?” Ulrick asked, bringing her closer to his side.
“Aye, that I am, but then I encountered this enchanting creature and but meant to follow her,” he answered, still gazing upon Bridgette like she was his next meal, or so it seemed in her mind. It made her uncomfortable, and she moved a step closer to Ulrick.
“Then you should head that way lest you miss the opportunity to show Lord Dristan you can remain seated on your horse.” Ulrick ordered. “Lady Bridgette is in my care.”
“Ah… Lady Bridgette… a pleasure, my lady, to at last be privy to your name,” Godfrey stated, with another bow, before taking his leave.
As Bridgette continued standing there, she began to uncontrollably shake. She reached out for Ulrick, who took her about the waist. “Oh God… where am I?” she whispered, before the world began its spinning once more. The last thing she remembered was Ulrick’s concerned voice calling out her name.
CHAPTER11
Ulrick crossed the dimly lit passageway floor for the hundredth time. The chamber Bridgette had been taken to remained off limits to him. Yet he persisted on staying near at hand, waiting for word from Kenna or Lady Amiria that Bridgette was well.
Go above to the parapetwhispered a voice inside his head, causing Ulrick to make haste up the turret. Opening the tower door, he climbed the stairs to the narrow walkway and waited. He did not stand there long before Rolf began to take shape to hover near him. His ghostly friend smiled and Ulrick returned the gesture.
“You have been busy again,” Ulrick surmised, assuming ’twas Rolf’s doing that Bridgette had arrived in Berwyck’s village by unconventional methods.
“Nay, not this time,” Rolf answered, his voice now reaching Ulrick’s ears instead of inside his mind. “I had nothing to do with your lady being brought here.
“You did not?”
“Nay. I did not want to meddle in people’s lives yet again. The feat took a lot out of me the last time. Almost a full fortnight was necessary for me to completely recover.”
“And yet Fletcher is thankful to you, all the same,” Ulrick said, knowing how pleased his friend was with his wife from a place not of this time.
“Aye… I suppose he is at that,” Rolf declared, with a smirk. “’Twas Amiria’s grandmother’s doing bringing Bridgette here.”
