Page 24 of Promises Made at Midnight
Her hair had been braided. One of the young girls, who had performed such a labor of love to tame her tresses, had woven flowers and matching blue ribbons into it. A golden chain hung low on her hips and at the end of the metal’s length a blue stone winked at her from the firelight of the chamber. She felt like a medieval princess waiting for her handsome prince. Surely, she wasn’t too far off the mark, knowing one knight in particular was waiting for her downstairs.
Guessing it was about the right hour for dinner, or the evening meal, Bridgette gave her hair one final pat and exited the chamber. Looking both ways into the passageway, she headed toward the turret stairs but halted with a sudden premonition. She turned back in the direction of her room and caught the slightest glimpse of Amiria’s grandmother waving her on, as if she approved of Bridgette’s attire, before she disappeared once more. If the woman ever fully showed herself to her again, she would have a lot of questions for her.
All in good time, dearie. All in good time.The voice of the lady of her musings popped into her head, causing Bridgette to stumble. She wasn’t at all sure she would get used to that happening. Before she changed her mind and ran like a scared rabbit back to her room, she descended the circular stairs to see none other than Ulrick waiting at the bottom step. His back was to her while he watched those gathering inside the hall. Quietly, she snuck up on him but remained on the second to last stair to give her some height while she covered his eyes from behind.
“Guess who?” she whispered into his ear and felt a rush of excitement when those strange little currents rushed between them. She hadn’t meant to get that close to him, knowing ladies didn’t just throw themselves at men in this age, but all the same her chest came in contact with his back when he took hold of her arms. There was no mistaking the connection between them, especially when he didn’t have his chainmail on. She could feel and sense everything about him when he turned, including the warmth that shot up her body like a fiery shooting star to explode high up in the heavens. Her heart flipped, since the stairs allowed her to remain eye level with her knight.My God, he is so handsome, she thought trying to slow down her heart rate. She failed.
His gaze told her he was perplexed by the game she played that he clearly didn’t understand. Vivid blue eyes met green, and if this was the last moment she would be standing in the twelfth century, she would remember this very instant for the rest of her life. Nothing prepared her for the emotions sweeping through her like the wildest of hurricanes. Fear of the unknown pleasantly mixed with a measure of certainty that she could search the world a hundred times and more, and still know within her heart that she belonged with this man no matter the time he lived in.
And still they held their silence as they searched and saw into one another’s souls. Surely it was there for all to see that love, if they allowed it into their hearts, would envelop them like a secure cocoon and entwine their fates together. Ulrick was so close, Bridgette wanted to throw herself into his arms and kiss him, although she was sure that would have shocked him clear down to his very medieval boots.
“Glad tidings to you,mademoiselle,” Ulrick murmured. The deep husky baritone of his voice caused Bridgette’s skin to rise up with goose bumps.
“Good evening to you, Ulrick,” Bridgette replied, with a hushed whisper. She was almost certain that any longer response might cause her to become tongue tied and she didn’t want to appear like a simpleton or some lovestruck schoolgirl. She wasn’t sure how she’d ever get through supper with him looking at her in such a heated fashion.
A catcall from someone in the hall broke the spell between them and Ulrick cleared his throat before taking a step back, finally showing his normally gruff exterior. “Shall we sup?” he asked extending his arm for her to take.
“Yes, of course,” she answered, with a small smile. She placed her hand upon his, and they began making their way into the hall with the others who were already present and heavy into their conversations and cups.
So, this was how it felt to be a lady and have one of the most handsome men she had ever met give his fullest attention only to her. Bridgette was glowing from the sheer thrill of being on his arm as if she, instead of anyone else, was a woman to be treasured. She witnessed some of Amiria’s ladies begin to whisper and she wondered which one of them fancied herself in love with Ulrick. After another brief glance in their direction, Bridgette came to the conclusion that it was a blonde. If the woman’s gaze shot daggers, they’d be aimed straight into her heart... or back. She didn’t recall the woman’s name, but apparently they wouldn’t be friends anytime soon.
They came before the main table that seated Dristan, Amiria, and his personal guardsmen. Bridgette dropped down into a deep curtsey at the same time Ulrick offered them a knightly bow. Dristan waved them to their place at the table, while a rush of conversation suddenly picked up speed as the food began to arrive. After Ulrick helped her with her chair, she once more took in each and every detail of the progression of the meal being served before the hungry knights and ladies dining at the lower tables. It was an impressive sight to see so much food arriving, and, at almost the same time, beginning to be consumed by the men with a gusto not seen in her time. Apparently, the saying“no one is going to take your food away from you”didn’t apply here. Best to grab what you could before it was gone, although it appeared there was a never-ending supply of game that continued to be brought forth from the kitchens.
Bridgette at last turned her attention to the trencher that was being piled high with an assortment of beef, venison, fish and what could possibly be turnips. It smelled heavenly and maybe she could understand the men’s appetites, for she herself had worked up a hunger with her swordplay today. She only worried what Ulrick would say about the gloves she wore. As if sensing her mood and thought, he waited for her to begin eating before he partook of even a morsel.
She reached for a two-prong fork set on the table and stabbed at a piece of turnip, hoping it didn’t drop in her lap before it reached her mouth. It wasn’t that she wasn’t skilled with the utensil, it was just that it was hard for her to hold anything in her hands because of the blisters from her carelessness earlier in the day. She should have quit with her attempts to learn how to swing a sword with Ulrick, but she couldn’t resist staying with him as along as he allowed her on the lists.
She managed to take a bite of food but Ulrick continued to intently watch her, and she knew he had to be hungry since she heard his stomach rumble in protest that he wasn’t eating.
“Is something wrong?” she asked knowing what was about to come.
“Aye,” he said gruffly holding out his hand for her to take. “Let me assess what damage you have done this day.”
“What damage?” she asked shyly, afraid of the roar that would surely shake the rafters once he got a good look at her injuries.
She swore a growl of outrage came from his lips. “Do not play games with me, my lady. You know that of which I speak. Now let me see your hands,” he answered, brooking no disobedience to his order.
With a heavy sigh, Bridgette began to take off the gloves, but he would have none of it and began to gently peel off the leather. He swore at the bandages before lifting one of the edges to peer beneath. “Have you no sense, woman? You should have stopped our training earlier, before your poor fingers and palms came to such a state.”
“Don’t be angry with me, Ulrick,” she said warily. “I was having fun and didn’t want to stop.”
“Next time, you will listen to me and concede when I say you have done enough for the day.”
“I was trying to impress you,” she blurted and could feel the blush rushing to her cheeks. Good Lord, it was like an inferno in this room. Ulrick continued his administrations, gently putting her gloves back over her fingertips.
He smoothed his thumb across the top of her hand before raising it to his lips. Never once breaking eye contact, he at last answered her. “You did…”
And with those two small words, she was lost…
CHAPTER17
Ulrick sat back in his chair and continued perusing the fair maiden seated next to him whilst the evening meal approached its end. He was surprised how well Bridgette had adjusted to being in his world, considering the centuries between her own and the one she now faced. Over eight hundred years was a vast amount of time, but she acted as if she had been born and raised here.
Her banter was infectious, her wit had him laughing as hard as the rest of those seated near enough to hear her words, which included the lord and lady of Berwyck. Aye, if a friendship was in the making, then Lady Amiria and Lady Bridgette were to become true sisters of the heart.
Ulrick was not sure if such an anomaly was good or bad, not that he would ever gainsay his liege’s lady. Amiria was headstrong, sometimes stubborn to a fault, but also one of the kindest women Ulrick had ever met. He had a feeling Bridgette would be of the same ilk… God help him.
Before long, the tables began to be cleared and the castle’s minstrels started to tune their instruments. He was about to ask Bridgette if she would like to dance when Godfrey bowed before them extending his hand toward the lady.
