Page 34 of Promises Made at Midnight
Ulrick bent down so she could lift the heavy chainmail over his head. It fell into place with thechink, chinkof the links. She went on to fasten the leather straps attached to steel plates over other various parts of his body until he was ready to leave. She went over to retrieve his sword, which he pushed into the scabbard at this side.
“Shall we go?” she asked with a slight smile, as though she was attempting to be brave.
“Aye, but we should say our farewells to one another here in the privacy of my chamber. I would not wish to tarnish your good name if I kiss you senseless in front of others.” He pulled her into his arms and brushed his mouth over hers as if this might be the last time they would ever kiss again. ’Twas always a possibility. One never knew if one would survive or not in a battle.
When he went to his door and opened it, his squire was there about to knock. Seeing Ulrick already outfitted for war, the lad mumbled an apology.
“Go see to my horse,” he ordered watching him depart before holding out his hand as Bridgette linked her fingers through his own. They stood silently in the passageway, her concern outlined and reflected in green eyes.
Hands on hips, she turned to face him. “What do you mean, farewell? I’m coming with you, Ulrick,” she fumed. “I’m not some frail female who cannot take care of herself. Surely, you’ve seen this for yourself on the lists during my training.”
“Training with Amiria is completely different than actually going into battle,” he warned.
“I am more than prepared to defend myself.”
He threw his hands up in the air in frustration. “And to kill? Are you truly ready to take a man’s life?”
Her face paled and he knew he had his answer. “Bridgette, you must stay here. For your own safety.” Ulrick said, as he placed his hand behind her head. Leaning down he kissed her cheek before he touched his forehead to her own.
She took a step back and jutted her chin out in defiance. “I will not stay behind. I already told you that I’m not great at taking orders,” she said, stamping her foot to make her point.
Ulrick smiled. “Aye you have said as much, but your welfare is of the utmost concern to me. I do not know what I would do if something were to happen to you.”
“I think the same of you. If something were to happen to you in battle, how would I ever know?”
“Bridgette—”
She put her hand on his lips to interrupt him. “I will stay by your side. No matter what. I will ride into battle by your side, defeat the enemy for you if I must. I will not be an easy person to lose so quickly.”
He kissed her lips. “I admire your determination to remain at my side but in this I must insist you remain at Berwyck. You will obey my orders. This is not open for discussion,” he warned. “I must leave…”
“But Ulrick—”
He kissed her once more before crushing her into his embrace. “Wait for me,mon amour,” he whispered his words of love before doing the unthinkable of asking her to come with him. He turned to leave and found his liege lord scowling nearby.
Dristan stepped forward to stand eye to eye with Ulrick. “You and I must needs have a discussion on what the two of you have been doing, once we return to Berwyck. I am not pleased,” he warned, before turning toward the turret stairs. “Let us away, Ulrick.”
Ulrick gave one last look upon his lady, gave her a brief nod, and left. He had no other option. He would deal with the consequences of his actions with Dristan’s ward upon their return.
* * *
Bridgette took a step forward then stopped in her urge to follow Ulrick. There was no doubt in her mind that Dristan had observed their kiss. He was furious but obviously had more important matters on his mind than reprimanding them for their behavior. She shouldn’t be worried. She was a grown woman, after all. But knowing she was no longer in modern times and clearly failing in her efforts to fit in made their situation precarious as best. She could almost feel the Dragon of Berwyck’s fire breathing down her neck on his return. She shivered, even while she caught the last glimpse of Ulrick as he went down the turret stairs. He never once looked back.
How could he just leave her like that? Didn’t he know how worried she would be if she couldn’t be near him in case he needed her? A moment of doubt clouded her vision as to her ability to actually lift a sword to kill another human being. But if it was a life-or-death situation she was more than capable of defending herself, and him!
“Ye should follow him, dearie,”a woman’s voice came inside her head, encouraging her to listen to her instincts and do just that.
“He’ll be mad as hell that I defied him,” Bridgette answered when Amiria’s grandmother appeared in a ghostly vapor. She gave a small curtsey to the older woman. “Hello, Lady Maya.”
She gave Bridgette a smile. “So ye know who I am.”
“I do,” Bridgette said knowingly.
“Then ye should do as yer told and follow Sir Ulrick.”
“He asked me to wait for him.”
“But ye are a woman who does as she pleases, or so I thought,” Maya replied, her brow arched waiting for Bridgette to reply.
