Page 26 of Knight of Darkness
Leaning forward, her words almost broke Wymar’s vow to behave as a gentleman. “We arenotlovers,” she murmured in his ear so no other could overhear their conversation.
He gave a small chuckle. “Mayhap not as yet but who knows what the future may hold for us.”
A laugh escaped her. “There is nous, Norwood, and you best get used to the idea that there never will be.”
He ran a finger down her cheek and her eyes widened in surprise. “We shall see…”
Ceridwen continued to stare upon him until she gave a heavy sigh. “There is nothing to see, Norwood,” she proclaimed. “I have responsibilities once I return home to Norwich.”
“I suppose that means getting married and raising a family as any dutiful daughter would be expected to do.” Wymar took a sip of his wine, but it tasted sour on his tone as he thought of some unknown man claiming the fair maiden as his own.
A snort left her. “Dutiful… if I had been dutiful, I would have adhered to my father’s dictate and never left Norwich in the first place but aye… I am expected to marry… someone.”
“Then your sire has not pledged a particular knight for you to wed? Someone of noble birth and with enough coins to fill his coffers so that you need not worry for the rest of your days?” he asked whilst waiting for her answer. Was she already spoken for?
Another laugh that sounded strained left her lips. “Oh, he has someone in mind, but I refuse to marry the lout. Better to remain unwed than to marry someone of that caliber. Besides, I care not how much the man I marry has in his coffers, only that we can find a common accord. I have enough of my own wealth to see me through all the rest of my days. If I am lucky once I wed, I will learn to care for the man.”
“Mayhap you will find someone who might win your favor,” he said wondering if somehow she might consider his suit if he had his title and lands restored to him.God’s Blood!Where had such a thought come from? He watched as one delicate brow lifted and a small smile crept across those lips he would love to kiss.
“Like you?” she inquired in a breathy whisper.
A roguish grin slipped across his mouth. “We shall see…” he repeated his words from but moments ago.
“Ceridwen…” Her captain’s voice saying her name as if in warning penetrated the moment Wymar and the lady had been sharing.
She sat back in her place at the table to distance herself from him. Wymar could not miss the brief flash of disappointment that their banter had been interrupted.
“I confess to still wanting to know what you were discussing earlier with my captain,” she said, avoiding his eyes as she changed the subject. “I expected you both to burst out into a brawl at any moment. I have not seen Arthur frown in such a fierce manner in many a year. What did you say to him?” She took a piece of meat and began to chew as she waited for his answer. She swallowed but continued to watch him intently. “Well?”
“He is concerned for you. Since he is your captain I would expect nothing less of the man.”
“He is very protective of me and has seen to my well-being for many a year now. ’Twas not his choice to go to war and yet he followed me all the same.”
“You must trust him if he sleeps at the entrance of your tent,” he stated with a sideways glance at Arthur. Maybe there was more to this than just captain to his lady. “Or is he your lover?” he burst out but immediately regretted his words the instant they left his mouth. Had they not just been talking about her needing to wed? Surely if the captain was her chosen, she would have said as much. Besides, he was certain she was still a maiden. There was an innocence about her in many ways even though she also appeared experienced considering the way she flirted with him.
Her cup rattled upon the table and her lips pressed together to apparently calm herself before she spoke. “How dare you ask me such a question,” she fumed.
“’Tis a natural assumption…”
“…and none of your damned business!”
“’Tis no reason to be so defensive,” Wymar said watching her lips press together. “As you just stated, ’tis none of my business who you take to your bed.”
“You filthy minded cur! I should call you out for speaking to me thusly.” Her low tone held a warning that Wymar could not miss.
“I am at your leisure if you feel you can best me, my lady.” Seeing Ceridwen angry made something stir within him but such a feeling had nothing to do with fighting with a blade of steel but more with what was growing between his legs.
“On the morrow then, with the rising of the sun.” She drained her cup and rose. She started to leave but changed her mind and turned back toward him. Hands resting upon the edge of the table, she peered down upon him with the fiercest scowl he had ever seen upon a woman.
“Somehow I was expecting more of you then to speak to me as you have. Although I should not have to clarify anything to you, my captain sleeping at the entrance to my tent was only a means of keeping me safe. What a disappointment you turned out to be.”
Turning upon her heels, she marched up the stairs with Arthur following in her wake. Laugher rang out in the tavern as men began making wagers on who would be the winner of the battle of wills between Wymar and Ceridwen. He scowled at his brothers whilst they, too, placed their bets. He only prayed he would be able to save face come the morn.
Chapter Fourteen
He had tobe the biggest fool in all of Christendom! Wymar left his tent, tracing his way on foot back to the inn. He should have gone after her immediately instead of waiting for hours to offer some form of an apology but instead he had allowed her to storm off in a huff. It did not truly matter to him if her captain was her lover, but he supposed he should not have voiced his thoughts aloud whilst they supped. ’Twas apparent he spent too much time in the company of men of late than to remember his manners in front of a woman.
He had held such high hopes for their evening together and he ended up making a mess of things by insulting her. Such had not been his intention. How sharing a trencher with her this night had turned into a duel in the morn was still beyond his ability to comprehend. On some level, he enjoyed verbally sparing with her and looked forward to seeing how accomplished she was with a sword in hand. Considering the amount of boasting she did by saying she could beat him would prove interesting if nothing else.
