Gisela laughed at the directness of the question.
“Kirstyn would be embarrassed at me asking you that. Forgive me, but I am always saying too much and asking too many questions.” Margaretha clasped her hands and her eyes rolled as if in ecstatic joy. “We will not speak of anything too embarrassing,” she went on, lowering her voice. “But I must say that I’ve never seen him look at anyone the way he looked at you tonight. And he was once betrothed — but that was a strange situation, and I don’t have time to tell you about that. It was only for a short time. At least, she was only here for about two days before we found out that she was in love with my other brother—but you don’t want to hear about that. Anyway, you must be completely exhausted. I confess I’m quite tired myself, and I didn’t dance for two hours! You will sleep in my chamber with me. Kirstyn and Adela will probably already be asleep when we get there, so we should be quiet. I have a nightdress for you to sleep in.”
Gisela did her best to keep up with what Margaretha was saying as they climbed the steps and made their way to Margaretha’s chamber. She got ready for bed and gratefully slipped in beside Valten’s sister, who was soon breathing evenly.
Gisela lay awake reliving the banquet. She closed her eyes, seeing Valten’s face hovering above her, the way he’d looked at her when they danced, and the way his lips felt on her hand. She let out a long breath, a tear of happiness squeezing from the corner of her eye. What a wonderful night. To think that Valten would choose her as the Queen of Beauty and Love. It was all too wonderful: the dancing, the looks, and the kiss. And tomorrow she would see him again, even if it was only from afar.
His words echoed in her memory, the way he had talked to her at the banquet, asking her where she would go and whether she had a brother, telling her he didn’t like the way Evfemia treated her. His face was etched on her eyelids as she drifted to sleep.
Chapter
10
Valten had never enjoyed a banquet so much in his life. As he readied himself the next morning, instead of meditating on the day’s tournament battles, his mind kept going back to Gisela.
He had surprised himself again at how much he liked talking with her. He may not be as smooth-tongued as his brother Gabe, but Gisela also seemed to like talking to him. The night was full of surprises, as he had not expected to ask her to dance, or, when it was time to say good night, to kiss her hand.
Her skin was so soft and her smile so sweet. Even surrounded by such a great crowd of people, he’d considered giving her a real kiss.
Strange that he could be thinking such a thing when he had only spoken to her once before yesterday. Either he was going daft, or there was something special about her. She seemed to understand how he felt about wanting to do something that mattered.
He wished he had made her promise to come to the ball and be his partner, even if he lost today.
He was no good with women. He never knew what was proper. If he was able to talk to her at the tournament, and if she talked to him at the ball tomorrow night, would it be too soon to kiss her on the cheek? At the banquet, had he exhausted her too much with all that dancing? Would she rather have sat and talked? He was so inexperienced it made him unsure of himself, which was irritating. He was never unsure of himself.
Valten was desperate enough to wish Gabe was here so he could ask his advice.
He grunted, making his squire hurry over. “What do you need, my lord?”
“Fetch me some fresh water.”
Hugo left quickly, closing the chamber door behind him.
Valten didn’t need more water, but he wanted to be alone for a few minutes. He sat down and began eating the breakfast that had been brought up to him. In spite of his unwelcome shyness toward Gisela, he felt oddly energized this morning after getting less rest than he liked before a day of combat. But Gisela had been worth losing sleep over. She danced as if nothing had ever made her so happy. She smiled as if it was only for him. He hoped those smiles meant she liked him, because he hoped to dance only with her at the ball tomorrow night.
But for today, he would ready himself for his battles. Above all, he must not injure himself too badly to dance. The time he had broken his leg had proved disastrous, as far as getting a wife.