The truth was, he had no experience with women. He had no idea what they wanted. All his expertise was in fighting. He knew how to command men of every age and status, he knew how to relate to horses and men, but women? He knew nothing.
He tried to think about his sisters, the kinds of things they responded to. Certainly they were gentler than his brothers, and they became angry when someone treated them roughly or disrespectfully.
How had he treated Gisela the last few days? Had he been gentle and respectful? She had seemed to like it when he caressed her hand and kissed her forehead. At least she hadn’t pushed him away, and he had been gathering his courage to truly kiss her when Friar Daniel had appeared and spoiled it.
His sisters also seemed to expect compliments. They often called the rest of the family’s attention to a new dress or a new way of doing their hair, hoping for flattering remarks. When they received them, they were happy. When their brothers teased them, they grew angry.
Since Valten would much prefer Gisela smiling at him than scowling, he tried to think of ways he could compliment her. He had told her once that she was beautiful; he distinctly remembered that. So she already knew he thought she was beautiful. He didn’t need to tell her that again, did he? What other compliments were there? She was beautiful. What else could he say?
She was fierce. He had admired her tremendously when she’d jumped on Ruexner and started beating him with her fists. But he had already told her he thought she was brave.
He thought of his father and mother, who had a happy relationship. What had his father done to make his mother happy, to win her over and make her love him? His father had told a story of how he and his men had rescued his mother from an evil conjurer. He had also seen his father kiss his mother whenever he returned after being away, even if he had only been gone a few hours. Valten had tried to kiss Gisela, but so far they’d always been interrupted. But she had understood his intention to kiss her, hadn’t she?
But perhaps kissing was more of a married thing. He was sure Friar Daniel thought so.
And then there was his younger brother, Gabe. Every maiden in the region seemed to love him. Even though he was married now and had no interest in their flirtations, in the past they had all smiled at him whenever they saw him, batted their eyelashes at him, and tried to talk to him. Gisela had never done that around Valten. Did that mean she didn’t like him?
What was it about Gabe that drew pretty girls like moths to a flame? Valten had always thought it was his good looks and his glib way of talking. When Gabe was still unmarried, maidens seemed to love the way he could always think of something to say, something clever and charming. It had annoyed Valten. True chivalry was being able to fight for your woman, to protect her. But Gabe seemed to inherit all the talk, and Valten seemed to get all the fight. Girls liked talk more, apparently, because the only ones who seemed interested in Valten were the ones who wanted the status of being the future duchess of Hagenheim.
These thoughts were not improving his mood. Although it was pleasant to have Gisela fall asleep on his chest, he was even less confident now that he could make Gisela fall in love with him. He wasn’t handsome or a smooth talker like Gabe. Friar Daniel wouldn’t let him kiss her. He was doing his best to rescue her but had yet to accomplish it. And he’d already told Gisela she was beautiful. What else could he do?
Valten groaned inwardly when the friar came sidling up to him. A sliver of light snaked through the trees and shone on his face, lighting up that perpetual smile on his face.
Valten scowled at him, hoping he would not wake up Gisela.
“Good knight,” Friar Daniel began, and Valten cringed at his loud voice. “I can’t help noticing that you scowl a lot. Do you have peace in your life? Because God offers us all peace, in addition to eternal salvation.”
Aggravated at his question, Valten thought about just letting the silence stretch and not answering the friar, but Friar Daniel would probably just ask again. “No, at this moment I don’t have peace.” How could he have peace when a madman was chasing them and Gisela was not safe?
Gisela lay relaxed and still against his chest as Sieger and Friar Daniel’s mule picked their way over rocks and around trees, not making very good time as they rode a safe distance from, but parallel to, the road.
“That is a common problem I have found among noblemen.” Friar Daniel nodded soberly. “The solution is to cast your burdens on Jesus and let him give you his peace.”
The friar’s words did not apply to Valten’s situation at all. “I will have peace when I can get Gisela safely back to Hagenheim.”