They stood opposite each other, waiting for the music to begin. Rose felt she was the most blessed maiden in the world to be dancing with him. He projected such an air of responsibility and confidence. He towered over her, a conspicuous presence even in the large hall full of people.
The music began. He reached out and took her hands, and she lost herself in the rhythm and in his eyes. His feet moved deliberately but gracefully through the steps. She allowed herself to smile at him and enjoy this dance, trying to imprint it on her memory forever.
When the dance was over, he thanked her and quickly excused himself to rejoin the musicians. She bit her lip as she watched him go.
Gunther came over and talked with her during the next dance. He made her laugh at his jokes and anecdotes until she felt more at ease again.
Then Lord Rupert returned to her side to ask her for the last dance. She was so tired and content, she wanted nothing more than to leave while she was still sure she hadn’t done anything embarrassing. She wondered if it would be impolite to depart before the feast began. But one look at Lord Rupert’s face at the end of the dance told her that he wouldn’t let her go so easily.
Once the trestle tables and benches were brought in for the feast, Rose searched for Frau Geruscha. But she found herself, per Lord Rupert’s instructions, seated between him and Lady Osanna. All eyes turned to see the poor peasant sitting with the two young nobles. The situation was ridiculous, and Rose felt the absurdity of it as keenly as anyone. But thither she was forced to sit, at the high table with Duke Nicolaus and his family.
At least the duchess seemed to bear it well, forcing a smile the rest of the night.
Lady Anne sat beside Lord Hamlin, several people away from Rose, on the other side of the duke. The sight of the two of them sitting side by side gave her such a sinking feeling that she avoided looking that way. She tried to catch the sound of his voice, but the room was too noisy and he was too far away. She was certain he had forgotten all about her, with Lady Anne sitting beside him, but she hoped he didn’t think she was trying to somehow entrap his brother. He must, at the very least, see the inappropriateness of her being seated beside Lord Rupert.
She finally spotted Frau Geruscha several seats away, at a lower table. She looked worried, even angry, but when Rose caught her eye, she smiled.
“Ah!” Lord Rupert drew her attention away from the other guests. He pointed to the huge platter being carried in by four servants. “My favorite dish.”
A peacock perched on the platter, its plumage having been placed back on the roasted body. It did look beautiful, but as the servants lifted off the skin and feathers and began to carve the meat, Rose didn’t feel very hungry.
The guests’ raucous laughter died down to a murmur as they were served the roast fowl with gravy on their trenchers of stale bread. Everyone dug into their food. After a few minutes of focused eating, Lord Rupert began regaling her with stories about the superiority of his horse and complaints about the appalling condition of the roads from Heidelberg, which had almost caused his horse to break a leg. When the conversation lagged, she asked what subjects he had studied at the university.
“Oh, mathematics, philosophy, and debate…the like.”
He leaned over and whispered, “That’s Bishop Albrecht.” With his eyes he indicated the man sitting to his left. The bishop wore a white robe with elaborate gold embroidery and gold jewelry around his neck. “The wealthiest man in the room.”
The man was surely the oldest as well. His pink skin sagged beneath his eyes, and he had a hump where his shoulder blades should have been. Rose had heard the gossip—that Lord Rupert wanted the duke to appoint him the next bishop, to take Bishop Albrecht’s place after his death. But it could only be a rumor.
“How would you like to be that wealthy?” Lord Rupert asked, watching her face.
“I can’t imagine it.” She looked away, uncomfortable with the question.
“I should like it immensely.”
Perhaps he did wish to be the next bishop. But try as she might, she couldn’t form a picture in her mind of Lord Rupert as a chaste clergyman.
Between enjoying the many courses of the feast, Lord Rupert often focused his attention on other guests who approached him to make some comment or share a joke they had heard. Lady Osanna graciously began to talk to Rose, preventing her from thinking how awkward she felt. Rose was grateful for her kindness, especially when one glance in the other direction would bring the duchess into view, as well as the wealthy merchants’ daughters, who were seated at a lower table.
The feast seemed to go on and on as more food was paraded around the tables than they could possibly eat.
During the fourth course, Lord Rupert gulped his spiced red wine, smiling his satisfaction. Rose took small sips. She wasn’t used to drinking wine that wasn’t watered down, and she was anxious to leave the feast before Lord Rupert and the other men should begin to get drunk.
He leaned toward her, and in a subdued voice, asked, “Are you enjoying your first feast?”
“Yes, I thank you.”
“Did you enjoy the dances?”