Guinevere shook her head. A sob tore from her throat as she threw the door open and tripped into the hallway.
Britt rubbed her forehead. “I can’t wait to leave this place. Between her and Lancelot I’ll be living not just with insomnia but with a perpetual headache too.”
“Is not Guinevere beautiful this night, Arthur?” King Leodegrance said, slapping his hand on the table.
“Of course, My Lord,” Britt said, privately thinking anything but.
Apparently the lady in question had gone out and sobbed until the celebration started, for she was puffy eyed and red cheeked. She stared at her plate and did not look up, even though King Leodegrance had made his observation at the sound level of a shout.
“It is such a good thing that you saved her from Maleagant, for I would rather she married for love than fear,” King Leodegrance said.
“If that is the case I wish her luck in finding love,” Britt said, sipping her wine.
“But hasn’t she already found it in a staunch champion such as you?”
“I cannot speak for the lady, but when I championed Camelgrance I must confess I did it for the sake of our friendship,” Britt said.
King Leodegrance patted Britt on the back. “You are so discreet. I am honored my daughter caught your eye.”
Britt sighed and looked for her men—they were the only reason she was suffering through this. After the test of courage in putting together the fake army to trick Maleagant she owed it to them to sleep indoors for the night before they set out in the morning.
Merlin was nowhere to be seen. Lancelot, Gawain, and Ywain were in the center of a crowd of young ladies. King Pellinore and Sir Kay were seated together, deep in conversation. Sir Bedivere and the rest of the knights were eating merrily with abandon.
Britt sighed and took a bite of the roasted boar sitting on her plate. It was dry and tough.
“I do wish I could call you son, Arthur,” King Leodegrance said.
Britt offered the older king a slight smile. “I apologize, but I am already quite happy with the father I have.”
“He is nothing but your foster father. That hardly counts.”
“Sir Ector has been very kind to me, he is more of a father to me than my real father ever was,” Britt truthfully said. Her father had left her family when she was young. It was why she had been wary of Sir Ector in the first few months of her stay in Britain. But now Britt couldn’t imagine Camelot without her jolly foster father.
“Then you have no choice but to marry into my family to become my son,” King Leodegrance triumphantly said.
“I beg your pardon, My Lord, but I must refuse.”
“Just for now, of course.”
Britt stared at her wine cup and wondered how soon she could leave the feasting hall. She was almost knocked to the ground when Merlin shoved a seat between Britt and King Leodegrance, pushing the two of them apart.
“King Leodegrance, I am most eager to ask you about your hay crop. When do you believe you will be able to have the first cut?” Merlin asked, angled so his back was almost entirely facing Britt and acting as a block between the two kings.
“Greetings, Merlin. I cannot say I am entirely certain of the condition of the hay fields. Tomorrow before you leave would you like to see them?” King Leodegrance asked.
“No, I was merely curious. It was a mild winter and the peasants at Camelot were hoping for an early first crop of hay. I do not know how likely such a thing is.”
“Indeed, I echo their hopes. My cattle have produced more offspring than estimated—which is a good thing to be sure but I must have enough hay to feed them all.”
King Leodegrance rambled on, but Britt shut her eyes and filtered it out. Merlin had rescued her. King Leodegrance respected Merlin—probably even more than he respected Britt. He would happily entertain Merlin as long as the wizard appeared interested, leaving Britt alone.
In a rush of exuberance Britt slipped her arm under the table, sliding her hand into Merlin’s. She squeezed his fingers, and he gently squeezed her hand in return—acknowledging her gesture—before disengaging his hand and propping it up on top of the table.
Britt glanced to Guinevere. The princess still stared at her pewter plate, listlessly pushing food across its surface.
Britt took another bite of her roasted boar. Tomorrow they would leave. After tomorrow King Leodegrance and Guinevere would no longer be her problem. They would be out of sight and out of Britt’s mind.
Britt vowed it again as she watched Guinevere wanly smile at her mother. The girl may be heartbroken, but Britt had done what she could. Knowing as she did about Lancelot and Guinevere, Britt would be crazy to take the girl back to Camelot.
“I do wish you would stay longer. Can Camelot not spare you?” King Leodegrance wheedled the following morning.