“Who will the lucky woman be this time, Windsor?” Pitt called exuberantly, giving me no choice but to pick someone.
I let my sights drift to the women again, this time studying them more carefully. In their bright garments, frilly veils, and excessive ribbons, I had a difficult time focusing on their faces. Lady Glynnis, the most extravagantly attired of them all, smiled and inclined her head toward Lady Beatrice, the daughter of one of her closest friends, who sat demurely beside her. Lady Beatrice had been living at Tolleymuth for the past month. She’d attempted to engage my attention on numerous occasions, but I’d ignored her just as I had all the others.
If I chose her as my partner for the evening’s festivities, would I only encourage her affection? But how could I graciously decline Lady Glynnis’s subtle directive? Should I pretend I hadn’t seen her nod?
From my peripheral, I could tell Olivia was watching me with undisguised interest, waiting to see which of the women caught my attention.
My thoughts strayed to the chapel where I’d encountered her earlier in the week. Unbeknownst to her, I’d watched her slip away from the sewing circle and had followed her to the chapel. I’d suspected she was searching for something, and her rummaging behind the altar had proven my suspicions true.
I’d planned to only admonish her to cease her clandestine searches. If Pitt learned she was sneaking around the castle, he’d discipline her and show her no mercy. And strangely I’d found myself repelled by the prospect of further harm befalling Olivia or her sister. After all, I’d already caused them enough danger by bringing them to Tolleymuth.
With her well-being utmost on my mind, I’d entered the chapel intending to warn her. And somehow, she’d unwittingly drawn me in. I’d fallen prey to her charm and beauty, even if only for a moment.
Why do you not look at me or speak to me when we are in the great hall together? Her question had been low and intimate and had sparked like flint in my blood. She’d desired my flattery, saw my aloofness as a challenge, needed to add me to the long list of men who worshipped her.
I hadn’t told her that I did look at her—often. Instead, I’d attempted to rebuff her questions. But somehow in the end, she’d wrested the words she’d wanted to hear from me anyway. As I’d walked away, I’d vowed to do better at keeping my distance from her.
She was a temptation I didn’t need, making me wish all the more fervently the earl would submit to the king and Pitt’s demands so he could take his daughters home where they belonged.
Was there nothing more we could do to entice the earl to hasten his arrival? The sooner he came the better, not only for my sanity, but for their safety. Once the month deadline passed, Pitt would increase the pressure upon the earl. And I dreaded to think of what Pitt might decide to do to one or both of the sisters.
What if I picked Olivia to be my partner for the evening? Would word reach her father and alarm him? If he believed a lowly knight like myself was interested in his daughter, would he claim her more readily to avoid losing the match he planned with Lionel Lacy?
“My lord,” I said, facing Pitt again. “May I have a word alone?”
Pitt waved me over and at the same time, those who’d gathered around him backed away to give us a modicum of privacy.
“What is it, Windsor?” he chortled. “You know you may have any woman you choose. They all adore you.”
“And you know I have no desire for any,” I said quietly.
His grin only widened, tightening the long white scar that ran the length of his profile. “You may continue to punish yourself for your past, but that doesn’t mean you are a cold-blooded man who has no desires.”
I started to protest, but then decided against it. My interactions with Olivia had shown that my desires could still be awakened, even against my will. Perhaps my plan to choose her for the evening was unwise and would only stir feelings better left untouched.
“Give the women a chance, Windsor, and in so doing give yourself another opportunity at happiness too.”
“Very well,” I said resignedly, knowing he wouldn’t be satisfied until I agreed with him. “Since you have my goodwill at heart and wish only for my happiness, will you allow me the opportunity to spend equal time with all the maidens? Then I need not single out only one but will have the chance to interact with everyone.”
Pitt’s smile fell away, and he regarded me with a hard, knowing glint. “Is this one more attempt to avoid forming an attachment, Windsor?”
In some ways, he was right. Keeping the exchanges with each maiden brief wouldn’t allow for deeper connections. On the other hand, I could appease him by agreeing to make the most of the evening. “I vow I shall do my best to give the women a chance, as you’ve requested.”
Pitt studied me a moment. “Good.” Then with a nod, he stood and raised his hand to garner the attention of the gathering. “The captain of my guard and my champion knight has decided he will give all the maidens equal attention during the feast and dance tonight. And when the eve is over, he will narrow down his favorite ladies who will then be in the running to become his bride.”
At once the air was filled with gasps and murmurs of excitement.
“My lord,” I protested, a surge of panic rising swiftly and threatening to drown me. “You misunderstood my intentions.”
The clamor around us only intensified, and when Pitt glanced at me, his smile was too innocent. “You’ve given the people something to look forward to, Windsor.”
“I agreed to give the maidens a chance,” I growled, “not pick a bride.”
Pitt clamped me on the shoulder affectionately. “If you fulfill your vow, I guarantee you’ll be married before summer’s end.”
I shook my head. Pitt could scheme all he wanted, but he wouldn’t move me. I had no intention of getting married by summer’s end or ever.
He’d discover that soon enough.
I reclined in the steaming tub of water, letting the warm water wash away the grime of the tournament. The long streaks of pink in the fading sky outside my chamber window told me the dreaded eve would soon be upon me.
Every time one of my squires opened my chamber door, the aromas of roasted quail, custards and jams, and herb-glazed vegetables breezed inside and reminded me of the coming feast as well.
I’d tired of the excited thrum my men couldn’t hide and had dismissed them to attend to their own grooming. I hoped their absence would give me a few moments of peace. Yet as time slipped away, any semblance of peace I’d found slipped away as well.
If only I could create a viable excuse to skip the festivities. If only I’d paid better attention to Pitt’s scheming and hadn’t trapped myself into picking a bride.
Why would any of the ladies want me anyway? None knew my true status as Baron of Hampton. To them, I was merely a landless knight without a title. They’d likely heard of the wealth I’d accumulated over the year in working for Pitt. And of course, they fancied me a hero for winning the championship today.
But those things were superficial. If a woman was attracted to me for such qualities, then she was shallow, and I didn’t want a shallow relationship. Actually, I didn’t want any kind of relationship. Not shallow. Not deep. Not any.
With a long sigh, I slipped further down into my bath, submerging my head so the water would wash away the sweat and dust in my hair. Through the bubbles in my ears, I heard the door to my chamber open. It moved too slowly and cautiously to be any of my men.