Julian’s gaze quickly and hopefully scanned the room, but Elora was not there. He couldn’t help the disappointment that pulled his entire being down. He had hoped for one more look at her.
A group of men stood about the bed. He recognized one man: Osmont. Julian took a tentative step forward, half-waiting to be clasped in irons.
Edward lay in the bed, pillows propped behind him so he could sit up. One of his legs was wrapped and supported upon a rich, red velvet pillow. As Julian approached, Edward turned from the group of men surrounding him to lock eyes with Julian. He lifted his chin. “Out!” he ordered the others.
They all filed out except for Osmont, who waited with arms crossed at the head of the bed.
“You too, Osmont,” Edward commanded.
“Me?” Osmont gawked. “I should stay for you.”
“No. Sir Julian has come to speak to me. I will do so alone.”
Osmont clenched his lips and jaw tightly. His dark mustache drooped with disapproval. His hands wrapped into fists, and he stormed to the door. He hesitated for a moment before casting a look of distaste at Julian and pulling the door closed.
Julian had never truly spoken to Edward. He had always imagined a man, a knight, larger than life. A man undefeated in joust. Now, seeing him lain up in the bed sent a chill of guilt through him. He had practiced what he would say to Edward in his head, but now, words seemed to escape.
The silence stretched in the room as Edward’s gaze swept Julian from head to toe.
Julian took a deep breath. “I am here to tell you that Lady Elora is innocent in all of this. I am to blame. I enticed her to see me, even though I knew it was against your will.” Edward’s eyes narrowed, and Julian hurried on, “The blame for her behavior rests with me.”
Edward was quiet, staring at him.
Obviously, it wasn’t enough. Julian swallowed. “I forced her to go against your wishes. She said she couldn’t see me, but I manipulated her and—”
“No one forces Ellie to do what she doesn’t want to.”
“Be that as it may, I am here to assure you her virtue is intact. She will still be able to marry a worthy man. I—”
“You forfeited.”
Julian started. Was that all he was concerned with? Not his sister? He nodded once.
“Why?”
The word echoed in the room. Julian was caught off guard by the question. He had no answer for Edward. What could he tell him? That Elora’s opinion of him was all that mattered? That he would do anything to change her mind? He sighed softly. “I thought it was the right thing to do.”
Edward stared at him, scowling. “Is there another reason you forfeited?”
Julian tilted his head, confused. “Should there be another reason?” Edward sighed, and Julian took a desperate step forward, wanting him to understand. “I didn’t want to win that way. Not against you. You deserved a complete joust. You deserved to be beaten fairly, not by accident.”
More silence. Edward was immobile, staring, gauging. “You are everything Elora said you were.”
Julian bowed his head, saddened as he recalled Elora’s final judgement of him. A cheat. Dishonorable. He deserved her harsh words. Like his father did, she thought him worthless. Perhaps her words would make it easier to leave. Perhaps her words would make it easier to give up his dream. Perhaps her words would make it easier to give her up.
Still, he couldn’t help but ask, “What did she say?”
Instead of answering, Edward inquired, “How is your shoulder?”
Tender. Aching. But nothing compared to his broken heart. He didn’t meet Edward’s eyes. “Sore.”
“I knew that.”
Startled by the admission, Julian looked at him. He was still willing to give Edward the benefit of the doubt.
Edward shook his head and leaned forward. “I’m sorry, Julian. I’m sorry for aiming for your shoulder. If I had it to do over, I would compete more honorably.”
Edward had aimed for his injured arm on purpose! A champion, an undefeated jouster, had tried to win by aiming for his wounded shoulder. It was difficult to reconcile the man he’d placed on a pedestal and the flawed human who lay before him.
