“Ellie, you are quiet today,” Edward observed.
Elora looked up to see Edward gazing at her. Distant cheers from the field of honor floated in through the window. Julian would have been competing in the championship joust if he hadn’t forfeited. She glanced back down at her entwined fingers. “I’m just thinking.”
“I don’t think you’ve ever been this quiet.”
She nodded. A cheer rose in the distance, mocking her sad mood. “I suppose I am thinking about your injury.”
“Are you?” he said with doubt.
“You will not be able to ride a horse home. It will be a long journey. We could—”
“Ellie,” Edward called, leaning forward to grab one of her hands and pull it free from the other. “This is a celebration. I don’t want you worrying about me.”
“How can I not?”
Edward straightened in the chair. “Then I shall give you something else to contemplate. I have decided on your husband.”
Elora’s shoulders slumped, and she bowed her head again. She had given her word that by the end of the tournament, she would pick, or he would pick for her. “I trust your judgement.”
Edward reared back, shocked. “That is not what you said about all the prospects I have picked so far.”
“Since I failed to find a husband, you have every right to decide on one for me. I have given my word.”
“Ellie,” Edward said. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
Elora could not look at him. She eased her hand from his hold. Her entire world was gone. She felt broken and empty. She had gotten what she wished for. A passionate kiss. She hadn’t realized that to get what she wanted, she would have to sacrifice her very heart and soul.
Yet, she didn’t want Edward to worry. He had enough to think about. “I’ll be fine. I’m worried about you.”
“Is that it? Is there anything else?”
“No,” she lied. “There is nothing else.”
Chapter Twenty Five
As the sun peeked over the grassy hillthe next morning, Julian sat atop Storm in his full chainmail coat, waiting for the melee to begin. He gripped a new shield with the heraldry of a black phoenix on a deep red background. Next to Julian sat Mace and the rest of Lord Yves’s team. Across the field, the opposing team stretched in a row of mounted, armor-clad knights holding lances.
Julian had been surprised to discover Osmont was on Yves’s team as well, which meant they had to work together. But Lord Luther was on the opposing team. His gaze swept the long line of rival knights. His father was there somewhere.
Beneath him, Storm side-stepped anxiously. Julian loosened his grip on the reins. He rubbed his gauntleted fingers together. He could hear his quickened breathing inside his metal helm. He focused on the knights across the field, pushing all other thoughts aside. One set of glistening blue eyes was the most difficult to erase from his mind.
The trumpet blasted, echoing throughout the field. As one, the line of horses charged forward, and the melee began.
Trumpets blared in the distance, signaling the start of the melee. Elora didn’t care. She just wanted to go home and be done with jousting and tournaments. She was in a chair near the bed while Edward eagerly sat at the window for a better view of the melee.
All she had wanted was a kiss; she had never expected to fall in love. And now Julian was gone, leaving her with a heart that would not mend.
“Come, Ellie,” Edward called. “Come and watch the melee.”
She miserably glanced at Sarah, who stoked the fire in the hearth. Sarah sent her a sympathetic look before turning back to her work.
“It’s grand!” Edward exclaimed. “Stretching out over the entire field. Lord, I wish I could participate.”
Elora glanced at Edward to see him leaning toward the window from his seat. She was glad he had not lost his spirit. “I have no desire to see knights bash each other with swords and shields.”
Edward scoffed playfully, “You love this! Come!”
Elora sat for a long time, refusing his urging.
