“Come, Ellie!” Edward continued to beg.
As morning stretched into the afternoon, Elora reluctantly decided to join him. She walked to his side with her arms crossed in defiance. “At least everyone I love shall be safe and not a part of this melee.”
“Everyone?” he echoed. “What of Osmont and Mace?”
“I certainly do not love them.”
“What of Sir Julian?”
She snapped her gaze to him. Edward lifted his eyebrows. Caught, she looked away guiltily. Her arms dropped to her side, and her shoulders sagged. “He has forfeited and left the tournament.”
“It is true. He did forfeit. But he did not leave.” He peered back at the field. “And if you look closely, you will see him.”
Elora’s heart jumped with disbelief. “He didn’t leave?” She glanced out the window at the battling knights. Their armor reflected in the sunlight. The distant clang of swords clashing rose in the air. “But I saw his camp. It was empty.”
“He used my tent.”
Elora’s breath caught in her throat as she placed her hands on the window ledge and leaned out to find him. “He’s here?”
“He is fighting in my place,” Edward admitted. “I gave him the opportunity to increase his wealth.”
Startled, Elora whirled to Edward. “You saw him? You spoke to him?” When had Julian been here?
Edward nodded. “I did. I have never in all my life seen two more stubborn people. Why didn’t you come to me and tell me how you felt?”
“Idid,” Elora stressed. “You said I was infatuated.”
Edward splayed his hands. “I was a fool.”
She sighed softly. “It wouldn’t have mattered. You made it clear you required a man with title and lands to be my husband.”
“Then, that was my mistake. What I really wanted was for you to be happy.”
Elora stared at him in doubt. “But you said the man I married—”
“I only wanted a man who would treat you well. A man who would adore you as you deserve. A man who would love you and keep you safe.”
Elora looked out the window, recalling Julian’s smile. Her heart melted with anguish. “Julian has no wealth, no title, no lands. He can’t very well keep me safe.”
Edward chuckled. “That’s what he said. But you were right. He is honorable, and he would do all in his power to keep you safe. He makes you happy, Ellie. Besides, I’ve seen the type of man he is, and I am impressed.”
Her gaze swept hopefully to the field of clashing knights, searching for Julian. There were so many knights. So many men clustered together. It was an undulating line of mounted men hacking at each other, sword to shield. Clangs resounded through the air.
“Where is he?” Elora asked anxiously.
Edward leaned forward, scanning the fighting area. “He was beside Mace. He is wearing our colors.”
Elora looked for him, focusing on each knight intently until she was certain that was not him and then moving on. Suddenly, her breath caught in her throat as her gaze alighted on one knight battling valiantly against another on the ground. She knew instinctively it was Julian. “There!” She pointed to him.
Edward stared for a long moment. “Yes. I believe it is him.”
She leaned forward as if that would help her see him more clearly. He was with three other knights. Two were on horseback and one on the ground. “Who is he fighting?”
Edward gazed at the men for a moment, examining the fight. “Mace is with him. And I think the other on horseback is Osmont. But I can’t make out the colors of the knight he is fighting.”
Elora stared closely at the scene playing out on the field. The knight that Julian faced slowly circled around him. Silently, she pleaded for Julian to be safe.
Suddenly, the knight moving in a circle around Julian slammed a shoulder into him, sending him sprawling onto his back. The knight lifted his sword above his head.
