Page 3 of Picking Up the Gauntlet

“Of course, my lord,” answered Harold.

“Aye,” added Albert, as they collected the lances and headed back toward the castle with Daniel and the dogs leading the way.

When they were out of earshot, Rook spoke to Raven. “Stop playing these silly games and start acting like the lady you were meant to be.”

“Never!” she answered defiantly, brushing the dirt off her clothes. “And you can’t make me.”

“Mayhap I can’t, but our father can,” he reminded her. “I assure you, he won’t just ignore what’s happened here today, Raven.”

“Then don’t tell him,” she said with a sniff. “He doesn’t need to know.”

“You can’t honestly believe that he doesn’t already know. Father is lord of the castle and privy to everything that happens there. I’m sure not only he but everyone knows by now that you’re missing. It’s no secret you’ve been sneaking off to the woods to practice with your weapons for a while now.”

“Well, if Father knows and he hasn’t stopped me, I hardly think this will be any different. After all, he’s the one who gave me my sword, so he won’t mind.”

“Raven, that was when you were younger. And he does mind, I promise you. You are twenty-two years old now, but you’re acting like a child. It’s time you start embracing your status and title.”

“I don’t care about it, and I don’t think you have a right to tell me what to do.”

“It doesn’t matter what you think. Father has found a way to make it happen.”

“He has?” she asked. “What do you mean? Make what happen? Tell me, Rook.”

Rook chuckled playfully and shook his head. It was obvious that he wasn’t going to tell her. Angry with him, Raven beat her fists against his chest. Rook only laughed louder, grabbing her wrists in his large hands to stop her. Or rile her, was more like it. She twisted out of his hold and elbowed him hard in the ribs.

“Ooomph!” That stopped his laughing at least. Rook reached out, grabbing her around her waist to keep her from running. Raven moved her foot backward, trying once more to sweep his feet out from under him but Rook didn’t let it happen. He quickly released her and moved away. Instead of hitting his leg, she kicked at air, which caused her to lose her balance and fall to the ground for the second time that morning.

“What’s going on here?” came a deep voice from behind her. Raven’s head snapped around to see her father, Lord Corbett Blake, riding toward them. Devon, Raven’s mother, was on her own horse right behind him. “Raven, get off the bloody ground before someone sees you,” growled her father. He stopped his horse and dismounted and then proceeded to help his wife.

It was just like her father to worry more about what others would think, not even asking if she was hurt first.

“Raven, are you injured? What happened?” Devon rushed over to Raven, putting her arm around her as Raven got to her feet.

“Nay, Mother, I am fine. And thank you for asking.” She glanced over at Rook and her father who were standing there, looking at her as if she’d lost her mind.

“When your handmaid said you weren’t in your bed this morning when she arrived at your room, I was afraid you’d been abducted,” said her mother. “What are you doing out here in the woods? Especially at this time of day?”

“Mother, you know I don’t like having a handmaid. I wish you’d tell Emma she’s not needed.”

“Answer your mother’s question,” commanded her father, using the tone he used when reprimanding his soldiers.

“I’ll answer it for her,” offered Rook. “Raven had the hare-brained idea that she was going to joust. I knew she was sneaking away before sunup to the woods to practice. That’s why I told my squire to offer to help her.”

“You did what?” gasped their mother. “Rook, why didn’t you try to stop her instead? She could have been hurt. What is the matter with you?”

“Me?” Rook’s hand slapped against his chest and confusion clouded his face. “I was only trying to teach her a lesson so she’d stop this silly nonsense.”

“Rook, you should be protecting your sister, not sending your squire into the woods with her so she can do something that might have caused her to get hurt.” Corbett echoed his wife’s concern.

“I was only trying to discourage her from wanting to act like a man,” protested Rook.

“You don’t need to worry about that anymore,” Corbett told him. “Did you tell your sister what I’ve decided?”

“Nay, he didn’t tell me anything,” Raven interrupted. “Father, what is going on?”

“Tell her, Corbett,” said Devon softly. “She has a right to know.”

“Raven, I’m doing this for your own good, even though I know you’re not going to like it,” said Corbett.