Page 99 of Picking Up the Gauntlet

“I want some,” called out Heathcliff.

“Nay, ye dinna,” said Lark. “It’s whisky that is so strong it’ll knock ye out.”

“Just the way I like it,” said Storm, taking a tankard from one of the servers.

“Throw the flowers, Lady Raven.” Raven’s handmaid, Emma, was starting to get very big now with her pregnancy. She held on to her husband’s hand. Raven had already talked to her parents and secured Emma’s position at the castle, even after she birthed her baby.

“All right,” said Raven, turning around and throwing the bouquet over her shoulder.

“Ouch, that hurt, Sister.”

Raven turned around and laughed. Rook had the bouquet in his hands. He quickly tossed it over to Lark and wiped his hands on his trews.

“Thank ye, Cousin,” said Lark, smiling and sniffing the flowers. “Mayhap this means I’ll find a husband soon.”

“I think I’m going to enjoy this new life,” said Avery in a low voice, eyeing up two of the comely kitchen wenches walking by with trays of food.

“Are you talking about the food or the wenches?” asked Jonathon with a chuckle.

“Both,” he said. “Excuse me.” He hurried away after the girls.

Jonathon’s entire family was there as well. They’d even invited the townsfolk, since they were Jonathon’s friends. It was a good way to bring the nobles and the commoners closer together.

Jonathon had yet to meet all of Raven’s relatives, since there seemed to be many. Remembering all their names would take some time.

“Everyone, take a seat,” called out Corbett. “The wedding feast is about to begin. Afterwards, my daughter and her husband, Lord Jonathon, will have the first dance.”

“It’s going to take a while for me to get used to hearing the title of lord attached to my name,” Jonathon told Raven as they walked hand-in-hand to the wedding table. Brindy followed at their heels, becoming attached to Jonathon ever since he gave the dog that bone.

“Don’t you like it?” Raven looked over to him with sparkling eyes that always made him want her.

“Oh, I didn’t say that,” he answered, stopping for a second to pet Brindy on the head. “It just doesn’t feel real. Just like this marriage to you.”

“It’s real, I assure you,” said Raven, as they took their seats at the raised dais in the courtyard. Lark and Rook, as well as Raven’s parents and Jonathon’s parents, joined them at the dais today.

“Lord Corbett, this is a fine setup you have here,” said Crispin, looking around.

“Father, that’s not the right thing to say,” Jonathon told him in a low voice.

“Nay, he’s right,” said Corbett, taking a goblet of wine from the cupbearer. “Crispin, Blake Castle is the best place to be, and I am happy that your son is now my son-by-marriage.”

“I want to make a toast,” said Rook,” standing up with his goblet of wine in his hand. “I wish my sister and her new husband happiness,” he said, getting cheers and clapping from the crowd. “And I hope my dear cousin Lark will be the next one married, since she needs a husband desperately.”

“Och, Rook, hush,” Lark told him, still sniffing the flowers with a smile on her face.

“Rook, sit down,” said Corbett. “Lark won’t be next to marry, it’ll be you.”

“Me?” Rook chuckled, sitting down. “Nay, not me. I haven’t found the right girl yet.”

“Your father has found one for you,” said Devon.

“Who?” asked Rook, taking a swig of wine. “And why wasn’t I told about this?”

“It doesn’t feel good, does it, Brother?” asked Raven, totaling enjoying seeing her twin brother squirm in his chair.

“I’m betrothing you to a noblewoman, but we’ll talk about that later,” Corbett told him. “Today is all about Raven and Jonathon, so let us focus on them.”

“Who is she? What does she look like? Where is she from?” Rook continued to fire questions at his father. “I want to know.”