Page 45 of King’s Knight

They walked on, passing stalls filled with all manner of summer vegetables, herbs and fruit. A few stops more and Rory and Guy were handing packages from more of Lady Serena’s purchases to the two men-at-arms who had resigned themselves to be packhorses for the day as well as their guards.

Suddenly, from out of the crowd, came Alex, smiling broadly.

She could not help but return his smile as she met his gaze, longing to reach out and touch him. But she said only, “The meeting with the king must have gone well.”

“Well enough,” he said, his eyes never leaving hers.

“You are alone?” his mother asked. “Where is your father? Your horse?”

“A messenger from the king called Father back to discuss some pressing matter. I had a stop to make so Sir Geoffroi went ahead to the manor and took Azor with him.”

“Was the meeting of the barons long?” Merewyn asked. Alex had left the manor before she broke her fast, causing her to wonder. Rory and Guy drew close waiting for his answer.

“ ’Twas short, but we lingered with the king after.” He glanced at her, then at his two friends. “William announced his plans and told me when he would have us meet him in Durham. The barons agreed to his plans. I can explain more when we are not in so public a place.” Then, to his mother, “If you are finished, I will walk with you.”

“We are ready to leave,” said his mother. “What we have now will fill the cart we brought from Talisand.”

They turned toward St. Peter’s church and the manor beyond.

Merewyn had enjoyed her morning, but with Alex walking beside her, her mood rose higher. Their time might be short but she vowed to enjoy it. As the skirts of her dark blue linen gown glided over the hard-packed earth beneath her feet, it was as if she floated above the ground. Not even the darkening sky could dim her spirits. She laughed at Guy’s shameless attempts to amuse them, making fun of the king’s “three graces”, as he called the courtiers, and their outlandish shoes with long curving toes she had not observed at the king’s court.

“However do they walk in them?” she asked.

“Not far, to be sure,” said Alex.

“They have only to walk as far as William,” offered Rory.

Alex seemed happier than she had ever seen him. He stole glances at her as they walked along. Was he thinking of their time together? She had given him her heart as well as her body. At least for a time, he was hers. She refused to think of Lady Adèle.

That morning when she had dressed for the day, she had spotted her bow leaning against the wall of her chamber. Silently, it had shouted its disapproval.

“Do not stand there rigidly condemning me for my behavior,” she had retorted. “Alex is… unlike other men. He is different. And with him, I am different.”

Maugris’ words had come back to her then. … The archer controls the bow and not the bow the archer.

And so she would.

CHAPTER 9

Alex shared a glance with Merewyn, who rode across from him, resisting the urge to pull her into his lap. They had departed London the next morning before Terce, taking the same route back to Talisand they had coming south.

In the days that followed, Alex was able to share only a few whispers with Merewyn. It was grand torture to be so close to her and yet unable to touch her, except to help her from her pony. At times, he worried his friends, if not his parents and Sir Geoffroi, would sense the new closeness between them and see his gaze drifting often to Merewyn. He did not want the others to know of his intentions concerning her, not yet.

The storms held off making their stop in Shrewsbury pleasant. This time, it was his younger brother, Roger, who lost a game of chess to Merewyn. Alex had watched the game, exchanging occasional, heat-filled looks with Merewyn. That she had been able to keep her mind on the game so as to beat his brother amazed him.

It was a weary group of travelers that rode into the bailey a sennight later. Alex was pleased to be home. He and his men would have only a few days before they would have to leave to meet the king in Durham and he meant to share them with Merewyn when he was not in the practice yard.

Maggie came to meet them as they entered the hall. “My lady, my lord, there is food and drink should ye be wanting it.” His parents thanked her and headed for the tables.

Alex turned to Merewyn. “Will you have a drink of ale?” The road had been dusty and his throat was as dry as dirt.

Merewyn looked down at her rust-colored gown, covered in dust. “Ale would be good but what I need is a bath.”

He leaned in to whisper. “Would that I could join you.”

She blushed and darted a look at the others. “ ’Tis most unseemly to say so.”

“Aye, I suppose it is.”