Page 48 of King’s Knight

“I only caught a bit of their conversation. ’Twas the king who sent them.”

The king. Merewyn’s heart sunk. So it was to be a betrothal after all. Her laces now tied, Nelda came around to stand in front of her. “Oh, mistress, the woman is here for Sir Alex, I am sure.”

Nelda must have observed her affection for Talisand’s heir, but Merewyn did not ask what more she knew. Most of the young women had a tendre for Alex and mayhap Nelda was among them and disliked another woman coming to visit him, especially one who was noble born. “Well,” said Merewyn, speaking the truth, “there is little we can do about that.”

“But mistress—” Nelda began as if in protest.

Merewyn held up a hand, stiffening her resolve and ignoring the pain that suddenly gripped her heart. “We must make Lady Adèle feel welcome.” Looking around her chamber, Merewyn said, “She can have the large bed and I will take the small one.”

“But that is your bed, mistress.”

“Surely it will be for only a short while,” Merewyn assured the concerned maidservant. “I do not mind.” Truth be told, Merewyn did mind, not that she had to share the chamber, but that the woman who would claim Alex had come to Talisand, invading the one place Merewyn believed was hers alone to share with him. Mayhap they would have less time together than she had thought.

* * *

Alex had never felt so uncomfortable sitting on the dais with his parents and their guests. The meal that evening was bound to be awkward. Lady Adèle sat on his left next to her father. On his right were his parents and then Maugris, Sir Geoffroi and Lady Emma. As soon as he sat down, his gaze reached out to the trestle tables where Merewyn ate next to Lora and Jamie. Across from her sat Rory and Guy. Their faces, when lifted to Alex, were marked by curious stares. He had not had time to tell them of William’s sly move in sending the comte and his daughter north to Talisand.

His father stood to introduce their guests. Goblets were raised in welcome. Alex drank heartily, but seeing Rory attempting to charm Merewyn, his mood darkened.

“The salmon is very good,” remarked Adèle, running her tongue over her bottom lip, a gesture he was certain was meant for him. She was younger than Merewyn but seemed older, wiser in the ways of the world. Her teasing, sensual gestures were familiar to Alex, having known other women at William’s court much like her.

“Do you hunt, my lady?” he asked her.

“With the men?” she asked, aghast. When he nodded, she shook her head. “Never. A lady would not do so.” Alex refrained from telling her his lady mother had once hunted game for Talisand’s kitchens.

“Might you play chess?”

“A bit,” she said, “but I am not proficient like my father. Do you play?”

“Aye, I do. ’Tis a game knights learn in the evening when a candle’s light is available.”

She took a drink of her wine, licked the last drops from her bottom lip and smiled. “We could play… together this eve. There are many candles in your father’s hall.”

He supposed it was expected of him to entertain her, but he much preferred to play chess with Merewyn. Still, he would do what was required of him. Thus, at the end of the meal, when there was music and games of chess organized, he led Adèle to the trestle table where the games would be played.

His father sat opposite the comte, just setting up their board. Next to them, Sir Geoffroi smiled across a board at his wife, Lady Emma, known to be an intelligent chess player.

Unable to resist, Alex’s eyes often drifted to Merewyn, who sat talking with his friends a short distance away.

“That woman,” said Adèle, “the fair-haired one I met in London, she is your father’s ward, non?”

“Aye. Ranulf introduced you to Merewyn at William’s court. You will be sharing her chamber.”

“Oh, yes,” she said with a decided lack of enthusiasm. “She was not there when I went to the room. Is it true what they say, that she hunts with the men?”

“Aye, she does,” he said, resisting the smile forming on his lips.

Her hazel eyes widened. “I had heard she went to the king’s hunt disguised as your page, but I could not believe it. ’Tis hardly the action of a lady.”

Alex laughed. “Some of the women of Talisand tend to be unusual in that way.” He did not mention his mother was one of them.

“Does she also play chess?”

“Yea and well.” Where was the woman going with this? “Many women play chess.”

She gave Merewyn a perusing look, her eyes narrowing slightly.

He set up the board and they began to play. In between moves, he stole glances to where Rory was now playing against Merewyn. The knight was enjoying himself, a bit too much to Alex’s mind. His red-haired companion was fair good at chess and the two were having a rousing game. Not so with he and Lady Adèle, whose awkward moves were ensuring their game would be over soon.