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“Three?” asked Sir Chester, walking up with a tankard of ale in his hand. “I only see two.”
The earl looked up and shook his head. Then he summoned a page and sent him away. “The third lady will be here momentarily. In the meantime, I’d like everyone to meet Lady Anabel and Lady Grace.”
Conrad joined the men to meet the ladies. Lady Anabel was a woman of only six and ten years, petite and blond. Lady Grace, on the other hand, was tall with red hair and seven and ten years of age. They were both very plain, but not ugly. He supposed they would make good wives.
“I’d like either one of them,” said Sir Bedivere. “They both look like they’d be able to bear lots of sons for me.”
“Nay, Sir Bedivere. Sir George and I want these two,” Sir Chester told him. “You can have the last one.”
“What last one?” asked Conrad. “I only see two.”
“Oh, here she comes now,” said the earl, flagging someone over.
Conrad turned around, and his jaw dropped open. “Lady Willow!” he spat, not able to believe after he told her to stay in her chamber that she’d come down to the great hall after all. And to make matters worse, the earl was saying that she was one of the ladies up for marrying a winner of the games.
“Good evening, gentlemen.” Willow curtseyed and held out her gown. Her presence in the hall took everyone’s attention. She wore a gold taffeta gown with beading on the bodice. The skirt was lined with fancy lace. The back of her gown, instead of having buttons, was dropped low and he could see a flash of bare skin. And if that didn’t get the attention of everyone there, then the crown on her head certainly did.
Conrad walked up and grabbed her by the arm. Leaning over, he whispered into her ear, “What do you think you are doing here? And dressed like that?”
“The earl summoned me,” she said with a stiff upper lip. “I’m sorry, Sir Conrad, but his rank of nobility is higher than yours so there is naught you can do about it.”
“Aye, I summoned her,” said the earl.
“What’s this all about?” asked Conrad.
“If you must know, I’m looking for a man to marry,” said Willow. “I saw the earl headed to his solar and asked him to include me as one of the brides for the competitions.”
“You did what? Nay.” Conrad shook his head and held up his hands. “Earl, she can’t be one of the prizes of your silly competition.”
“Why not?” asked the earl. “She’s old enough to marry. Past age, actually, so it is time she goes.”
“I was asked by her father to be her guardian until his return,” he explained. “Lord Rook will not like this.”
Lord Beaufort nodded. “I thought so at first as well, but Lady Willow pointed out that she has the final say in whom she marries and that her father can’t go against the wishes of the late king.”
“You said that?” Conrad didn’t know what to do with Willow.
“Well, it’s true,” she told him. “I was granted the right by my grandfather, the late King Edward III, to be able to agree to whom I marry. My father has no say in the situation at all.”
The earl nodded. “Lady Willow does have that right.”
“And I have the right to stop her until her father returns. It is my duty.” Conrad couldn’t let this happen.
“I’m sorry, Sir Conrad, but I take my orders from the king,” the earl told him.
“That was an order given by a king who is no longer alive,” Conrad pointed out. “It doesn’t hold true anymore.”
“You dare to question the word of your past king?” asked Lord Beaufort. “Sir Conrad, if you are going to fight this, then I will have to ask you to leave Rothbury.”
Conrad studied the man’s face. He meant what he said. Then he looked over to Willow who gave him a smug nod and proceeded to flirt with the other men that were guests at the castle. Nay, Conrad couldn’t leave. Not now. Especially since he gave his word to Lord Rook as part of a deal. He needed Hazel to be mentored in a castle, just like he was at one time. He also needed to keep an eye on Willow and keep her from these wolves that all looked as if they wanted to devour her. She was, by far, the prettiest of the three women. She was also the oldest. But he’d heard what the men thought of her. They might want her, but it would only be for a night of passion and pleasure. He couldn’t let that happen. Her reputation preceded her, and none of these men would marry her because of it. However, they wouldn’t bat an eye at taking her virtue.
“I’m not going anywhere, Earl Rothbury,” he told the man, knowing now that he had to stay to stop this and there was only one way to do it. “Sign me up for all the competitions, not just the one. I think I’ll find me a bride as well.”
He glanced over at Willow, but she was no longer smiling. It was the only way to stop her from marrying one of the other men before her father returned. Conrad would have to win a competition and choose her as his bride.
