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“Here, use this as a blindfold,” offered Sir Chester, pulling a cloth from his pocket. “Then you can choose fairly.”
Conrad groaned. If he took Hazel back to the bedchamber now, Willow would have gotten into trouble before he returned. Nay, he had to stay at her side since it is what he promised her father. “Toby, take Lady Hazel back to the keep and then escort her to the festival after she’s changed into proper attire.”
“Aye, my lord,” answered Toby.
“But I’m ready for the festival now,” said Hazel.
“Not looking like that you’re not!”
“Willow told me this would get me noticed.”
“Aye, and that is the problem. You don’t want to be noticed in that way.”
“I don’t understand.” Hazel held out her gown and looked down. “Don’t you like the gown? It’s one of Willow’s.”
He did like the gown, but not on his sister. Willow was proving to be a bad influence on the girl. This had to stop immediately.
“Hazel, I won’t tell you again. Go back to your chamber and change your clothes before you return to the festival.”
“You don’t care about me, Conrad. You don’t want me to enjoy myself,” wailed Hazel. “Well, don’t worry because I’m not returning to the festival at all.” She ran off before Conrad could reply. He took a step to go after her but stopped when he heard Willow giggle. Then half a dozen men laughed as well. This could only end up being trouble.
“See to my sister,” Conrad told his squire. “I’m going to attend to Lady Willow before she ends up in a bad place.”
“Aye, my lord.” Toby took off at a run.
Conrad turned back, making his way through the crowd.
“I’m going to spin around with my eyes closed and whoever I point to is the lucky man who will be my escort for the night.” With a blindfold over her eyes, Willow spun in a circle with her arm extended while all the men there cheered her on.
“Get out of my way,” Conrad snarled, pushing a few men to the side, stopping right in front of her.
“I choose . . . you,” said Willow, giggling as she made her decision. With her arm extended and finger pointed, she stopped and pulled off the blindfold.
“Congratulations, Lady Willow,” he told her with a sarcastic grin. “It seems I am to be your escort for the evening after all.”
Her smile turned to a frown very quickly when she realized she was pointing right at Conrad.
“Let me try again,” she said, raising the blindfold to her eyes.
“There is no need because I will make sure I am standing in front of you every time. Now conduct yourself like a lady and join me at the festival of lights.” He held out his arm and waited for her to take it. Willow dropped the blindfold to the ground and gripped her talons into his arm. She smiled at the rest of the men and nodded as they headed away.
As soon as they were out of earshot, she let him have it. “Do that again, and next time I’ll poke out your eyes with my pointing finger.” Her words held venom as the two of them made their way through the crowd, but the phony smile never left her face as she nodded at one nobleman after the next acknowledging all of them but him in a friendly manner. This was going to be one of the longest nights of his life.
