AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Earth flew up around him as the horses charged toward each other. Lowering the tip of his lance as they came close, Conrad smashed it into Sir Chester’s shield. The tip of Conrad’s lance broke, but Sir Chester remained seated. All it would take is one good blow to unseat him, and Conrad would be the winner.
“The point goes to Sir Conrad Lochwood,” called out the marshal.
“Good work,” cried Toby, running to meet him as he rode back to his post. “The win is as good as yours.”
Conrad lifted his visor and looked over at Willow. She held on to Hazel’s hand. They both looked so excited, cheering him on that he didn’t want to disappoint them. Then again, he wasn’t so sure he wanted to win. If so, it would put him in a very awkward position. He felt as if he were falling in love with Willow, but her actions and the way she acted around men made him leery of wanting her for his bride.
With a heavy heart, he prepared for another pass. It didn’t matter, he decided. He had to win just to keep any of the other contestants from marrying her. He promised her father he would keep her away from the men. It was going to be hell enough to have to tell Lord Rook when he returned that Willow convinced Lord Beaufort to put her up as a prize bride. He wasn’t looking forward to that confrontation.
“Are you ready, my lord?” asked Toby, dragging him from his thoughts.
“Aye,” he said, lowering his visor and letting out a deep sigh. He had to win. He had no choice. It was his duty. He would win and then think about all of this later. But right now, he wanted this to be over.
He charged his steed toward Sir Chester, determined to make this his last pass. He was a knight. An honorable knight. He would win to keep right on a promise. He let out a bottled-up scream of frustration and lowered the tip of his lance. Then, with one mighty blow, he thrust his lance forward and unseated Sir Chester. The man flipped over backward and fell to the ground. The crowd cheered, and the marshal called out that Conrad was the winner.
It was over. He managed to secure a position as one of the winners, and now the real competition would begin to find out if one of the other two men would choose Willow as his bride.
“He won! Conrad won!”Willow shouted and jumped up and down. Then she turned and hugged Hazel.
“My brother can marry you now,” said Hazel. “And then I can come live with you. I am so happy.”
“Aye,” said Willow, smiling and releasing a deep breath. Now, she would be Conrad’s wife, and that thought made her happy. But as she watched Conrad remove his helm and dismount his horse, she realized he wasn’t smiling. Something was wrong, and she didn’t know what.
“Will the three winners of the competitions come forward?” called out Lord Beaufort, getting everyone’s attention. “And will the three prize brides come up to join me as well?”
“Go on,” Hazel urged her, looking happier than Willow had ever seen her.
“I’ll escort you, my lady.”
She turned to see Sir Bedivere standing there with his outstretched arm.
“Oh, there’s really no need to do that.” She ducked under the list and started to walk to the raised dais where Lord Beaufort and his wife, as well as Earl Alnwick, were waiting.
“It’s my honor to escort you, my lady.” Bedivere took her hand and slapped it onto his arm, trapping it there as he walked up to the dais at the edge of the field, nodding and smiling at the crowd.
Willow noticed Conrad scowling at her as he approached the dais.
“Ladies, please join me on the dais. Men, line up in front,” instructed Lord Beaufort.
Willow hurried up the wooden stairs, standing next to Lady Anabel and Lady Grace. They both looked extremely nervous. She felt nervous as well.
“Sir Bedivere,” said Beaufort. “Since you were the first winner of the games, you will choose your bride before the others.”
“Thank you,” said Bedivere, hurrying up the stairs and walking down the line of women, inspecting them as if he were choosing a side of beef.
“Who will be your bride?” asked Lord Beaufort.
Willow’s heart thumped like wild. She kept her eyes away from him, hoping he wouldn’t choose her.
“I’ll take her.” His hand came out, and he lifted Willow’s chin. “I choose Lady Willow for my wife.”
“Thank you, Sir Bedivere,” said Beaufort. “But before I grant your wish, I want you to know that the late king and queen of England gave Lady Willow the choice of accepting any proposal of marriage. Do you agree to be Sir Bedivere’s wife, my dear?”
Willow looked down to see Conrad standing on the ground. He stared at her intensely. His jaw was clenched, and a frown covered his face.
“Nay,” she said, getting a reaction of astonishment from the crowd. “I am sorry, but I don’t want to marry Sir Bedivere.”
“Choose another bride, Bedivere,” commanded Beaufort.
