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The man’s dark eyes bore into her before he moved over and put his hand on Lady Anabel’s shoulder. “I’ll take her.”
“Lady Anabel will be your wife.” The crowd clapped. Lord Beaufort dismissed them. “Sir George, approach the dais. You will choose next.”
Once again, the knight walked up the stairs and he, too, chose Willow.
“I’m sorry, Sir George, but I can’t marry you either,” she told him. Sir George then chose Lady Grace, and they exited the platform.
Last, it was Conrad’s turn. That made Willow’s heart flutter. She was the only one left to choose, so it was inevitable that she and Conrad would marry. Willow spied Hazel out in the crowd, looking very happy.
However, Sir Conrad didn’t climb the platform. He stayed on the ground and spoke to Lord Beaufort. “I beg your forgiveness, Lord Beaufort, but I cannot marry Lady Willow.”
With her smile turning into a frown, Willow’s heart sank when Conrad announced that he wouldn’t marry her. She looked up to realize that Hazel had disappeared.
“Lochwood, what do you mean you can’t marry her?” grumbled Lord Beaufort.
“I am her guardian and promised her father I would keep her away . . . from the men.”
The crowd laughed, making Willow want to hide her head and cry. She couldn’t stay here any longer. Running down the stairs, she passed Conrad.
“Wait, Willow. I want to talk to you.” Conrad reached out and touched her arm.
“Get your hands off of me, Conrad the Cur! I wouldn’t marry you if you were the last man on earth.” The crowd laughed again, and Willow felt like hiding away forever. She had to leave here and think about this situation. She didn’t want to be around people right now.
Running to the stable, she bridled her horse and mounted it without using a saddle. Fleeing over the drawbridge and into the woods, she tried to get as far away from Conrad and the laughing crowd as possible.
