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Lancelet straightened up and adjusted her waistcoat. “What an excellent idea.”
“What? Really? Here?” I hissed, my cheeks flaming at the thought.
“Don’t worry, Morgan, I’m not going to undress her in the Great Hall,” Lancelet promised. “I’ll pull her into a stairwell or something. Where is your sense of decency?”
“Oh, you little...” I began, furiously. But she was already gone, striding in the direction of the woman who might or might not have very pink nipples.
I watched, terrified that she was about to interrupt Arthur mid-conversation to steal away one of his guests. But instead of approaching the group, she paused a few steps away, out of Arthur and Agravaine’s sight, and meeting the woman’s eye inclined her head towards the dance floor.
The Lyonessian woman smiled widely. She stepped away from her group, moving towards Lancelet.
There was no one else dancing yet. But I supposed that was about to change.
I watched them begin to dance, fascinated and yes, a little envious. Part of me wished I possessed Lancelet’s skill–though, what would I do with it? Who would I even use such flirtatious charm on? It was a depressing thought.
And as the thought crossed my mind, I spotted the new captain of the Royal Guard.
Captain Draven was wearing a guard's dress uniform made of finely crafted black silk with silver embroidery. It clung to his powerful frame, accentuating the breadth of his shoulders. The Pendragon insignia–myinsignia–was embroidered in silver thread on the breast pocket of his jacket, catching the light as he moved across the room. The jacket had a high collar that framed his strong jawline, highlighting the hint of dark stubble there.
Black trousers hugged his lean legs, tucked into polished black riding boots. His raven hair had been slicked back, revealing the sharp angles of his face. A thin silver chain glimmered against the rich, bronzed skin of his throat, matching the silver ring he always wore in his ear.
His green eyes pierced through the crowd around him. There was a haunting beauty to his features, an allure that was both beguiling and dangerous. His eyes seemed to hold secrets, lurking just below the surface.
To my chagrin, I realized I was not the only one observing the captain. A number of noblewomen had turned their heads as the handsome guard entered the room.
I wondered if Draven had noticed the attention he was receiving. The man certainly didn’t need another boost to his already enormous ego. Resolutely I began to turn my head away.
And then his gaze met mine.
I felt a flush creeping up my cheeks. His eyes looked me up and down, seeming to take in every detail. Perhaps I imagined it but I thought his eyes widened slightly, as if he were surprised to see me look... what? So different? Or perhaps he simply thought I looked completely out of place.
Feeling exposed and vulnerable, I broke my gaze from his.
As I did, I noticed that one of the noblewomen from the Lyonesse delegation had not been content to wait and be noticed by him. Stepping away from her group, she walked boldly up to Draven and coyly placed a hand on his arm.
She was one of the loveliest women I had ever seen. Her dark silky black hair flowed loose down her back. On her head she wore a wreath of ivy, while her lithe body was just barely covered with a flimsy green gown that had been cut high on one side, revealing a perfect curving thigh.
She seemed to be inviting him to dance. I watched as Draven shook his head and murmured something, probably a very charmingly-worded excuse. But the woman would not take no for an answer. With a winsome smile, she began to pleadingly tug on his arm.
“Princess.” Sir Ector stepped up beside me, cutting short my view of the performance. His face was steely.
He followed the direction of my gaze and his scowl seemed to deepen as he noticed Draven.
“You look very handsome this evening, Sir Ector,” I said, trying to be pleasant.
He did not reply in kind. “I know who will be accompanying you tomorrow,” he said bluntly.
I raised my eyebrows. “You spoke with my brother? Who will it be? Is the group very large?”
He shook his head. “Dame Halyna happened to gain the information. She was kind enough to inform me.” He met my eyes. “Only two men are going with you, Morgan.”
I was taken aback. “Only two? How is that possible?” I felt dizzy. I had expected at least ten. Not to mention a retinue of servants and pack horses to keep the group supplied.
“Though it goes against everything I might wish for your safety, your brother evidently desires you to travel as light as possible. With that in mind, I would go through your baggage. Take only what you must. You’ll avoid some embarrassment if you are prepared now rather than coming down with two stuffed trunks.”
I blushed and nodded. “I can do that.” I didn’t think I’d overpacked. My belongings were in two leather satchels, not trunks. But still, it sounded as if we might be traveling with no carts or pack horses whatsoever. In which case, for the sake of my own mount, I should probably remove a few books.
“I will do my best, but you know I have hardly gone anywhere, Sir Ector,” I said, in a low voice. “I don’t know anything about traveling rough.”
