Page 31 of The Sword and the Damsel

Carenza gasped, and Alais glanced at her. This was the right thing to do, wasn’t it? Carenza gave her a little, encouraging smile as Alais turned back to her suitor.

“But your father and Lord Daniel approve,” he said, scooting closer and grasping her hands again.

“They don’t object, but the final choice is mine. I’ve decided this is not the right match for me. I’m sorry to disappoint you,” she said, scooting away and pulling her hands from his clasp once more.

There, she’d done it. If he had any chivalry at all, he would accept her rejection and leave her alone.

His eyes narrowed, and that ugly sneer she saw during the tournament was back. “What did Victor tell you about me?”

“What?”

He grabbed her shoulders a little too harshly as he glared at her. “He told you some lie. That’s why you’re refusing me.”

“He told me you saved his life, and he told my father and Daniel that you were a good match for me, that he knew of no reason why they should oppose a marriage between us.” She plucked his hands from her shoulders and pushed them away, as she gave him a warning look.

He regarded her with a scowl, and his face bore no resemblance to the handsome man she’d first admired. “So after all of your flirtation, after leading me on shamelessly, you’re rejecting me out of hand?”

The words hit her with the force of a slap. She gasped. “I beg your pardon?”

“After the way you behaved, riding with me back to the castle that day you were injured, accepting my gifts…You’re wearing my clasp right now. I gave it to you in front of everyone right before the tournament. I don’t believe this!”

How had she ever thought this man could be a match for her?

“I’m sorry if you feel I led you on. You can have your clasp back,” she said, unfastening it from her dress and handing it to him. “I think I should return to my family.”

“I’ll make you regret this. I promise you that.” His eyes narrowed to slits, and there was no hint of his usual flirtatious warmth. He was a snake ready to strike.

Alais shivered and recoiled.

“Sir Robert.” Carenza moved from her bench to intervene before Alais realized she’d even gotten up. For once, Alais felt a swell of gratitude for Carenza’s interference. “Don’t threaten my sister,” the duchess said with an imperious tone, and she gave him a glare that made him flinch. With that, she reached for and took Alais’s hand. “I think it’s time we go.”

Alais was more than happy to let Carenza pull her away. She was trembling all over, barely aware of her surroundings as they weaved their way through the crowd.

As soon as they were out of sight and earshot, Carenza stopped and pulled her into a hug. “I’m so proud of you, Alais! You did the right thing. I was absolutely certain you were going to marry him, but I’m so glad you saw through him in the end. He’s a waste of time. You deserve better.”

Alais was stunned. Carenza hadnevertold her she was doing the right thing.

Now her older sister dragged her over to Daniel and their father who were absorbed in a logistical conversation with Sir Victor.

“You’ll never believe what Alais just did.” Carenza interrupted, positively bubbly. “She turned down Sir Robert! I’m so happy she saw through him. Oh, it is such a relief!”

Her father and Daniel looked confused. Sir Victor looked at Alais, fire in his eyes. Her heart skipped a beat.

“My love, I thought you wanted Alais to get married,” Daniel said hesitantly.

“Of course, I do,” Carenza said. “But not to some stuffed shirt who spends more time on his hair than I do. And he threatened her when she turned him down. Can you believe it? He said, ‘I’ll make you regret this. I promise you that.’ As if he was already plotting revenge. Good riddance is what I say.”

“Lady Alais,” Sir Victor said. “Would you like me to accompany you back to the castle? I don’t like that he’s threatened you.”

Yes, she would have liked nothing better, but did she dare offend her suitors by disappearing like that?

“I appreciate the thought, but I’ve been looking forward to this tournament for so long,” she said, straightening and squaring her shoulders as best she could.

Her father shook his head. “Sir Victor’s right. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you, however unlikely it is that he would take action.” Turning to Sir Victor, he said, “Can you go get her maid? You should head back quickly.”

Thank heavens for her father.

“As you wish, my lord. I’ll return as soon as I’ve seen her safely home.”

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