Page 16 of Promise of a Knight
The king cupped her cheek. Leaned forward and brushed his lips over hers. “Goodnight,” he whispered, and then he was gone, the scent of wine and leather following him out.
As soon as the door closed, the room erupted into more giggles and sighs and exclamations. The kiss had been chaste. Not at all like the way Alex had been kissed by Alaric. His kiss was something entirely different. A promise of decadence and pleasure.
She turned away from the group, touching her lips and closing her eyes. The feel of his kiss still burned. With the princess tucked into bed, the ladies found their own chambers. Alex shared hers with one of the other younger maidens. Exhaustion filled her. She’d not realized how tired she was until her head hit the pillow.
What felt like moments later, Alex was startled awake. Was it morning already? She felt so drained. Outside the window glowed orange. And there were shouts and screams of terror.
Were they under attack? The rebels trying to thwart the wedding before it even occurred?
“What’s happening?” her bedmate said groggily.
Alex leapt from bed, running to the window. Flames licked up and down the barn. People ran to and fro, tossing buckets of water and slapping at the flames with blankets.
“A fire,” Alex said.
Their bedroom door burst open and Lady Home stood at the entrance. “The princess needs ye. The fire in the barn has killed her favorite horses and destroyed many of the goods she brought, including that beautiful cloth-of-gold gown… Oh, it is dreadful.”
“We will dress and come,” Alex said.
“No time for that. Put on yer wraps and come to the Great Hall immediately.”
The Great Hall. The princess was not in her rooms. Away from her necklace. The perfect distraction.
Alex reached for her throat, unable to breathe. Had she wished this ill will on her princess?
“Do not dawdle, lass, get moving,” Lady Home ordered. “Dinna worry about yer lack of formal gown. Everyone is in their nightclothes.”
Alex had not even thought of that. Throwing on her thick robe and slippers, she hurried down to the Great Hall. If she wished this fire on her princess then she would not do worse damage to her by stealing the necklace.
Never.
She couldn’t do it.
Alex was no traitor.
Inside the Great Hall, the princess sat in a chair at the dais, sobbing. The king knelt beside her, patting her shoulder and trying to console her, but the loss of her favorite horses had been great. The princess valued herself as something of a horsewoman and many of the animals she’d seen foaled and helped to raise them herself. She’d brought them to Scotland with the hope of breeding them with King James’ prized mounts to create new Thistle and Rose horses.
Alex was still having trouble breathing. She felt cold, hugging herself and shivering.
“My lady, are you well?” Sir Alaric appeared at her side.
Alex couldn’t look at him, certain her face would show her guilt of both wishing the fire and wishing to kiss him at once. Shameful. She ducked her head and nodded, hoping he’d go away. But he didn’t.
“Can I get you a tisane? You look ready to faint.”
Alex flashed her eyes at him, certain the guilt was plain on her face. Why should he care so much about her? Why not leave her be? “I am well, sir knight. Please, leave me alone.”
He stared at her hard, studying her features and she was certain he could see straight into her soul. Alex tried to look anywhere but at him. Nobody was looking their way, thank goodness, all too concerned with the sobbing princess.
“Might I have a word in private?”
Alex’s mouth dropped open. “Nay! I cannot leave my princess and ’twould be inappropriate. I am only in my robe.”
Dear heavens, why had she pointed that out? The knight’s eyes deepened as he appraised her. Her heart pounded behind her ribs.
“I have a few questions for you. Come willingly or I’ll happily make a show of it.”
Alex reluctantly agreed, her skin sizzling where he grasped gently at her elbow as he steered her toward one of the curtained alcoves.
