Page 64 of Knight from the Ashes (Crown and Crest 1)

“Hello, Simon,” a young guard says when he ambles to our table. “Looks like you lived through another exciting supply run.”

“It was riveting as always.” Simon takes a drink.

“I’m Erwin,” the guard says, turning his attention to me. “Care if I join you?”

Deciding the tea has steeped long enough, I gesture for him to take a seat and then pour the pale liquid into my cup and wrinkle my nose. I could have probably waited a little longer.

Erwin has barely taken a seat when two other guards end up at our table.

Simon leans close to me as the men talk with each other. “I’ve never been this popular in my life.”

I quietly laugh into my cup, but the joke doesn’t make me uncomfortable. I’ve always been at ease in the company of my brothers’ companions.

The hall slowly fills up, and I answer my new acquaintances’ questions, laughing at their jokes and deciding my worries were unfounded. No one seems to resent my presence here, even if I am a pampered noblewoman. They’re only curious—and perhaps glad for someone new to distract them from the everyday tedium.

Another soldier strides into the hall, this one so handsome my stomach flutters without my permission—an instinctual reaction I seem to have no control over. I pause with my tea halfway to my lips, studying Henrik over the rim of the cup.

He pauses at the entrance, scanning the room as if he’s looking for someone. After a few moments, his eyes meet mine…and hold. Which makes me think the person he’s looking for isme.

My chest tightens, and I swallow my sudden nerves.

Purposely pulling my gaze away, I berate myself for my reaction. Taking another sip of tea, I force a smile at something Erwin says.

But from the corner of my eye, I watch Henrik walk our way. My heart beats a little faster, and I set the teacup down before I drop it.

Why is the soldier showing me so much attention? And whydidhe ask me to stay with him on the supply run—we both know he didn’t actually need me.

Now that I know he and Camellia aren’t together, I can’t help but wonder.

As absurd as it sounds, could he have feelings for…

I mean, could he possibly…

I can’t even think it. Why would Henrik take a liking to me when he could have his choice of any of the eligible women at court—including the princess? Before I joined him on this short mission, we’d barely exchanged two words.

I don’t have an answer for that, nor do I have an answer as to why I can’t seem to breathe properly when our gazes meet.

Henrik stops next to me, and I glance over as if I just noticed him.

“Lady Clover.” The way he says my name makes my stomach tie itself into a thousand knots. “Lord Garamond has invited me to dine at his table. I was hoping you would join me.”

As a besotted smile passes over my lips, something becomes painfully clear. It doesn’t matter whether Henrik likes me or not…because I like him. I’ve gone and let myself become enamored with the handsome, chivalrous knight—and I will have to rid myself of the infatuation very soon.

But not tonight.

19

Henrik

Clover’s smileis a punch to the gut, and I don’t know what to do about it. Without a word, she offers me her hand.

The men at the table don’t seem pleased that I’ve come to steal their pretty companion, but I outrank them all, and they wisely keep their mouths shut.

There is no reason it should irk me that Clover left with Simon. After all, I told her to go. But as I continued to check items off the list, with a line of wagons left to go through, I became edgy. I held out for as long as I could, and then I shoved the list at Bartholomew and told him to finish.

After all, what is the point of having a squire if you don’t get to force the mundane tasks upon him? There must be a silver lining somewhere.

I stare at Clover’s hand a second too long before I take it. Her skin is warm, and her fingers are slender. She rises gracefully, either oblivious to the fact that every eye in the room watches her, or she’s so used to it, it doesn’t affect her.

---