But now, it was growing stronger.
In order to keep his attention off of her because he was fearful that Peter might catch on to his interest in her, he’d kept away from her after that first night. The trip from London to Norwich was usually a five-day trip, depending on the weather and any number of factors, but they’d made good time in spite of the rain that had come in waves.
Alexander had ridden at the head of their escort, keeping conversation to a minimum since chatty knights tended to be less in tune with their surroundings and potential threats. Therefore, travel was quiet, with Christin positioned between her brother and Bric, with Kevin watching their backs. Every so often, Alexander would hear Christin and Peter conversing quietly. Then he’d turn around, casually, and glance at the dark-haired beauty. Most of the time, she would smile politely at him. But he wouldn’t smile in return. He would face forward before he’d let a smile play on his lips.
That had been the second day.
They’d spent the night at an inn that wasn’t nearly the glory of The Buck and Boar, traveled all the next day in a driving rainstorm, and then spent that night in the common room of a tavern that was so full, people were sleeping in the kitchens.
It hadn’t been ideal.
Alexander had remained away most of the night while Christin slept and the knights rotated in and out of sleep, keeping vigilant watch until an hour before dawn when Christin awoke and insisted on taking her turn at the watch. Alexander had declined, but she’d pressed, until finally he pretended to sleep simply to please her. She’d spent the time watching the room like a hawk, her bejeweled, sharp dagger in her hand.
He’d spent the time watching her through slit lids.
Now, they would be arriving at Norwich by nightfall and he was sorry to see it end. Once they reached Norwich, his chances to see her or speak with her would be few and far between, although he didn’t know why he was worrying about it considering he’d barely spoken to her since The Buck and Boar.
Now, he was coming to regret that decision in the slightest.
The day, surprisingly, was one without rain. A bright, blue sky reigned overhead with puffy white clouds pushed along by the breeze. There was a chill to the air, however, but there was enough sun and wind to dry out the roads a little, making them somewhat easier to travel on. They’d made good time on this day, coming into the outskirts of Norwich proper as they entered a village without an official name, but the locals called it Stratton.
The daughter of the richest merchant in town had been married earlier in the day and the entire village had been invited to the feast. People were out in droves, drinking and laughing, and as the five of them headed into the heart of the village, they could see that great tables of food and drink had been laid out all over the square.
On a grassy area near the well, they had two giant spits going with two big sides of beef, and an entire area in the center of town was dedicated to barrels upon barrels of ale. The entire town seemed to be wildly drunk, which was quite amusing. They had garlands in their hands of autumn greenery, mostly evergreen branches woven with purple asters. A group of giggling young women handed a garland to Christin, who didn’t look quite sure what to do with it.
“Put it on your head,” Alexander told her. “It is a celebration.”
She looked at him, smiling wanly as she pulled off the hood of her cloak and put the purple flower garland on her head.
Alexander’s willpower to leave her alone fled.
She looked like an angel with the flowers around her dark hair, which was braided and draped over one shoulder. Alexander grinned at her, the first smile in days, and his gaze lingered on her a little longer than it should have. Realizing that he was looking at her like a besotted fool, he quickly shifted his focus and looked to the others in their group.
“Would you turn down free food and drink?” he asked them. “We have made excellent time to Norwich and, even now, the castle is less than an hour away. Mayhap we could all do with some frivolity before the seriousness begins.”
Peter was already sliding off of his horse, followed by Kevin. Bric seemed a little more reluctant because he wasn’t one for frivolity, but free drink was enough of a lure. With a heavy sigh, he dismounted his horse, taking the reins from Peter and Kevin, as they were nearly pawing the ground in their haste to get to the food, women, and drink. Once he took their horses, they ran off into the crowd.
“I will take your horses and sell them,” Bric called after them. When there was literally no response from the overeager knights, Bric shook his head. “Oh, to be young and foolish.”
Alexander dismounted and behind him, so did Christin. “Mayhap,” Alexander said. “I think it is more that there is so little time for merriment given the tasks we undertake that any chance for it has us reliving our youth. There is little time for anything but duty in our lives these days.”
Bric understood that. Given that he served de Winter at Narborough, he had a little more time away from William Marshal than most of them, so he forced himself to be tolerant. The crusty Irishman had that capacity, sometimes. Taking the reins of Alexander’s horse and Christin’s horse, he headed off towards the livery at the edge of the village.
That left Alexander standing with Christin as they watched the party going on around them. He could see her in his periphery, standing there with the garland of purple flowers around her head, and he realized that he wasn’t sorry at all that Peter had run off and left his sister alone.
She wasn’t alone at all, fortunately for him.
He turned to her.
“My lady?” he said, offering her his elbow. “Shall we find the food and drink?”
Christin looked at him with some hesitation, an expression that turned to confusion when he smiled at her encouragingly.
“You… want me to go with you?” she asked.
“And why not?”
Her well-arched eyebrows lifted. “Because…” she began, then trailed off. “My lord, did I do something to anger you?”
He lowered his elbow. “Why on earth would you think that?”
“Because you spent the past three days ignoring me and behaving as if I had upset you,” she said frankly. “I assume you are speaking to me again? If that is the case, I must apologize for whatever I did.”
He knew exactly what she meant and confusion began to swamp him. He thought he’d been quite neutral in his behavior towards her other than the fact he wouldn’t look at her, but as bright as she was, she noticed. And she’d been thinking about it, concerned that she had angered him somehow. That made him suspect that, perhaps, she might be thinking of him beyond a simple working associate and that’s what he didn’t want.
… but he did.
God help him, he did.
“You have done nothing,” he said quietly, with some resignation. “It is simply that my mind has been… elsewhere. I am sorry if you thought I was angry with you.”
Relief filled her features; he could see it. “I am very glad to hear that,” she said. “I thought I had said something to upset you.”
“You could not upset me, I assure you.”
She nodded her head in the direction of the partygoers. “Then I will find food and drink with you,” she said. “And if you are not upset with me, mayhap you will tell me more of yourself. The last time, we spoke of me. This time, we shall speak of you.”