The Maiden And The Warrior. Jacqueline Navin

from your arrogant, odious presence as I can get.”

      She lowered her voice as she continued in a tone of solemn avowal. “I will wait on King Henry’s decision, but I have no doubt that day will win my freedom, and when I am free, I will spare you no thought other than an occasional shudder when I think of you. Now get yourself from this room, for you have no authority over me that I recognize.”

      Lucien regarded her dispassionately for a long moment before he stepped away. He went to the door and, just as Alayna was feeling triumphant, called over his shoulder in a flat tone.

      “Keep to your solitude, then, cold lady. I see now that your waspish tongue and shrewish disposition would sour our celebration. My guests and I will do better to make merry without you.”

      Alayna stood openmouthed at this statement, stunned with the impact of his words. She was unable to make any reply as he stalked out of the chamber, closing the door behind him with infinite gentleness.

       Chapter Seven

      The room was enveloped in silence, the only sound the soft echo of his fading footsteps beyond her chamber door. She stood alone, unable to move, with his last words echoing in her head.

      Dear Lord, he was unbearable! How dare he forbid her from the celebration!

      Restless, she began to pace in front of the hearth.

      How could he stand there and have the gall to suggest she curry his favor? Was he mad? He must be, or too intoxicated with his newfound power to have any sense.

      She turned on her heel and stomped back toward the door.

      He was a cold, selfish, unfeeling brute. He was so full of himself, so impossibly arrogant that it was amazing he had not exploded with self-importance already.

      Picking up a carved ivory brush, she flung it at a wall as she circled back to the window.

      God’s mercy but she hated him. He was almost pitiful, so obvious in his attempt to goad her into bending to his will. She was not deluded by his ploy. Of course, he was counting on her anger to prod her into going down to his damnable feast. Well, he was mistaken if he thought she would be so easily duped.

      She flounced down onto the window seat, looking with unseeing eyes out onto the bailey. It was a familiar perch, for she had favored this spot during the long, dark days at Gastonbury before de Montregnier’s arrival.

      Seated here again, she was struck with the vivid recollection of the despair of those times. Could it truly have been only days ago? It seemed a lifetime. Dear Lord, at least she was no longer with Edgar.

      It was an incongruent thought, but it was nonetheless true.

      She loathed de Montregnier with his high-handed arrogance and his quick-witted barbs. Yet she was without a doubt much better off for his having defeated Edgar and taken over Gastonbury. Brutal and insensitive he was, but she could not honestly hate his prowess on the battlefield, for it had saved her from the unthinkable fate of living as du Berg’s wife.

      De Montregnier wished to use her for his ends, but he had never really caused her any damage. All he had done was detain her. True, he was a dishonorable liar and a ruthless schemer, but at least he was not a lecher, or worse. He had not harmed her. And she had to admit she was not completely blameless. She had done much to antagonize him.

      It almost certainly would have gone worse for her with another.

      Perhaps she was acting a bit peevish. Not without cause, to be sure, yet still more thin-skinned than her normal habit. There was something about de Montregnier that riled her to her worst displays of temper. She suddenly realized she was not very proud of that. Most assuredly, she was ashamed to be hiding in her room to avoid a confrontation. What would her mother say of such cowardice?

      Alayna came to her feet. She did not stop to examine her motives. With a sense of determination, she flung open the lid of the chest that held her finest gowns. She would have no help dressing, so she chose a simple, long tunic of deep rose brocade. Pulling it on quickly, she rummaged through another trunk to find an unadorned girdle of gold and a delicate filigreed circlet for her hair. She fetched the ill-used brush and roughly applied it until the mass of curls gleamed in a shimmering cascade down her back. She placed the circlet on her unbound tresses and slipped her feet into the soft slippers that matched her gown. Thus garbed, she smoothed her hands down the front of her dress, took a deep breath and hurried to the hall.

      When she entered the room, she was aware of the hushing of conversations as she moved to the high table. The last time she had sat there, Edgar had been the host. Now, clad in his customary black, Lucien de Montregnier had the master’s chair. He watched her with smug assurance as she came to take her place beside him.

      “I beg your pardon, my lord, for the delay. I have come to attend you at your celebration, as you requested.”

      The words cost her only a little, but it was worth it to see the smirk melt from his face. It was obvious he had been expecting her to be blustering or sullen. This gracious apology had stunned him. Ha!

      She was disappointed in how soon he recovered. Lucien merely waved his hand at the chair next to him. “Be seated and let the feasting commence.”

      With effortless grace, she sank into the chair at his left. A small scuffle drew her attention, and she turned to see Will and Pelly struggling over who would be the one to sit on her other side. Eventually Will gave his young friend a hearty shove and took the advantage. When he was safely ensconced in the coveted position, he turned to give Alayna a winning grin, choosing to ignore the dark scowl Lucien bestowed on him. Pelly sank into the next seat, looking quite perturbed.

      Alayna could not help but to be amused by their antics. She rewarded both men with a genuine smile that immediately alleviated Pelly’s sulk. Alayna’s mood was lightened, as well, and she was delighted they had obviously annoyed de Montregnier. She decided that she may enjoy the evening after all. In this spirit, she applied herself to pointedly shunning any conversation with him, focusing her attention on the charming Sir Will.

      The handsome knight was very attentive. He amused all with his lighthearted manner and frivolous tales of his own courage and bravery. However, he told these stories with such obvious exaggeration that they were transformed into delightful parodies.

      Lucien was keenly aware of her presence at his side. After recovering from the shock of her humble apology, he saw it for what it was—a carefully calculated ploy to take him off guard. This woman was not as predictable as most, he would give her that much.

      He was immeasurably annoyed when the serving wench set down the trencher and chalice between himself and Alayna. It was customary for these things to be shared between two people, and as the new lord, it was logical that he be matched with Edgar’s widow. However, it was decidedly awkward. He scowled, flickering a glance to Alayna, who appeared horrified at the prospect of sharing the meal with him. She looked at him accusingly, and he realized she thought he had planned it. He felt a surge of perverse pleasure at her vexation.

      “Does anything please you, my lady?” he inquired as a servant held a tray for them to make their selections. The sarcastic solicitousness in his voice made her bristle.

      “Nay, my lord. Nothing here pleases me,” she countered, her meaning clear. Lucien rewarded her with a grim smile.

      “Take this tray away, it does not please your lady,” he commanded.

      Her eyes widened, locking with his amused ones. She had not expected that. The next servant presented her with a generous assortment of meats. Lucien could see that she was hungry from the look she gave the heavily laden platter, but he knew she would never admit it.

      “And what of these? Is there naught here that pleases you?”

      She did not answer, hesitating with the wariness of an animal who senses the trap but is unsure in which direction