Page 19 of May Queen: May Day

“I wish I knew,” he answered, making his way back to the bed. He removed his weapon belt and boots, placing the weapons on the bedside table. Then he pulled off his tunic. She half-turned and looked the other way in modesty.

“My lord,” she said in a breathy whisper, having just seen his bare chest. It looked strong and enticing and interested her. She wanted to take another look but she wouldn’t. “Please, don’t tell me you expect me to go to bed with you before we’re even married.”

“Of course I do.” She heard him removing more clothes and dared to peek at him. He’d removed his breeches and was crawling under the covers. “Of course, we’ll be sleeping and doing nothing else.”

“Nay!” She spun on her heel, holding on to the table to steady herself, trying to calm her racing heart.

“Nay?” He chuckled. “Are you saying you want to couple?”

“Nay, I’m not saying that at all,” she snapped. “What kind of a lady do you think I am? What I meant was – what will people say when they discover we’ve spent the night together locked away in my chamber?”

“People? What people?” he asked, slinking down under the covers, crossing his arms behind his head.

“Everyone!” she said in a breathy voice, thinking how excited yet frightened she was at the same time. She’d never made love with a man. But now, her mind was spinning out of control, wondering about the experience.

“No one knows I’m here, so it won’t matter,” he assured her. His eyes drifted closed as he spoke. “But if my brothers or my squire did know, they would do naught but congratulate me. They’ve been telling me I care too much of what others think of me so, mayhap, this will prove all the rumors false.”

“So . . . you’re staying the night? All night?” she asked, finally finding the nerve to turn around.

“Aye.”

“But you are in my bed. Where will I sleep, my lord?”

His eyes opened and he patted the bed next to him and motioned with his head for her to join him.

“I can’t. I won’t.”

“Then sleep on the floor, I don’t care.” His eyes closed once again. “I gave you my word I wouldn’t couple with you. Whether you believe me or not is up to you. Now, I suggest you get a good night’s rest because, on the morrow, we will post our wedding banns. After that, I have duties to tend to and you will accompany me. Since you will be my wife soon, you will be in charge of planning any festivities in the castle.”

“Festivities?” This took her interest. Flora loved celebrations of any kind. While living with her uncle, he forbade celebrating any holiday that stemmed from pagan traditions, although her mother told her often about these. “Will I be able to plan a celebration for bringing in the May?”

“If you’re meaning the crowning of the statue of Mother Mary, then yes.”

“Nay, I mean the celebration of the season that is halfway between spring and summer. A celebration that honors all life and budding of new plants and also procreation.”

His eyes sprang open. “Nay! That sounds too much like that pagan ritual of Beltane that is celebrated by the Celts and Druids.”

Flora wanted to know what Ricard knew of these celebrations and also what he knew about her people. “You make it sound like a bad thing.”

“It is.”

“Celebrating the seasons and honoring new life is a good thing. How can you see it as anything different?”

“I don’t want to speak of this again.” He rolled over and closed his eyes. “Now, stop all your chattering and get some rest. And don’t even think of trying to sneak away again, because if you do, I assure you that there will be repercussions.”

“Of course not, my lord,” she said, sitting on the edge of the bed and kicking off her shoes. She gingerly pulled back the covers and slipped underneath, fully clothed. She would sleep for now, but she would not get undressed with a man in the room and sharing her bed. Flora turned her back to her husband-to-be. Reaching out, she blew out the nighttime candle next to the bed, waiting for him to fall asleep so she could sneak out and try to find her father.