Page 10 of Betrothal

“Aye, my lord, you did. I think I made that quite clear at the time.” Did he not remember last evening at all?

“So I am again upsetting you, my lady?”

“Aye, my lord.” The words came out incredulous that he would so belabor the point.

“How?”

Alyse blinked. “How?”

Geoffrey squared his wide shoulders and looked at her expectantly. “Aye, lady. How have I distressed you? I greeted you in a courteous manner. I have attended you most eagerly. I have held gentle conversation with you. So I would know which of these acts distressed you?”

Bewildered, she shrugged. “All of them, my lord.”

He frowned and shook his head. “I have acted as a gallant courtier and it distresses you?”

She could think of no other way to explain it. “’Tis not your actions, my lord, that disturb me but that you are a stranger to me.”

“But Alyse, how else can you come to know me? If we do not meet? If we do not talk? I have sought you out this morning to tell you I have solved the task you set me last night.”

She frowned. Task? What task?

“You asked me to make time stand still,” he reminded her. “Though I regret I cannot do that exact thing, I believe I have found a way to achieve the same ends. Which is for you to know me better, is that not true?”

Alyse thought a moment. In truth, she had asked for time to know the man she must marry. She nodded for him to continue.

“So, my lady, I have spoken to the king, who looks with great favor on our match. He will allow me to attend you at meals and at chapel. He has even agreed that if Princess Joanna can spare you one afternoon, I may take you riding.”

“To what end, Sir Geoffrey?” She now suspected this scheme would not be to her liking. It put her too much in his company.

“So that we may talk and pass time together as much as possible. Thus we will become very well acquainted, my lady.” His face exuded kindness, his voice gentleness and warmth. “I wager by the end of the fortnight, you will know me well enough to look forward to our nuptials as eagerly as I.”

Alyse froze as though ice covered her. Whatever she had said to him last night, this was not the result she had expected. She tried to remember what she had asked of him, but the thought of the next fortnight spent constantly in his company confused her. A nagging, rational part of her mind insisted that what he proposed was sensible and would accomplish the task handily, but she did not want to do it. She had counted on that time to herself—her last days of freedom—before she had to spend the rest of her life with him.

The dread must have shown on her face, for Geoffrey leaned forward and his eyes searched hers. “My lady, you grow pale. Have I distressed you yet again?”

She looked at him but barely saw anything.

Escape. She had to flee while she could.

“My lord, I believe your plan has merit.” She rose, bringing him to his feet as well. “I fear, however, that our time this morning is at an end. I must go now to Mass in the chapel.” Sanctuary.

“As must I, my lady,” he reminded her and offered his arm. “May I have the honor of escorting you there?”

No escape.

Alyse nodded, resigned, as he placed her hand atop his sleeve. Even this small amount of time alone would be denied her. With as good grace as she could muster, she allowed him to lead her from the Great Hall.

* * * *

Geoffrey knew he had displeased her once more and cursed inwardly. He was ruining this opportunity but could not fathom how to repair the damage. She walked beside him woodenly, her hand like a dry stick on his arm.

I have faced enemy troops with less trepidation than this.

As they wound their way toward the chapel, thoughts of battle strategies filled his head and he decided to seize the offensive tack. He doubted he could make things worse.

“You have been at court but a short while, Lady Alyse? I did not meet you here last Christmas.” Not only a ploy to get her to talk, but to learn about her as well. If she would take the bait.

“No, sir. We did not meet.” She looked up at him and some of the fear retreated from her face. “I arrived at Windsor but two months ago. Before that, I was in the household of Lord Penburthy, in service to his wife, Lady Elizabeth. I have lived in the north these past ten years.”