Page 19 of Betrothal

She tried not to smile too broadly, lest she seem boastful, but could not keep the satisfaction out of her voice. “Sir Geoffrey has asked me to choose which knight and lady we are to portray.”

The room buzzed like an excited hive at her words, each lady expressing an opinion about who Alyse should choose.

“Oh, choose Sir Lancelot, Alyse, with you as Elaine.”

“Anne, you know Prince Edward will be Lancelot.”

“What about Sir Perceval? He sought the Grail in some of the legends,” Maurya reminded her. “He has always been my favorite.”

“Sir Perceval could be a good choice,” Alyse admitted, “but he is sometimes portrayed as uncouth or loutish. I would not want Sir Geoffrey seen as such. Nor would I want to play his sister, Dindraine.”

“But you could be Gawain’s sister, Elaine,” Maurya reminded her. “She loved Perceval and helped him defeat the Red Knight.”

“What about Sir Tristan?” Lady Anne ventured another opinion. “Quite a bold knight. And Lady Isolde was beautiful.”

“But what a scandalous relationship, Anne!” Alyse’s indignant voice drew smiles from the other ladies. “Isolde was married to King Mark.”

“But Tristan married an Isolde too. You could be her. Of course they did not have a very happy marriage, but they were married.” Anne’s snide tone echoed her sour face, her mouth puckered in disdain.

Without a doubt, her chamber mate once again waxed jealous and was trying to bait her. Well, she had become used to ignoring the girl by now. “I had actually thought about Sir Erec and Lady Enid,” she ventured instead, looking to the princess for her approval.

Joanna nodded then frowned and asked, “Why Sir Erec, Alyse? He is one of the minor knights, is he not?”

“Oh no, Your Highness. Sir Erec is second only to Sir Gawain as the best knight at the Round Table. And he falls in love with Enid, marries her and spends so much time with her the other knights say she has bewitched him and his prowess has waned. So they go on an adventure together and he proves to her that his prowess is as great as ever.”

“Well, Alyse, I can certainly see why you would choose that couple. Trying to make your marriage fit the legend?” Anne sniggered, earning a stern glance from the princess.

“Lady Anne,” Princess Joanna admonished the girl, “you should look to Alyse as a model of behavior in this matter, for she is thinking how to put Sir Geoffrey into the best possible position before the king and the court.” Joanna nodded approvingly at her. “I certainly commend your choice, Alyse. I believe Sir Geoffrey will be pleased with it as well. He obviously trusted you greatly to give you this important task, and I think his judgment sound in doing so. Your choice will confirm that you will be a good helpmeet to him.”

“I thank Your Highness for your most kind words.” Alyse’s face heated again at the fulsome praise. “I pray that Sir Geoffrey agrees with you.”

Now she could hardly wait for the evening meal when she would meet with her betrothed again and tell him her choice. Anticipating his reaction would keep her thoughts occupied until then. Oh, pray he would be pleased!

“Now, ladies.” Princess Joanna rose, prompting the others to do likewise. “After this flurry of excitement I think I would like to walk in the gardens a while before it becomes overly warm.” The young princess started for the door, Maurya, Alyse and Anne following in her wake. An attendant opened the door and the ladies stopped their progress at the sight of Geoffrey Longford standing in the doorway, his eyes wide with surprise.

* * * *

Geoffrey had raised his hand to knock at the princess’s chamber door when it opened as if of its own accord, bringing him face-to-face with Princess Joanna and her retinue. He stepped back and bowed deeply to the princess.

“Sir Geoffrey.” Princess Joanna greeted him with an amused air. “You have been quite the topic of our conversation this morning.”

Geoffrey shot a glance at Alyse then smiled back at the princess. “Indeed, Your Highness, I beg pardon. To have had such a tiresome subject before you on a beautiful morning must have tried your soul.”

Joanna laughed, a trilling that sounded pleasantly in the ear. “Nay, Sir Geoffrey, quite the opposite I assure you. You enlivened our morning nicely. We are now on our way to the gardens for some fresh air, and to cool us down from our heated discussion of the Knights of the Round Table.

Lord, that did not bode well.

“Will you accompany us?”

Geoffrey bowed again, but shook his head. “Nothing would give me greater pleasure, Highness, but I must return to attend your father the king shortly. I only came to beg a moment of Lady Alyse’s time, an it please you.”

She gave him an inquiring look but said, “Aye, Sir Geoffrey. You may speak with Lady Alyse privately, though for a few moments only. More is not seemly, even for those betrothed. My ladies and I will await her just outside.” The princess sent him another curious look as she passed by but Geoffrey made his obeisance again and Alyse curtsied, and she continued down the corridor and out into the courtyard.

Alyse turned to Geoffrey, her expectant smile making his stomach tighten. Suddenly he was tongue-tied.

What am I to say? Have you made a decision yet? What knight have you chosen for me to portray?

What if she had chosen badly?