Grant Clan 06 - My Desperate Highlander (7 page)

Diana stared at each of the challengers, hoping to catch sight of Randall as well, but she could not identify him among the gathering of helmed men. Her insides turned to jelly at the thought of Randall or another knight coming to her for a token. She squeezed Aunt Elspeth’s hand in anticipation and the older woman chuckled.

“Have you never seen a tourney before, lass?”

“Nay, and I am so excited. You do not understand. ‘Tis just as my mama told me when I was young. Every eve before bed, she shared tales of the braw knights and the colorful tourneys, the tokens from the maidens. ‘Tis all true, just as mama said.”

“Methinks your sire protected you a bit much.”

Diana sighed. If she only knew how much her father had protected her from the outside world. Now everything was such a fresh new experience that she couldn’t get enough. She had to take advantage of her relative freedom and enjoy herself to the fullest when her kin were not watching.

The challengers exited the field while the English knight stayed in the center.

When he was the lone man on the field, the herald announced, “The knight seeks his tokens for good fortune.”

Diana grew wide-eyed. “Is this the part where he gathers scarves and ribbons from the ladies in the crowd?”

Aunt Elspeth nodded. “Since it is his tourney, he will get many, including one from his betrothed. It is tradition. And if the knight sees a lass in the crowd he admires, he may stop in front of her and request a favor. She will either tie one onto his lance or risk insulting him.”

The woman in the front chuckled. “Who would dare insult him? You could get speared by the tip of his lance.”

Diana squirmed in her seat, so excited by the prospect of seeing such a romantic expression of love between the betrothed couple. He stood in the center and pranced his horse in a circle to the delight of the spectators, feigning an approach in several different directions, much to the excitement of the many lassies in the crowd. Each time he turned toward a group of lassies on the grass, the ladies would jump and scream and wave their scarves in the air, hoping to coax the knight to come to them. He changed directions six times before he finally headed toward the main grandstand.

Diana and Elspeth’s grandstand was to the side of the main one, so they could not see inside. How she wished to run out and steal a glimpse at the beautiful bride he had chosen, but to do that, she would have needed to run onto the field.

When he reached the grandstand of his betrothed, he lowered his lance slowly, the blunt end held directly in front of the people who were seated there. His horse bent down onto one knee to the cheers of the audience. Diana could see a lass’s delicate hands reach out and tie her scarf on the end of the lance. The crowd applauded and the knight galloped away, circling the field again with his lance held high in the air, showing his token for all to see. The noise from the crowd was deafening, and Diana giggled as she covered her ears for a moment.

He halted in the center again and pranced around in a small circle, playing the same game again.

Diana whispered, “Won’t his betrothed be upset?”

“Nay, she was chosen first.”

The knight stopped his horse finally, then kneed the beast and headed straight for Diana.

Diana lost the ability to swallow. The world slowed as the knight came in her direction, his lance now pointed at her. Her eyes widened, and she clutched Aunt Elspeth’s hand.

The woman in front of her said, “He’s coming for you, lass.”

Diana shook her head, unable to believe he was singling her out. The faster he came, the louder the roar of the crowd. She fastened her gaze on the knight’s and discovered the woman was right. He
was
coming for her.

For her! Just as she had always dreamed! A knight was coming for her. Well, mayhap just for her favor, but still, he had chosen her. The knight stopped in front of her grandstand, and his horse trotted sideways before he calmed him. As soon as his mount was under control, he lowered his lance directly in front of Diana.

Still unable to believe such a thing would happen, she scrambled to pull a scarf out of her sleeve. Leaning toward the knight, she stared directly into his eyes, and she could swear he smiled at her, though it was impossible to know for sure with his helm in place. Her heart melted as the moment she had waited for her entire life finally presented itself. She fumbled with the piece of fine silk, but managed to tie it on the end. The knight bowed his head to her before turning away and holding his lance up for the crowd to celebrate with him again.

He left the field with only two tokens, Diana’s and the one from his betrothed. Diana’s mind was sheer mush, barely able to concentrate on the tournament in front of her. What did all of this mean? She had asked Aunt Elspeth, but the woman shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. “Mayhap naught, mayhap everything.”

She chastised herself for even getting her hopes up. The man was betrothed, and surely not interested in her. However, he must have friends, and his friends would be knights.

The knight defeated challenger after challenger, snapping lances as if they were naught but toy wooden sticks. Each competitor rolled on the ground in pain and agony. She was certain they were making a bigger show of their loss than many Scots would have done, but it didn’t matter. It was the best show she had ever seen. The knight did have an occasional break when the field would fill with men on horseback, not in armor but in colorful clothing meant to dazzle the audience with their tricks.

After two hours of jousting and the horse showmanship, the herald came into the center of the field and held his arms up. “The tournament will continue after a one hour break so our competitors can regain their strength. Any new challengers may approach the judge’s tent at the end of the field. Please take this time to enjoy our many merchants and their goods in the nearby meadow.” He turned toward the end of the field and held up his arm. “Another round of applause for our English knight, the champion at the halfway mark.”

The knight came galloping onto the field. Finally, he would remove his helm, and she would get to see him. She stood and leaned toward him, the anticipation almost too keen for her to bear. He pulled off his helm and shook his blond tresses out to the squeal of all his admirers.

Randall Baines grinned and looked directly at her, then nodded briefly before leaving the field.

Diana fell back into her chair in shock.
Randall
was the betrothed knight?

Aunt Elspeth fanned her face. “My dear, you look as if you have seen a ghost. What is it? What happened?”

“I have met him.”

“What? What are you talking about? Where did you meet him?”

“Last night. I met him last night.” Diana tried to hide the horror growing inside her. She had been kissing a betrothed man. Had she known, it never would have happened.

Aunt Elspeth gave her a suspicious look. “And how did you meet him? He is betrothed.”

Diana turned away from Aunt Elspeth, hiding the expression of guilt on her face. How could she have known he was betrothed?

“Just for a moment, Aunt Elspeth. He was at one of the booths I had stopped at, I think the ones with the ribbons. But I had no idea he was the knight who is about to be married.”

“Wasn’t he with his betrothed?”

“Nay, he was alone.”

“Hmm. Not surprising, he was probably out searching for another lass to steal favors from before he marries. Seems to be a tradition within a sennight of the ceremony. Lads run wild right up until the day they are wed.” She shook her head.

Aunt Elspeth finally made sense of a few of her comments, apparently, because she looked at her with a strange expression on her face. “What exactly happened last eve? The man came for your favor. What prompted him to do that? Did you kiss him or tease him?”

“What?” Diana shook her head and expressed her shock at the crude comment, but then she realized it was exactly what had happened. She blushed and turned away again. Not only had he stolen favors, but he had touched her in inappropriate places. Worst of all, he had lied to her. The niggling doubt she had felt since meeting Randall grew to enormous proportions.

Aye, she had asked him if he was a knight and he’d denied it. Why? Diana could come up with no acceptable reason, but she continued to review everything that had happened between them in her mind. All her hopes were crashing around her, leaving a feeling of utter defeat in their wake.

Aunt Elspeth ushered her out of the grandstand. “Come, I’ll buy us some fruit tarts to hold us through to the end of the tourney. There is much more to come. I’m sure the remaining challengers will be much more difficult than the ones he has already met. These rounds were all quite easy for him.”

Diana followed Aunt Elspeth through the crowd, her mind still in a daze from all she had discovered. It totally deflated her to realize the man she’d hoped to be honorable was in fact a liar who’d had his hands all over her. Micheil had judged Randall correctly, though she hated to admit it. Here was another example of his good judgment.

Her head was down as she stood in line waiting for a pie. Someone called out her name, and she turned to see Micheil pushing through the crowd toward her. Elspeth bought three strawberry pies and handed them each one.

“Well?” Micheil said, his brow quirked as he stared at her.

She could not answer yet, so the three of them continued on their way with their food until they found a good place to eat—a toppled log among the trees. Now she would have to listen to him gloat. Hellfire, must he always be so wise?

She dropped onto the log in a huff, exasperated by the fast turn of events. This had gone from the best day of her life to one of the worst. A short while ago, there had been a chance for her to find her knight, to become betrothed, to save her father’s heritage, but no more. It had all disappeared with the removal of a helm.

The liar.

And now she was just as vulnerable to Baron Gow as ever.

***

Micheil leaned against a nearby tree, doing his best to stifle his grin. “Well, what did you think of the English knight?” She had to know it was Randall Baines. True, at the beginning he had kept his identity a secret, but he had finally removed his helm for all to see. Having arrived late, Micheil had not managed to find his aunt and Diana during the first half of the tourney. Instead, he’d stood to the side and watched events unfold, checking for the baron’s men at the same time. All the women around him had swooned over the knight’s good looks, but no matter. Micheil was only interested in the response of one woman—Diana. How had she felt when the knight had removed his helm?

Diana blushed and squirmed on her seat. He gave her a puzzled look. What was she about, and why wasn’t she talking to him?

Aunt Elspeth answered, “He was a verra nice looking knight and he fought hard, though I am not sure his competitors fought so hard. Some of them seemed a wee bit louder than necessary for their injuries.”

“I agree, Aunt Elspeth.” He waited for Diana’s assessment of her wonderful knight, but none came. She stared off into space. Then the truth finally dawned on him—she was struggling to hold in tears.

Slud, not tears. That bastard had made Diana cry? But why? She’d known him too short of a time to have genuine feelings for him.

Aunt Elspeth stared at her charge. “Micheil, did you notice who the knight came to for his favors?”

“Nay, I arrived a bit late. I’m sure he went to his betrothed.” He shrugged his shoulders.

“Aye, he did. And to one other lass.” She tilted her head toward Diana.

Nay, he hadn’t… The bastard had actually stood in front of all and asked for her favor? “Aunt, did he remove his helm when he came for his favors?”

“Nay, why does that matter?” She gave him a puzzled look and lifted her chin.

It sure as hell did, but he wasn’t going to say anything to his aunt. Now he understood. Baines had come to her with his helm on, and she hadn’t realized it was him. Her dreams of a perfect mate had just been squashed by a surly, lying knight.

“Diana.” He reached for her, but she dropped her pie and stood. Then, as if she simply could not take it anymore, she ran into the woods away from him and everyone else. “Hellfire.” He ran after her. “Diana, he’s a bastard, I’m sorry, but he wasn’t meant for you.”

She ran and ran, and he could hear her sobs. He finally grasped her shoulder from behind. “Diana, please stop.”

She spun around and glared at him. “Stop? So what? So you can have your last laugh and tell me about how right you were? Well, I will not give you the satisfaction, Micheil Ramsay.”

“He took advantage of you. I’m not here to prove you wrong, just to make sure you don’t let him take advantage of you again.”

“Well, at least it was someone besides the Baron Gow. I was almost forced to marry that old lout without having been properly kissed. So do not think to tell me what to do. If I wish to kiss someone, I will, and I don’t have to check with you!”

“Och, is that so? You think you’ll just walk down a path and kiss whomever you wish?” He moved closer to her, making sure no one was about and they were well hidden in the trees. “Do you think your father would like that?” He moved closer until her breasts almost brushed his chest. “And what about your cousin? Would Alex Grant let you kiss just anyone you chose?”

“I do not care. I will kiss whomever I want.” Her hands settled on her hips, and she leaned toward him, glaring at him, daring him to do something he knew he shouldn’t.

He glowered back at her. How was he to talk sense into her? “Nay, you will not. If you do, I’ll return you to Baron Gow.” His shout echoed through the trees.

“You would, would you not? You hate me. You don’t want me to marry anyone of my choosing or even
talk
to anyone of my choosing.” Her finger pointed at his chest. “You wish to choose everything for me, even the men I kiss. Why? Why do you care?”

“Because.” Hellfire, but he could breathe in her scent, they stood so close. He glanced at her lips, begging to be kissed. Her breasts touched his chest for a second, and a spark of fire coursed through him. Slud, but she was so beautiful, he could not think straight sometimes.

She still stared at him, but the fury in her gaze had turned to something else. Desire. He saw it and grabbed her, covering her mouth with his. He tugged her close and ran his teeth across her bottom lip until she parted for him so he could sink his tongue into her sweet cavern. Hellfire, he had wanted this for a while. She tasted of strawberries, and when she touched her tongue to his, he groaned and delved deeper. A soft mewling sound erupted from the back of her throat that undid him. He ravished her lips until she rubbed against him, fueling a fire he didn’t know if he could put out anytime soon. Finally, his senses returned and he stepped back, placing a good distance between them.

“You wanted a kiss. That’s how you kiss, not the insipid way your knight kissed you.” With that, he turned on his heel and stalked away. The last thing he noticed was Diana running her fingers across her lips as she stared at him, awestruck.

At least, he hoped she was awestruck. Though he would probably be better off if she were angry, because there was only one way to put out the fire she had just started in him, and he couldn’t do that to her. Alex would kill him and so would Aunt Elspeth.

He wanted her more than he had ever wanted anyone, and it scared the hell out of him.