Page 87 of Veil of Winter

“I don’t know. He has...” She lowered her voice and leaned closer to her new friend. “He and I have...” Her cheeks grew hot and she pressed her hands to her face. “We have kissed,” she whispered.

“Oh! Then I’m sure he has feelings for you too. He is a noble knight. He’s too chivalrous to take advantage of you. But he may be as uncertain about your feelings as you are about his, if you have not told him how you feel.”

Did he love her? He was strong and kind, independent and confident, but could he love her, a woman who was too emotional and unsure of herself?

“Would a knight wish to marry a queen? He will need some purpose.”

“He can be in charge of your guard. You could send your father’s chamberlain away and let Sir Gerard do those duties. Or you could appoint him the chancellor. Do you think he is good with diplomacy and writing letters and decrees?”

“I think he would be very good at those things.” Her heart rose in anticipation.

Could Astrid be right? Could Sir Gerard be content to live apart from his family, to be her guard captain, chancellor, or chamberlain?

If only he was not away in Valkenfeld. But how would she propose these duties to him if he were here? Should she ask him to marry her?

No, no. A man did not want to be proposed to. She would have to wait for him to ask her. But along with an even temper and inner calm, patience was not one of her greatest virtues.God, help me.

***

Gerard and Bertold rode to Valkenfeld with all of their guards, including the soldiers on loan from King Wenceslaus, expecting to have to fight Count Rodrigo and whatever men he had been able to recruit. But when Bertold confronted him, Rodrigo didnot put up much of a struggle. It was clear Rodrigo had hoped Bertold would not return to Valkenfeld, but since Bertold had a greater claim to the throne, and since Claude had no children, Rodrigo backed down and conceded Bertold’s right to rule Valkenfeld.

Gerard stayed close to Bertold as he made speeches to all of the Valkenfeld guards and to the people of Valkenfeld. All went smoothly as Bertold was crowned the new king in a short ceremony in the town cathedral.

“I thank you for all you have done,” Bertold said to Gerard and Sir Oswalt. “You are trustworthy men of good and noble minds. I would greatly appreciate it if you would escort Astrid back here. And it would be my honor if you would consent to be my guard captains.”

It was not a complete surprise, as Bertold had hinted at wanting to appoint them to be his captains. Gerard would not have accepted in any case, but he had a strange, unsettled feeling—he’d awakened with it that morning—that he should get back to Montciel and the princess as quickly as possible.

“I cannot speak for Sir Oswalt, but I must decline the offer to be your guard captain, as I have unfinished business in Montciel. And while I would gladly escort your queen back here, I would ask that you find someone else you trust to do it.”

Meanwhile, Sir Oswalt said nothing, in his taciturn manner.

Bertold clapped Gerard on the back. “No, no, you go on back to Montciel. I have guards I can send to bring Astrid to me. But, may I say, if your unfinished business has to do with Princess Elyce, keep in mind that she will need a strong man, both loyaland capable, to help her look after her affairs. She is a woman of good moral character. You could hardly do better.”

It was high praise from a man who rarely praised anything.

“I don’t know if the princess—soon to be the queen—would feel the same about me.”

“The only way to know is to ask.”

It was true. He had done a lot of thinking since he left Princess Elyce. Though they had been through a lot of troubles and trials, and he’d been a close witness to how she behaved and dealt with those trials, they had known each other for only a short time. And yet, her character was clear.

Sir Oswalt spoke up then, saying, “I will accompany Sir Gerard back to Montciel.”

So the two of them prepared to leave Valkenfeld.

As they were saddling their horses, Sir Oswalt cleared his throat. “It’s too cold here. I’m ready to go home.”

“To England?”

Sir Oswalt grunted.

“I thought you might have decided to stay and marry Ysabeau. Or take her back with you.”

Sir Oswalt looked at him as if his face had turned green. “I sat with the girl once at a feast and you have us married?”

Gerard laughed. “I’m not trying to marry you to anyone. I just thought you liked her.”

“I liked her. Perhaps I changed my mind when she tried to talk the princess into marrying Count Rodrigo. She never had any faith in us being able to save her, the princess, or her brothers. Besides, I think I’m too contrary in my ways to get married.”