Page 151 of Winning Winnie’s Hand

The shock on each of their faces would have made her laugh, had her heart not pricked at the thought of Matthew again. She needed to see him, to speak with him.

“Is that what this is about?” Dad asked. “You’ve fallen for someone there, so you’re going to give up everything?”

She looked at him, focusing hard to get her point across. “No. That’s not why I’m refusing the job. I promised to stay with the Wintours and help at Foxwood, so that’s why I’m going to do just that.”

“You promised Kris & Sons you’d help them,” Dad countered.

But Winnie shook her head. “I told you that I would, Dad. But I didn’t promise them.”

Dad shook his head, rubbing his fingers across his brow. “I can’t believe this.”

Her heart reached out to him. She had dropped a veritable bomb, destroying any hopes of the future he had with the prestigious company. But she couldn’t do this any longer.

“You’ll find new opportunities, Dad,” she said. “You always do. But I might not have this opportunity to find joy again. I only hope you can be happy for me, even if my idea of happiness looks different than yours.”

“I just can’t believe we’re going through this again with you,” Dad said, anger in his eyes. “When are you ever going to learn to be sensible, Winnie Knox?”

A smile spread across her lips. “You know, I never could live up to our name, Dad.” She stood from her seat and held her phone out in front of her. “Anyway, you’ll have to excuse me. I’ve got a jousting tournament to get back to.”

“Winnie—”

She shut off the video, ending her dad’s words as a rush of adrenaline shot through her limbs. She reached for her suitcase and bag and charged through the airport, but she didn’t make it far before her phone buzzed in her hand. At first, she ignored it, figuring Dad was trying to contact her, but after a moment, she glanced down to see Sarah had texted her instead.

Sarah

Oh my gosh, girl. That was the most amazing thing ever. I’ve NEVER seen Dad’s face like that. Or anyone’s! I’m so dang proud of you, and I’m so happy you’ve found so much joy in England. Maybe I’ll quit and move there, too. Find a hot English beau for myself. Lol.

Sarah

Seriously, though, I don’t think any one of us could have stood up to him like that. Go get that knight! Then tell me when the wedding is. *wink emoji* *wink emoji* Love youuuuuuuu

Winnie fairly beamed. She slipped her phone away, making a mental note to respond soon as she fled through the terminal.

She no longer had a plane to catch, but she had a car to rent, a festival to attend, and a knight to declare her love for.

Now the question was, would Matthew return that love, or had she missed out on her chance at happiness after all?

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

Matthew couldn’t focus. He walked around that morning in a sort of daze, greeting guests and speaking as knightly as possible, but his heart wasn’t in it. Not when every single turn he took, every single object he looked at, every single thing he heard was a glaring reminder of Winnie’s hand in his life.

Somehow, he and his staff and family had managed to get the festival off on the right foot with the guests happy and cared for, but not even that could help the sorrow deep within Matthew’s chest, nor his desire to be with Winnie again.

All he wanted to do was see her bright smile. All he wanted to hear was her teasing about his worthless car. All he wanted to do was be by her side to tell her how her work on the festival had changed his life forever—and how her leaving had altered his hope forever.

But the time for that was gone. She was already on her way to Chicago, ready to meet with the next company she would no doubt help. Did she regret her decision? Or had she already moved on, forgotten about Matthew and Foxwood completely?

A voice spoke on the wind, originating from the speaker near the jousting grounds, and Matthew’s stomach dropped. The tournament would begin soon. Somehow, he was supposed to ride Nightshade along the tilt and joust with all his energy in front of a crowd of onlookers expecting a show that left them speechless. And yet, Matthew couldn’t even find the gumption to put on his helmet.

With that same dazed feeling as before, he wandered through the crowds, trying to remember the guests and his staff who were all relying on his performance.

But he was in over his head. He couldn’t keep this up any longer—the fake smiles, the forced conversations, pretending to feel some fervor in the joust when he wasn’t even sure he could find the desire to raise his lance.

He couldn’t do any of it. Not anymore. Not alone.

“Well, if you aren’t the most wee adorable knight I’ve seen in donkey’s years.”

Matthew spun around at the sound of the Northern Irish accent behind him. “Finn?” he questioned, his brow pulling together.