“I’m honored.” Sir Parnell spoke, and his gaze danced over to Sir Branford’s with a strange look before he righted himself.
Before they could exchange any other words, the lords and ladies of Hadebrand exited the chapel and congratulated us both. Many of the ladies who had never bothered to make eye contact with me before gave me quick hugs and words of encouragement though in my nervousness, I didn’t manage to remember a word they said.
Sir Branford never let go of my hand and kept me close to his side as they all paraded by. He pulled me even closer as King Edgar and Queen Margaret approached and stopped before us.
“Congratulations, Sir Branford,” King Edgar said gruffly. He didn’t look toward me at all. “I’m sure your new wife will be able to tend to your needs adequately.”
The way he sneered the word wife made me cringe, and I found myself stepping a little closer to Sir Branford’s side. Though I assumed the king was angry over Sir Branford’s rejection of Princess Whitney, I had no idea what to think of his comment. His tone made it clear he was insinuating something, but I didn’t know what it was.
“If I didn’t know better,” Sir Branford said, his voice cold and hard, “I’d think you intended your comment to be an insult.”
“Of course not,” King Edgar said quickly.
“I’m glad to hear that,” Sir Branford replied with a smile that did not touch his eyes, “because if you insulted my wife, I would be bound by the laws of chivalry to retaliate.”
“I’m sure you misunderstood,” the King replied and walked away quickly.
“Branford!” Sir Parnell exclaimed. “What are you…?”
“Silence!” Branford’s tone was harsh, but he quickly turned to me with a smile. “I believe we’re due for a party, are we not?”
There was a grand carriage waiting for us, and it quickly filled with the wedding party, King Edgar’s family and another couple I didn’t recognize, but Branford introduced them as Duke William of Wynton, and his sister, Lady Susan. I wondered if I needed to remember all of their names and realized I had been in too much of a stupor to have heard every introduction since the wedding. While I tried not to show my unease, they all chatted amiably. I shifted nervously, completely unaware of where we were going. I assumed a reception, but I had no idea where it was to be held and was far too embarrassed to ask. After a short ride, we came to another castle, one I had never seen before though it couldn’t have been too far from Hadebrand.
“Welcome to Sterling,” Sir Branford said. “This was my home as a child though I live in Silverhelm now. It seemed convenient enough for our celebration.”
The castle wasn’t as large as Hadebrand, but the high walls appeared sound enough. As we approached, torches were lit to show us the way through the gatehouse and to the keep inside. Sir Branford took my hand and assisted me from the carriage with Sir Parnell and Hadley following closely behind. When I looked behind us, I could see all the other carriages unloading their passengers as well. Sir Branford led me through the doors and down a long hallway, the walls covered in banners of black and gold.
The reception hall was decorated with yellow and white flowers and many representations of Sir Branford’s gold and black banner, much like the ones in the grand hallway. A feast was laid out on one side of the room, and Sir Branford led me to the table in the very center of the room, sitting me in the middle next to him. Hadley and Sir Parnell sat on either side of us.
“Ida is going to do you grave bodily injury when she finds out about this, you know,” Sir Parnell said, holding his glass up to clink against Sir Branford’s. “I’ll go ahead and speak for her at this point and state that the food is barely adequate and the decorations are atrocious. She would have done much better.”
“My sister would have been hard-pressed to come up with much more with the single day’s notice I allowed.”
“She would have still done it,” Sir Parnell replied.
“Undoubtedly,” Sir Branford said, agreeing with his cousin.
Being completely unaccustomed to these kinds of gatherings, I was terrified of doing something wrong and had resigned myself to not do anything unless Sir Branford commanded me. Dinner was the perfect example since I thought the “barely adequate” food was incredibly extravagant though nearly impossible to eat without getting something on my white dress. I also thought the decorations were beautiful. Sir Branford didn’t seem to mind and indulged himself while making small, quick glances in my direction every minute or so. After a while, he tossed his knife to the table and turned to me.
“Come, my wife.” Sir Branford rose and reached for my hand. “Dance with me.”
“My lord, please,” I said as he pulled me to the center of the hall and placed his right hand on my hip and took my right hand in his left. “I have never danced.”
“It’s simple.” Sir Branford smiled down at me. “Put your hand on my shoulder and trust in me. If you put your trust in me, and allow me to lead you, we will flow together perfectly. If you oppose me, we will likely stumble and fall.”
I had the feeling he was not just referring to dancing. As the minstrels began to play a new song, I tried to do as he said and found when I relaxed and allowed him to move me as he desired, things did go remarkably smoothly. When the music slowed and the crowd began to cheer, Sir Branford held me closer to his chest and brought the back of my hand up to his lips. After our dance, Sir Parnell took Sir Branford’s place, and Sir Branford danced with Hadley. Sir Parnell did not make eye contact with me as we danced, and I did not feel as sure on my feet as I had with Sir Branford.
“That was quick,” Sir Parnell said, his voice so quiet I did not believe he intended me to hear him at all. When I looked in the direction of his gaze, I saw King Edgar and his family leaving the reception hall. Sir Parnell’s gaze finally met mine, and I wished I could understand his expression. “Thank you for the dance, Alexandra.”
“Of course, my lord.”
Sir Branford came to my side again, taking me from Sir Parnell.
“Did you see?” Sir Branford inquired, nodding his head toward the exit where King Edgar had recently departed.
“I did,” the knight responded.
“Did you check the guards?”