Chapter Four
She froze, her mind drawing an absolute blank. Jacqueline had not expected to face that particular question so early on in her deception. Luckily, Beth sensed her dilemma and took control of the conversation by drawing Terric’s attention to herself.
“My husband’s recovery was faster than we had anticipated. This is his first tournament since receiving his wound in Windsor.”
“I must say Sir William has made a speedy recovery. I had thought a wound to the neck would have laid him up much longer. I am happy to see he is well enough to grace the list once again. If you will excuse me, I will leave you to finish your camp preparations.” With a nod, Terric motioned for Edwin to follow him, then left them alone.
Jacqueline let the breath she held out in a rush. “He is going to be a problem.”
“He can easily be avoided. Just carry on as you have planned. If you let Sir Terric get to you, you will fail. Ignore the man.”
“If only it were that simple.”
Beth looked at her. “Jacqueline, you are attracted to him, are you not?”
Feeling her face turn red, Jacqueline tore her gaze from Sir Terric and looked at Beth. If only her friend knew what ran through her head concerning that particular knight.
With a shrug, she replied, “It is of no import if I am. It is not as if I can do anything about it, now can I?”
“Just remember that. We do not need you losing your head over that one. I remember Sir Terric from Windsor, though I did not know his name at the time. He flirts with anything in a gown.”
Jacqueline chuckled, then acting the part of a husband, offered Beth her arm. “Have no fear, dear wife. There are bigger stakes here. Much more important than any passing fancy I might have. Let us see how the men-at-arms are doing setting up the camp.”
* * * *
Thankfully, a pavilion was quite an easy thing to erect. The men already had the center and inner support posts grounded and the wooden, spoked wheel set upon it. They were fitting the canvas over the whole thing, spreading it to the ground and pegging it down when Jacqueline and Beth returned.
Sir Guy awaited them inside the pavilion. After they entered, he rapidly fired questions at them. “Who was the knight? Did he ask to challenge you? Did he accept you as a man?”
Jacqueline held up her hand and shook her head, halting his barrage of questions. She could not help but find humor in his query. “If you would let me answer one question before asking the next, I will tell you all that passed between us.”
Sir Guy crossed his arms, and said, “I was just curious, lass. It is no test run here. If you do not pull this off at this tournament, there will be no other one for you.”
“Will you stop your worrying? As you can see, no alarm was raised. To answer your questions, the knight is Sir Terric Aubrey. He did not mention anything about a challenge, and he believes I am William.”
“Jacqueline has neglected to tell you one other small thing about her meeting with Sir Terric,” Beth said oh, so casually. Having gained Sir Guy’s attention, she grinned. “She forgot to tell you she is smitten with him.”
Sir Guy rolled his eyes. “Besides that utterly useless piece of information, do you have anything else to say about him?”
Beth grew serious. “Aye, there is. Sir Terric remembers William was wounded at Windsor. He was there and saw it all.”
“Then we will all have to be cautious around him. It might be best to keep our distance from him entirely.”
Knowing she would be questioned if she did not agree, Jacqueline nodded. If opportunity did arise to get to know Sir Terric better, she would not openly shun him. The mere sight of him caused her body to ache and wetness to form at her very core. She had finally met a man who she wanted in the most intimate of ways, and as fate would have it, she had to make him believe she was just as male as he.
* * * *
The next day the tournament began. Jacqueline had not gone to the castle the previous evening. It had seemed prudent after the questions Sir Terric had posed to her.
The list was set up just outside the castle walls. Bleachers had been erected on the sidelines for the ladies and men of rank who were not participating. There, they could watch the competitors make runs at each other. Beth was seated amongst them.
Jacqueline had to admit her nerves were getting the better of her. She stood in the middle of her pavilion as Sir Guy helped her don her armor. The crowd outside roared. She resisted the urge to wipe her sweating palms on her thighs, which were already encased in steel.
After he finished fastening her breastplate and backplate, Sir Guy attached the plate armor worn on her arms. Jacqueline accepted the metal gauntlets from the older man. She tried her best to hide her nervousness as he placed her helm upon her head, which she, of course, failed miserably. He put his hand under chin, forcing her to look at him. It was hard to see him clearly through the eye slits.
“You will be fine, Jacqueline. Just remember what I taught you. Ignore the crowd and focus on your opponent.”
“I will remember. I just have to get through my first run. It is the unknown that is making me feel this way. I have never jousted against a real knight. I know naught of what will happen.”
“It is not all that much different from the quintain. Only with this, the object you are aiming for is moving as well.”
“I beg to differ,” Jacqueline said gruffly.
Laughing, Sir Guy passed her shield to her. “You are correct. I am only trying to make you feel better.” Growing serious again, he strapped her sword around her waist. “You will get through this, my girl.”
She adjusting her shield, which had been her brother’s and was painted with the Montacute coat of arms. The background completely white, it had three large red diamonds in the center. There were three black circles, above the first and third diamond and a third just below the second diamond. The sword strapped around her hips was her own, having been especially made for her a few years before.
Jacqueline took a deep breath for courage, then stepped out of her pavilion. Her steed, also armored, stood patiently nearby. The man-at-arms who held the animal’s reins walked it to where she stood. Sir Guy helped her mount, then after passing the reins up to her, he took hold of the horse’s bridle and led it to the lists.
Her first competitor was Sir Hugh Blakely. All Jacqueline could see was an armored knight who sat upon his horse opposite her with a lance in his hand. Allowing her mind to go blank, she accepted hers from Sir Guy. Everything—the roar of the crowd, the jingle of her horse’s harness—fell away.
Once the flag was lowered, signaling the start of the charge, Jacqueline shoved her spurs into her steed’s flanks and barreled toward her opponent. They met, and her lance shattered as it came into contact with Sir Hugh’s shield. She hit it squarely in the center. His lance grazed her shield, but remained intact. The first point was awarded to her. She turned her horse about and then returned to her end of the field. After accepting another lance, she prepared for her second charge.
This time both lances shattered, but her hit was hard enough to fling Sir Hugh backward over his horse’s rump. He landed with a loud clang as his armor-clad body hit the ground. The crowd called her name, William’s name, and Jacqueline slowly became aware of her surroundings. She turned her horse about and rode to her fallen opponent. His squire had come to his aid and helped Sir Hugh to regain his feet. He appeared not to be injured.
Seeing Jacqueline, Sir Hugh spoke as she went past. “I will have the usual ransom money sent to your pavilion at the end of the tournament.”
She turned in her saddle, and replied, “That is acceptable.”
Once she reached Sir Guy, he led her horse back to her pavilion, then followed her in after she dismounted. “How do you feel?”
After putting her shield down and pulling her helm and gauntlets off, Jacqueline wiped the sweat from her face. The armor was hot as well as heavy. She would be happy to have it removed. “My left shoulder feels a bit numb after that last charge. Other than that, I am fine.”
“Get used to it. There is more to come. I must say you have acquitted yourself quite admirably, my girl. You would have made William proud.”
She beamed from the older man’s words and smiled. “Thank you, kind sir. One down and only four more to go.”
“Did Sir Hugh make arrangements for paying the ransom? If he has not, his armor, sword, and horse are yours.”
After taking a swallow of water from a skin, she nodded. “Aye, he did. I do not want his armor or horse. I am not here to make money.”
“I know, but it would look strange if you did not accept the ransom. You did win the match, and it is customary to take such.”
“I know that. How long until I face my next opponent?”
Sir Guy unbuckled her armor, and answered, “You have a half hour. Rest. By the time you face your last opponent, you will feel bruised from head to toe.”
* * * *
Sir Guy had not stretched the truth when he had said she would feel bruised. Her whole body ached. Her left shoulder was already a beautiful array of colors. Just getting herself dressed for the feast that evening was proving to be a challenge.
Beth seemed to take pity on her and finally helped her pull her tunic over her head. “What do you think, Beth? Do I look enough like William?”
Beth took a step back and checked her handiwork. She blinked back tears. She still felt the loss of William greatly. “Aye, you will do. Too much really.” She pulled herself together. “You will do as long as no one looks too hard at you. With your short hair and bound chest, you can pass for a young William. There is no disguising the feminine curve of your hips. At least the cloak will shield them from behind.”
Jacqueline moved closer and put her arm around Beth’s shoulders. “If this is going to be too much for you to bear, we can bow out of the feast.”
Beth shook her head. “Nay, you have to go. You need the practice. I will be fine.”
Not wishing to upset her any further, Jacqueline offered her arm to Beth. “Then let us face the lions together.”
The great hall in Portchester Castle was just about filled to capacity by the time they arrived. Sir Guy had arrived earlier. Upon seeing Jacqueline enter the hall with Beth on her arm, he motioned them over to where he sat. He had managed to save them each a seat.
They squeezed onto the bench and accepted a trencher from a passing pageboy. After filling them with food, they settled down to the business of enjoying the meal. Before they could finish eating, a voice from farther down their table interrupted them.
“I am glad to see you could attend the feast, Sir William. This is the best part of a tournament.”
Jacqueline leaned slightly forward to look down the table and found Sir Terric staring back at her. She silently groaned. “How could I pass up such good food? After a day in the list, it is much welcomed.”
Obviously, taking her reply as an invitation, Sir Terric stood with trencher and goblet in hand. He walked to where Jacqueline sat. Smiling politely at Sir Guy, who sat to one side of her, he squeezed in between them, which in turn caused everyone else on the bench to shift down, filling the empty space Terric had created by leaving his seat.
He placed what he held on the table in front of him, then motioned for a pageboy to refill his goblet with wine. “Hope you do not mind my intrusion, but I would rather be in your company.”
Not sure how to respond, Jacqueline nodded and did her best to keep her gaze on her food. Sitting so close to Terric, having her thigh and hip plastered to his, did funny things to her insides. Her heart beat erratically while her stomach was so jumpy her food sat like an uncomfortable lump. The scent of sandalwood and man was something she found she could not ignore. For the first time in her life, she felt a longing a woman had for the opposite sex, the kind that would only be satisfied in the arms of that person. Much to her shame, she found it hard not to stare at his handsome face.
Oblivious to how she reacted to his presence, Terric continued to make idle conversation. “You did well in the list today, Sir William. Though only able to unseat two of your opponents, you made a fair profit.”
Jacqueline took a sip of wine, trying to still her rapidly beating heart. “I am not here to make a profit. I compete because I enjoy the sport.”
“Well, some of us do not have such luxury. This is my livelihood.”
Meeting Sir Terric’s gaze, Jacqueline noticed a touch of regret in the violet depths of his eyes. She could imagine that depending on success in a tournament to determine one’s lifestyle would not be an easy life. “I did not know you had to be here.”
Terric laughed. “Don’t feel sorry for me. It is not that bad of a life. There is always lots of good food to eat, well, most of the time. The ladies can be very accommodating when they wish to grant you their favors.”
As if to prove the truth of his words a lady, who Jacqueline very much doubted was such a thing, came and draped herself over Terric’s shoulder. Much to Jacqueline’s disgust, he did nothing to remove the woman.
Terric warmly smiled at the woman. “My Lady Rose, I see you managed to escape your husband yet again.”
The woman laughed gaily at his words. “Not at all hard to do, especially when he is so far gone in drink. You know I would take you over him any day.”
“Your words bring joy to my heart, my lady.”
Jacqueline turned to Beth, who sat on her other side, and rolled her eyes at Sir Terric’s words. Beth quietly chuckled. Since the couple seemed to be more involved in each other than those around them, she continued to make Beth laugh. She batted her eyelashes much in the same manner as Lady Rose had done to Terric. Getting into her role-playing, Jacqueline added some of her own faces, making Beth laugh all the more. She placed the back of her hand to her forehead and sighed deeply, pretending to feel faint.
“I hope I have entertained you enough this evening.”
Feeling her face turn a bright shade of red, Jacqueline turned to look at Terric. Lady Rose was nowhere to be seen. From the look upon his face, he had been watching her antics for some time.
“I do apologize, Sir Terric. It was not my intent to make jest of you.”
Terric seemed to be trying to keep a straight face, but in the end, the smile that tugged at his lips turned into a full-fledged laugh. At the sound of his laughter, Jacqueline and Beth added their own to his.
Terric brought himself back under control and clapped Jacqueline on the shoulder. She stiffened. It felt like being touched by fire. All the laughter left her as she stared into his eyes. Her mouth went suddenly dry, and her breath caught in her throat. She had thought only silly-headed girls acted so foolishly around a man they found appealing, but she could not tear her gaze from his face. She peered at his firm lips and unconsciously licked her own.
He shifted uncomfortably on the bench, the first to break the spell. He quickly snatched back his hand and cleared his throat. “Apology accepted, Sir William.”
Terric lifted his goblet to his lips and drained it in one large gulp. He appeared slightly unnerved by what had just passed between them. Jacqueline had the feeling she had been staring at him like a lovesick girl. She could see it would disturb him. She was disgusted with herself as she attempted to get him to overlook what had just taken place and started a new conversation. Something on a less stressful subject.
“So, Sir Terric, where is the next tournament you go to from here?”
Terric jumped on the change as he quickly answered Jacqueline’s question. “The next tournament is to be held in Lymington. Are you going to be attending as well?”
Jacqueline shook her head. “Nay, I had not planned to.”
“Why not? You claim to love the sport. Why not attend? Lymington is not too far from here. It is to be held in a week. Plenty of time to travel at a leisurely pace.”
“I had not thought that far ahead.”
“You should attend. If anything, it will be a good place to practice for the tournament the king has planned in May. It is going to be a grand tournament with many knights competing. Not just English knights, either. They are to come from all over.”
Terric had Jacqueline’s full attention now. The king’s grand tournament could be what she had been waiting for. “I had not heard of this tournament.”
He gave her a surprised look as if to say that information was known by most of the knights on the circuit. “King Richard heard news that Queen Isabella is to make a public entry into Paris. You know how our monarchy does not like to be outdone by the French. So the grand tournament is to be held in London and will take place on the Sunday after Michaelmas day. On the following Monday, the knights will compete as well. I am sure it will last longer than two days. Anyone who is anyone will be there.”
Jacqueline stiffened in anticipation. “My father, the earl, should be in attendance?”
“I would be very much surprised if he was not.” Terric gave her an odd look.
“Perfect. It will work out perfectly,” Jacqueline said distractedly. Plans already swirled inside her mind.
“I guess you could say that.”
Beth gave Jacqueline a warning jab in the ribs, and Jacqueline chose to ignore Beth’s reaction to the news of the tournament. It might be a bigger one than she had originally planned to face the earl, but it was an ideal situation. She could not have planned it better.
Terric was still looking at her strangely. “So, do you plan to go to Lymington now, my friend?”
Jacqueline shifted her foot under the table so Beth could no longer stomp on it in agitation and smiled. “I think I have changed my mind. We shall meet again at Lymington.”
* * * *
The following day they made the short trip to the isle. As the ferry took her party across the water, Jacqueline used the time to think of what to say to her mother. She would be greatly distressed with her decision to participate in another tournament. That was a given, because she had not been at all pleased with this one.
Sir Guy and Beth were not at all happy with her decision either. They felt she would be taking too much of a risk. Each tournament Jacqueline participated in offered a greater chance a knight acquainted with her father could tell him what she was up to. Not that they would recognize her as a woman, but the number of tournaments “William” attended would still be suspicious. William never went to more than one or two at the most in any given year.
Once they reached the landing, Jacqueline still had not planned exactly what she would say to her mother. The only merit she could push on her mother would be the money she had made in the list. Jacqueline had to keep reminding herself that she was only using it as an opportunity to perfect her performance. There was no other reason, really.
Jacqueline was only fooling herself. It was one reason, a very good one at that, but not the main one. It was the chance to see Terric again that drew her to make that choice.
She mounted her horse, then steered it onto the road leading to Carisbrooke. She hoped this homecoming would find her mother in good humor. If not, Jacqueline could find herself with an argument on her hands.