There Your Heart Will Be Also (13 page)

****

Cedric rounded the corner
. At the sight of Sarra descending the stairs on Sir Henry's arm, something
twist
ed
in his gut.
Did she have to look so tenderly
up
on the old man? Cedric wanted that loving look directed at him.
And w
hy was he envious of an old man?
Sarra was not his to claim.
He was here to marry the mistress of Greenbriar and take his rightful place as Laird.
There was no time to worry about maids.

Cedric walked closely behind the linked couple
, listening without shame.

“Are you excited
…”

T
he last words of the conversation escaped Cedric's hearing as
the
couple entered the hallway and he moved aside. When he caught back up to Sarra and Sir Henry, the maid was saying
,
“I don't care much for attention.”

“Humph, your father told me the same thing.”

The words that followed were muffled. Only snippets of the conversation were heard.
“
…
not important to me I be the center of attention.
”

“
…
Charism
's
efforts.
”

“
…
enjoy myself.
”

“
…
wasn't necessary.”

“
…
you are doing, aye?”

“Very.”

“
…
numerous suitors
…
why decide to settle
...
”

“
…
like him.”

“
…
him
?”

Cedric's fists were balled at his side as he followed behind the couple.
Why was he subjecting himself to such torture?
Sarra liked another?
And what did Sir Henry mean about
numerous
suitors?
The whole conversation was confusing.

Sarra
faced
Sir Henry
, but still the words were unclear
.
“I don't know exactly what it is
…
Not like the rest, I guess…
different.
..
feel things I never thought I would feel.
I like
..
. easy to talk to
…
can't explain it.
I just like him.”

Sir Henry
was silent.
Cedric peered around the corner right as Sir Henry said,
“I need to go
and prepare the others
.
Make sure to save a dance
for me
.”
H
e grabbed
the maid's
hand, bowed over it, and kissed it.

Cedric watched as Sarra waited until
the knight
was out of sight.
She straightened her
shoulders, took a deep breath,
a
foot
moving
forward.

Cedric
sidled
up beside
Sarra
as she
was
all set
to make
a
grand entrance
.
“There ye are.
I've been lookin' for ye so I could have
me
dance
.”

Sarra stared at him with an intense frown
.
“But I thought
—
oh, it doesn't matter now.
May I have your arm
,
please?”

Cedric offered his arm and Sarra took it.
Her hand rested upon him in a
re
lax
ed
manner. Head turned to the side, she offered him a wide smile.

Should he
mention
the conversation he
ha
d
just
overheard
?
Sarra's
compos
ed
attitude
caused
him
to wait
.
With a
nod
,
s
he was ready.

When
Sarra
entered the great hall, a mighty cheer arose.
All the inhabitants began to toast and sing.
The minstrels started the music playing and the villagers began to dance on the makeshift dance floor.
Cedric
eyebrow rose at Sarra
.
Why were they singing to her?

With a grimace on her face,
Sarra
walked to
an age
d
woman sitting in the corner.

When they reached the lady
,
she said,
“What do ye think?”

“
T
his is too much.
But it looks wonderful
.
I'm sure if the mistress felt like attending our birthday she would be here.
”

“
Aye, ye are no doubt correct
.
But I guess ye will just have to accept everything in her place and tell the lady what she missed, aye?
Who is this ye have here?”

Cedric bowed low and introduced himself.
“Cedric MacNeil at ye service.”

“Well now.
Ain't ye a handsome
young man
?”

Cedric felt heat infuse his cheeks.
The old lady reminded him of his grandmother.
Something about
the old woman
was familiar but he couldn't place it.
Instead of questioning her, he said,
“Thank ye kindly.”

“
I'm glad ye could attend the party with Sarra
. M
ost times she's alone on her birthday.”

Sarra sent the old woman a fierce scowl but the woman appeared to ignore it.

“So this is ye
r
birthday as well?”

The old woman jumped in before Sarra could answer. “Aye it is. And since the mistress is too ill to attend tonight's festivities
,
allow me to welcome ye to Greenbriar. Now w
hy don't ye two child
ren
go
and enjoy
yerselves?”

“Thank ye.
I believe we will.”

Cedric nodded to Charism and led Sarra away toward the dance floor
,
attempting to hide his
disappointment
.
He had hoped to me
e
t the mistress and begin
his
courtship right away.

But all thoughts of a life with another woman fled as he
entered the
dance
floor
with
Sarra on his arm
.
The
minstrels
began
a slow ballad.

Ignoring
the other dancers in the room who continued to trade partners,
h
e pulled Sarra tightly into his arms
and
rest
ed
his chin on the top of her head.
She was a perfect fit and he enjoyed the feel of her warm body against his own.
He
'd
gone
to the creek and washed his best plaid for the occasion.
He had even taken time to mend his ripped tunic.
W
ould
she
notice
?

He was having trouble not noticing her.
The
purple
silk gown only enhanced her smooth complexion.
The pearl ear bobs swayed each time she moved her head, drawing attention to her slender
,
exposed neck.
He longed to lean down and nibble on the space right below her ear.

“Cedric?”

“Hmmm...”

“You look handsome tonight.”

“Thank ye.
Ye look ravishing ye
r
self.”

She leaned back from him and
peered
up
at
his face, “Ravishing?”

“Ravishing,”
he said, before
lean
ing
down and
brush a delicate
kiss
across her lips.

When
Cedric
pulled back
, a
blush
covered her face.
Sarra cleared her throat and added with a sweep of her hand, “What do you think of all this?”

“I think ye
r
mistress is deserving
.
She
take
s
care of
the
people
.
And
even
when she isn't feelin' well
, she
still
decide
s
to let the celebration continue so
the
people could have a much needed break from their troubles.”

“
Aye.
That's the mistress.
Caring without expectation.
”

Her brows knitted together in a grimace and
Cedric waited for
an
explanation
of her expression
. When none were forthcoming, he asked,
“
So ye are
ac
ceptin
'
her gifts
in her stead
, are ye?
”

Cedric watched Sarra
's
throat move.

The words
came out in a chok
ed
sound.
“Aye, she asked me to.”

“Close
,
are ye?”

“You could say
so
.”

“Then I expect
ye
will be receiving gifts as well.”

“Probably more than you know,” Sarra mumbled under her breath.

“Can we find a seat?”
Sarra asked after several
trips
around the dance floor.

“Of course.”

Cedric led her to one of the tables
that had been
scooted
against
the wall and pulled a chair out for her to sit down.
He sat beside her and
together they
watched the festivities.

“Would ye like some refreshment?”

“Aye, that would be heavenly.”

Cedric left
,
excus
ing
himself
.
A
s he walk
ed
away
,
she gave him a reassuring smile and a little wave.
No sooner had he left than someone new took his place.

“How are you enjoying your birthday celebration?”
asked
Sir Henry
as he dropped down beside her.

“Oh, it is truly wonderful.
Charism did a splendid job.
And all the villagers seem to be having a jolly time.”

Sir Henry
held his hand out to her
.
“May I have this dance?”

Sarra
stood and took his hand, allowing him to lead her onto the floor.
With
his arms
placed
around her
at a gentlemanly distance
, they danced
.
Sir Henry was like a second father to her.
Concern was evident as they moved
in the friendly embrace
.

“
Do you think this is a good idea?
”
The words
slipped past the corner of Sir Henry's mouth as a smile
s
played across his face.

“Aye.
I
do
.”

“This is a dangerous game
,
my lady.
You don't know what this Scot will do if he realizes you are indeed the mistress.
He may take you against your will.
He may have an attack planned.
He may—
”

“Sir Henry, did you not tell me the patrols had showed nothing of importance?”

“Aye.”

“Then what
is there to
worry
about
?
All I need is a little more time.”

“
Which
is something you have very little of.
Any day now the
King
could send another suitor, and—“

“I know what could happen.
But
I wish I could explain to you what is happening.
I wish I could help you to understand
.
I'm learning to care for this man.
Would
the
King
be upset if I took a husband without his permission?”

“Aye, my lady.
He would.
You could be called out for treason!
Your head could grace
the top of
a pole
in the streets of London!
”

Sarra patted Sir Henry's arm.
“Everything will be fine.
I'm not marrying the Scot
,
only—
”

As they continued to move across the crowded floor, he
leaned in and
whispered,
“Only what?
I fear you are dallying with things beyond your control.
It is better to tell the truth now before this goes any
farther
.
I can't believe Charism agreed to this nonsense.”

A sigh escaped
her
.
“Sir Henry
,
all will be revealed soon enough.
Then I will go back to being alone and you can go back to protecting me.”

Sir Henry frowned as h
e escorted
Sarra
to her seat.
When
they were settled, the knight
bowed, a grimace
twisting
his face as he
said
, “
As you wish
.”

Sarra ignored
the
negative
sounding comment
.
This was her birthday party after all.
Even if Cedric believed she was a maid,
she could still
enjoy
herself
.
Tap
p
ing
her foot
in
time
with
the music,
she found herself
watch
ing for
Cedric
's
return.