The Knight Before Christmas: A Knight’s Tale Book 4

by Darcy, Diane

  Lady Philippa and the other ladies decided to go upstairs and stitch on an embroidery project they were working on, but Juliana wanted to stay in the hall, so Madison stayed with her.

  They sat across from each other, near the fire, and Juliana taught her a game called Nine Men’s Morris, and she quickly caught on that it was similar to tic-tac-toe.

  They started talking about eggnog, of all things, and much to Juliana’s disgust, Madison was trying to convince her that the ingredients, mixed together, actually made for a delicious drink.

  “I’ve no desire to drink egg yolks,” Juliana said, her nose wrinkling in disgust.

  “There’s more to it than that: sugar, cream, and nutmeg. And if you add bourbon, it gives it a nice kick.”

  “Nutmeg is too expensive to use in a drink,” Juliana said. She moved a piece, and took one of Madison’s. “What is bourbon?”

  “Corn whiskey, moonshine, hooch. It’s basically whiskey made from corn mash, and aged in charred oak barrels. It’s sweeter. I prefer it, but you can put any type of whiskey in eggnog.”

  “I’m not drinking it,” Juliana said.

  “You don’t know what you’re missing out on.”

  Thomas came over and laid some thick parchment paper out on the nearby table.

  She waited for Juliana to say something to him, but the moment he arrived, she stopped talking and simply played the game.

  Thomas didn’t say anything either, and seemed to be taking notes while he was looking at the drawing.

  He was actually using a quill pen, and dipping it in ink.

  These two really did not seem to be suited for each other. And as Madison had it from a good source that she was supposed to be his soulmate, it was sort of starting to bug her.

  But she wasn’t staying, so it was none of her business.

  She continued the conversation. “I think it’s one of those drinks that you have to try it, to like it,” Madison said, as she moved another piece on the board.

  There was no response from Juliana.

  “But, if we can’t use nutmeg, anyway, then there wouldn’t be a point to it. There is no way it will taste the same without nutmeg.”

  “I could let you have a small amount of nutmeg,” Thomas said, not looking up from his work. “’Tis blasted expensive, but I would let you have some.”

  Madison made another move, and took one of Juliana’s pieces. “Well, aren’t you a sweetheart,” she said, and then immediately regretted it when Juliana stiffened across from her. “But, it’s not necessary. I was just telling Juliana about a recipe that some people really like to drink this time of year, but she thinks it sounds disgusting, anyway.”

  Thomas glanced up and gave her a nod, and then went back to studying his papers.

  Curiosity got the better of her. “What are you working on?”

  “Nothing so interesting. I am calculating the yields from the wheat, barley, and oats from last year, compared to previous years.”

  “Why are you doing that?”

  “We are working toward irrigating some of the lower fields in the spring.”

  “What do you consider a good yield?”

  “Anywhere from seven to fifteen bushels per acre. In years past, we have had less than four, and I do not wish to see that happen again.”

  Juliana took another of her pieces.

  Madison needed to pay better attention.

  “How do you keep your yields up?”

  “Better irrigation, better fertilization. We are doing well with cattle, sheep, and pigs, and moving them about the fallow fields on a regular rotation helps prepare for future planting.”

  He glanced at her. “I don’t suppose you would want to hear about that.”

  She glanced over at Juliana, who was not engaging in the conversation at all.

  Madison made another move on the game board and said, “Actually, I am interested.”

  He started to talk about crops, harvesting, and the problems with irrigation if they had too much dry weather.

  He seemed very passionate about the subject, about rotating between the fields, animal husbandry, and fertilization.

  “When do you plant?”

  “In the fall, and in the spring,”

  “What about all the trees?”

  “We plant in the wooded areas as well, where we can.”

  “So, from the sounds of it, you have many strips of land, formed in a sort of haphazard manner?”

  “Yes, how else?”

  “It’s just that I’ve never seen that before. Any farm I’ve ever seen has rows that are vertical to each other, and go the length of the entire field. They are very uniform looking.”

  He stared at her for a long moment. “I have never seen such a thing. Each plot is maintained by a different farmer, individual families.”

  She shrugged a shoulder. “Anyway, go on.”

  He started talking again, and Juliana won the game, and excused herself.

  She felt like it was all right to talk to Thomas, with Juliana right there, but now it was just the two of them.

  He was five feet away, and on the other side of the table, but she didn’t move, and didn’t try to make the situation more intimate, as if speaking from this distance would not be inappropriate.

  But it sort of was.

  Still, how was it her fault that Juliana left?

  He was talking about weather, soil, crop management, and she watched him with growing admiration.

  She would not have thought she could get a crush on the guy simply from listening to him talk about farming, but the thought of all of this, of him feeding all of these people throughout the year, hearing about it in person, well, it was admirable.

  “I’ve seen a lot of food in recent days. Is all of it grown under your management?”

  He looked embarrassed. “I do have a lot of help.”

  He did, but she suspected that he worked harder than anyone. “I expect you do, but the buck stops here, right?”

  “The buck?”

  “At the end of the day, you are the one responsible.”

  For a moment, he looked like he didn’t know what to say, then finally agreed, “Of course. Everyone is in my care.”

  “It sounds like you are actively trying to improve everyone’s lives. I admire you for that.”

  He glanced down at the papers in front of him, and then back up at her again, and the intensity of his gaze had her putting a hand to her throat.

  Her gaze dropped.

  “And what of you? What are your ambitions?”

  She gave a soft laugh as she moved game pieces aimlessly around the board. “They’re not so high-minded as yours. I love to decorate, and to make a house into a home. At one time, it was a dream of mine to make my living in such a way.”

  And she still had plans to, but as she couldn’t explain it to him, she left it at that.

  “After you marry, you’ll be able to do such things to your heart’s content. I’m sure your husband will be glad to let you use your skills in any way you please.”

  She swallowed, and drew in a breath, emotion threatening to overwhelm her.

  It was silly. They were talking about farming and decorating for heaven’s sake. They were sitting half-way across the table from each other. “Maybe,” was all she said, as she tried to steady herself.

  She glanced up at him, and he was still studying her, and there was a look in his eyes she’d never seen before; a ferocity of emotion that darkened his eyes and lit his face.

  “If I were your husband,” his voice had deepened to a raspy baritone, “I would make sure that every one of your dreams came true.”

  She caught her breath, and gazed at him for a long moment, before the laughter of others broke the spell, allowing her to pull her attention away.

  She swallowed again, her hand clenching around a game piece.

  Thomas was killing her.

  She was feeling emotions she’d never felt, certainly not for Dean, who she’d
once believed was the love of her life.

  She excused herself and went to find Juliana.

  If it weren’t for her sense of honor and friendship, the way he’d been looking at her might have had her staying here for the rest of her life.

  He’d make her dreams come true?

  Oh, boy.

  She was in so much trouble.

  Chapter 19

  THE EIGHTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

  It was a new year, and there was a real feel of excitement as everyone dressed for the day and did their hair.

  She ordered hot water, and then waited until she was alone to scrub herself down with soap and water, before getting dressed in a red gown and brushing her hair until it shone.

  She added a matching ribbon for good measure.

  She went downstairs to find Thomas pacing back and forth.

  “Good morning,” she said.

  “Good morrow.” When she reached the bottom, he fell into step beside her.

  She was very aware of him at her side, which left her feeling guilty and unsettled as they walked into the great hall for breakfast.

  As soon as she sat down, Thomas produced gifts, wrapped in silk, for both Juliana and herself.

  “Oh,” Madison said. “What is this?”

  Lady Philippa, who sat nearby said, “’Tis the new year,” and slid another gift across the table for Madison.

  “Oh. I’m so sorry, I don’t have a present for anyone.”

  “’Tis fine,” Thomas said, still standing nearby. He was obviously waiting for them to open their gifts.

  She untied the white ribbon and opened the square of blue silk to find a handful of pearls and some ribbon.

  “I thought you might like pearls, to set off your earrings.”

  “Thank you,” she said with a smile, picking up the pearls and rolling them in her hand.

  Happiness crept through her. She was glad to have them. They would be a tangible reminder of the time she’d spent here, and of Thomas. She didn’t quite dare to look at him, worried he’d read how she felt in her eyes.

  Juliana opened hers and found the same. “Thank you, Lord Thomas,” she said in a neutral tone.

  “Oh, Lord Thomas, how generous,” Lady Felicia said, and gave her daughter a nudge, as if trying to get a better reaction out of her.

  Thomas smiled and nodded at them both, and went to have his breakfast at the head of the table.

  Sometimes she thought Juliana was crazy.

  If Thomas were hers, she would be sitting beside him.

  Lady Phillipa had given her a gold chain, and Madison thanked her profusely, glad for a second keepsake.

  Church was nothing but strange today. The clergy wore their clothing inside out, and Father Benedict was laughing as he brought a donkey into the chapel.

  He burned some incense on the altar, ate some sausages, swallowed some wine, and brayed until the donkey responded in kind, much to everyone’s amusement.

  He ended the service by talking about Mary, the mother of Jesus.

  Sometimes this century was truly out of this world.

  At least everyone was having fun.

  It was still cold when they went back outside, and there was supposed to be more food, and a Christmas play put on by some of the servants.

  But Madison wasn’t hungry enough to eat. She was seriously going to gain weight, if she didn’t watch it.

  She took off walking, and Thomas soon caught up to her. “Where are you going?”

  “I don’t know, I’m just looking around, I thought I’d get some exercise.”

  “Do you mind if I walk beside you?”

  “Of course not.”

  They walked in silence for a moment, and then he said, “You will be leaving us soon?”

  “I suppose I will.”

  “Will you return to Durham? Or go to Wiltshire?”

  They walked past the kitchens, and some outbuildings, and were headed toward the inner gate.

  She could see guards manning their posts, up in the two towers.

  “Durham, for now.”

  “And your family? Your father will be missing you?”

  She remembered what Father Cuthbert had said about making sure that her dad wouldn’t miss her. They led very separate lives, as it was. “He’s busy with his new wife. I don’t believe he will. What about your parents?” She realized she didn’t know anything about them.

  “My mother died in childbirth. And yours? Your mother is gone?”

  “Yes. She died of cancer.”

  “Cancer?”

  She thought about the devastation of that diagnosis, and the treatment that hadn’t worked, and explained it in the simplest of terms. “She just wasted away.”

  He nodded.

  “And your father?” she asked.

  “He was deep in his cups, and he fell from his horse and broke his neck.”

  “Well, don’t we just make a fine pair.” It was a gloomy conversation, but she found herself tucking away any small fact about him that she could. “Do you have any siblings?”

  He shook his head. “And you?”

  She shook her head. “You know what they say about only children, don’t you?”

  “What do they say?”

  “They have Type A personalities, and are high achievers.”

  He chuckled. “I suppose ’tis true.”

  “You did well in the archery competition. That’s quite the skill you’ve developed. What did you do with your medal?”

  “’Tis hanging on my bedchamber wall.”

  She smiled. “I’m glad that you liked it.”

  She felt the usual draw toward him, and if it weren’t for Juliana, she’d probably reach out and take his hand, and the urge to do so was incredibly strong.

  The thought made her feel she was crossing a line once more, and she stopped. “I suppose I’d better turn back.”

  “I’ll walk with you,” he said.

  She shook her head. “If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to be alone for a moment.”

  “Of course,” he said, his face going blank.

  She quickly walked away, knowing she’d disappointed him, and maybe even hurt his feelings.

  It was for the best.

  At one point she’d thought that mere days in his presence wouldn’t be dangerous to her heart, but she didn’t believe that anymore.

  She could fall hard for Thomas.

  And she knew from experience that no good ever came from doing something like that.

  Chapter 20

  THE NINTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

  The next day they learned about St. Basil the Great, and St. Gregory of Nazianzus, two Christians who were apparently very important in the fourth century.

  It was weird, because she was actually starting to like going to church every day.

  Father Benedict was very dramatic, and you never knew what was going to happen.

  When she’d first arrived, twelve days had felt like forever, and now it seemed like time was flying by.

  She hadn’t slept well the night before, worrying about all sorts of things, well past the time she should have been asleep.

  Was she going to have regrets?

  Was Thomas going to be the man that she yearned for forever?

  Would Father Cuthbert arrive to take her home? What if he didn’t, and this was her life now, watching on the sidelines as Thomas and Juliana married and raised a family.

  Why all these middle-of-the-night questions?

  She reminded herself that she’d never planned to marry, anyway.

  Father Cuthbert would keep his promise, and she needed to stop freaking out.

  As today’s crowd headed back toward the keep, and toward the village, she managed to ditch everyone, feeling more than ever like she needed time to herself.

  She ended up finding a girl feeding an impressive number of chickens, and chatted with her for a while, and afterward, continued on her self-guided tour. She went through the inner gates, and end
ed up in the stables, and was able to slip through the slightly open doorway without having to haul the big thing open.

  Once inside, she came face-to-face with Juliana and Sir Hugh Netherton.

  They were holding hands.

  Madison stopped short, and Juliana spotted her in the next moment, and gasped. Her expression crumpled to horror and she jerked her hand free of Sir Hugh’s.

  Madison, sleep-deprived, and loopy, started to laugh. “Are you kidding me, right now?” she asked.

  Juliana burst into tears, and pushed past Madison and slipped out the doorway.

  Sir Hugh ran after her, shoving the door aside, and Madison could hear Juliana shout, “No! Leave me alone!”

  She thought that was the loudest she’d ever heard Juliana’s voice.

  She followed the couple, of course she did, because she wasn’t going to let Juliana get away with this!

  She passed Sir Hugh, who stood looking devastated, and ran to catch up with Juliana.

  “Seriously?” she said as she fast-walked to keep up. “Are you kidding me, right now? I’ve been feeling guilty because I thought I was poaching Lord Thomas, and you have the hots for Sir Hugh?”

  Juliana continued to fast-walk and cry, but Madison was not going to let the opportunity to tease slip by. “I mean, he’s really cute, and all. I’d have a hard time choosing, as well.”

  Not that she really would, but the relief she felt that Juliana didn’t want Thomas was making her feel as light as air.

  When Juliana didn’t respond, Madison tugged lightly on her elbow. “Oh, come on. Why are you getting so upset about this? I should be mad at you because you didn’t tell me. I thought we were friends.”

  At that, Juliana stopped. “You must say nothing to anyone. My mother’s anger would be horrible. I know I’ve done wrong, but I beg you to keep silent.”

  Madison crossed her arms. “I don’t know. That hand holding that I witnessed is burned into my memory. It was pretty risqué.”

  Juliana’s hands pressed to her face, as if to cool her very red cheeks.

  Madison bit the inside of her lip for a moment. All this drama just made her want to tease, all the more, but one of them needed to be reasonable. “If you like Sir Hugh so much, why don’t you just marry him?”