A Knight to Remember

by Ceillie Simkiss

  “Duchess Vivienne, Lady Alys, you look lovely,” Cormac told her with a cheeky grin. “Ser Genevieve, you look quite well, as always.”

  “As do you, old friend!”

  Genevieve shook his free hand, and welcomed us all into the room.

  “You can lay the gowns down here,” she said, pointing towards the small couch in the center of the room. “I hope that my repair needs were not too difficult for you, Poppy?”

  I shot her a half-hearted glare. She smiled.

  “I should have been prepared for it, knowing you had to test it out for the Knight Commander, but it wasn’t the worst repair I’ve had to make in a quick turn.”

  “I’m glad it wasn’t too bad for you. I do hate to make a fuss. I’m sorry, what’s your name, dear?”

  The last question was directed towards the young woman standing behind me.

  “Oh, I’m Maria. I’m… I work for Poppy.”

  “We’re glad to have you, Maria! Come in and stand by the fire for a moment. There’s an awfully cold breeze coming off the ocean today, and I know you had a bit of a walk. Oh, Juniper, could you bring in some mulled wine and water to help them warm up?”

  Juniper curtsied in response, and swept out of the room to do as they were asked. Cormac crossed the room in three steps, laying the garment bag he carried across the couch with a sigh of relief.

  “I hope that that dress is less heavy to wear than it is to carry one-handed,” he remarked. He stretched his arms out across the room, nearly able to touch both Genevieve and Alys with each hand. The room was relatively large, but with all six of them in there, it was pretty crowded. I hoped we’d be able to get both women into the gowns without any issue.

  As if knowing I was thinking about her, Alys rose from the vanity chair and turned to face the crowded room. I couldn’t help but stare open mouthed.

  “Alys, you look wonderful,” Genevieve breathed.

  “There’s no need for such a tone of surprise,” Alys replied acidly. Judging by the twinkle and the small smile on her painted lips, she didn’t mean it.

  “Genevieve, darling, come and sit. Juniper will be back with their wine any moment now, and they’ll need Alys so that they can get her dress to be as perfect as yours is.”

  Maria stepped closer to the couch, clearing a path for Genevieve and Alys to change places. I picked up the garment bag that my assistant had carried in. As the bag dropped to the floor, it was Alys’s turn to gasp at the sight before her.

  “Oh, Poppy, tell me that’s my gown!”

  I beamed back at her, pride swelling in my chest. The gown was a vision in black, designed to cling to the lady’s ample bosom and wide hips. If it worked as I’d intended - and it would - it would make her look as if she were floating in the layers of nearly translucent black fabric. The sleeves of the gown were mere slips of ribbon with more of the dress’s material hanging from it. It wouldn’t cover her shoulders at all, which would have been scandalous only a year or two before, but would be perfectly fashionable now.

  “Oh, Alys, it’s perfect for you!” Genevieve squealed. “Try it on, quickly! I want to see this before Mother gets me into her clutches.”

  The duchess laughed, barely holding back what looked like tears. Her hands were clasped together in front of her own chest, a gesture that was rare on the restrained matriarch of the family.

  Juniper opened and closed the dressing room’s door with one hand, balancing the tray of wine they’d been sent to fetch with the other. It was clearly something they were skilled with, I couldn’t help but note. It was impressive.

  “That’s my cue to leave, I reckon,” Cormac said hastily, grabbing a cup as he made his way out the door. “Poppy, I will meet you two in the kitchen whenever you are ready to leave, okay?”

  I nodded, my heart full of love and affection for the man walking away from me. I wrenched my gaze away from his retreating form and back to the women in my charge.

  “Come on, then, let’s get you dressed.”

  GENEVIEVE

  The heavy wooden door of the barracks closed with a thud behind me. There had been raucous conversation when I’d opened the door, but now that people could see me, it had quieted to a roaring silence.

  I looked down, noticing that the scabbards for my short swords were causing the silk of my skirt to pucker. I adjusted them, smoothing the deep blue silk with shaking hands. When I looked up, nearly everyone in the room was staring at me, or at least it felt that way.

  Some of the other Knights were staring unabashedly. Ser Raoul was grinning at me from his bunk. I have never heard the room this quiet. After a few moments that felt like years, one of the older female knights spoke up from a table in the center of the long room.

  “Can you actually fight in that?”

  “Yeah, she can!” Raoul whooped.

  That prompted the room to break into conversation again, rising to its usual level of noise. I breathed a sigh of relief.

  He was never one to turn down the chance to tell a good story. Raoul gave a dramatic recounting of the previous week’s duel, complete with screams, googly eyes and flailing about. It had the entire room rolling with laughter, including me.

  It broke the stunned atmosphere of the room, and everything went more or less back to normal. Three of my fellow knights swarmed up to me, wanting to look at the dress. I giggled and twirled, showing off my movement skills within the dress.

  “I cannot believe old Iron Britches agreed to even let you try this,” one of the older women called. I craned my neck to see who was speaking and saw Ser Allondra grinning at me.

  Ser Allondra had been one of the first non-noble applicants to earn her title several decades before. She had also been one of my mentors early on, having opted to come back to the city and palace to work after she had done ten years of service with the Army. She joked that she had spent so much time teaching the new recruits that she might as well get paid extra to do it while serving the crown. I adored her.

  “What do you think?”

  I twirled for my mentor, trying to hide how nervous I was. She studied me.

  “I think it’s lovely,” Allondra granted. “It’s a little frilly for my tastes, but you know I’ve never been one for dresses in a general way. It suits you.”

  “You really think so?”

  “I would not have said it if I didn’t. Now come and help me strap into my plate mail. Unless you intend on swanning about and flirting with all of these fine fellows all night.”

  She smirked up at me and I felt myself blush.

  “Oh, you do intend on flirting then, do you? Have you finally gotten up the courage to speak to the Duke?”

  “We went to lunch, I’ll have you know, and then had a lovely time shopping for birthday presents for Alys.”

  Allondra guffawed, punching me in the arm lovingly.

  “And you didn’t turn into a frog or anything! Good for you, Genevieve! I’ll be sure to make sure you two have time for a dance or two this evening, then, same as I’ve done for the rest of these lugs while they were courting.”

  I grinned at her.

  “Let’s get you dressed, shall we? We can’t leave Prince Julian waiting for his escort to the ball.”

  9

  AVERY

  The guests were milling around the ballroom chattering amongst themselves when trumpets blared from the far side of the room. The bright melody announced the entrance of the royal family.

  I took a deep breath and beamed as my family entered the room. I was so proud of Julian. He looked like a younger version of Father, from the long chestnut hair swept back into a low ponytail to the beak-like nose beneath deep brown eyes.

  Julian could have passed for Old Man Winter in the crisp white suit with an icy blue tie that made his light brown skin and dark brown hair stand out beautifully.

  Behind him came King Bayard and Queen Ines, looking as regal as ever. They too had taken the winter theme to heart, though the Queen was never without a pop of
color in her own wardrobe. She had chosen a plush deep forest green gown that offset her lily pale skin beautifully clinging to her lithe form until it reached her hips. The lights in the room glinted off of the gold beaded collar that also served as the gown’s only sleeves.

  Beside her, Bayard wore a pale blue double-breasted tailcoat over crisp white trousers. His jacket was a slightly deeper blue than his son’s. His sword hung at his side from a belt that matched his wife’s gown. My serious older brother had allowed simple golden epaulets, with beaded tassels hanging around his shoulders, to be added to his tailcoat, along with several of his military medals. He cut a striking figure, just the hint of a shadow of facial hair that outlined his strong, square jaw.

  As soon as they had fully entered the room, the honor guard swept in behind them. A dozen knights formed a semicircle behind the royal family, the lights reflecting brightly off of their plate mail and dress uniforms. I craned my neck, trying to catch a glimpse of Genevieve. It didn’t take much to find her. She was standing directly in the center of the protective semicircle next to my old friend Ser Allondra of Brulport.

  While her focus was on the royal family, as it should’ve been, Allondra’s gaze was fixed on me. She gave me a small smile that no one else would notice unless they were looking. She turned her head ever so slightly and her mouth moved.

  I had no idea what she was saying, but it soon became clear that she was trying to get Genevieve’s attention. Genevieve’s eyes found mine and I couldn’t keep the smile off of my face.

  She was stunning in the gown she’d had crafted. I had thought her beautiful before, but there was something slightly dangerous about her when she wore the chainmail gown. Something I couldn’t help but be attracted to, even if I’d wanted to avoid catching feelings.

  Her hair had been braided into a coil that circled the back of her head like a crown, and someone had woven in small crystals and bronze leaves that tied in to the decor on her pauldrons and bodice. It made her look delicate, but fierce at the same time. If someone had asked me to make her look more beautiful with my glamour skills, there was absolutely nothing I would change.

  A hand pressed down on my shoulder and I jumped. Whirling, I was greeted by a familiar face.

  “She looks great, doesn’t she?” Alys bragged. Her face was alight with pleasure. “And you look good too, man!”

  “Thanks! Genevieve does look wonderful. Almost as wonderful as she did before she knocked me out in the dueling ring.”

  I laughed, tugging at the suddenly too tight collar of my burnt sienna shirt.

  “Almost as?” Alys cocked a well-shaped eyebrow. “Man, you are well suited for my sister if her being violent is what gets you going.”

  Now I laughed earnestly.

  “You’re in rare form tonight, Alys - and looking fabulous yourself, I might add.”

  It was true. Alys was always beautiful, but her dress enhanced everything I knew she loved about herself, and her makeup accented her light blue eyes and high cheekbones. The plunging neckline was drawing scandalized glances from some of the older nobles around them, but with the translucent mesh fabric covering everything, they couldn’t say anything about it without looking prudish.

  I loved it. The skirt floated around her ankles like a cloud, and I couldn’t wait to see her really move in the dress. It would be a sight to behold.

  The band struck up a simple tune that added to the low hum of conversation. Holding out my hand to Alys, I bowed.

  “The family is here. Want to take a walk around the room with me and see if we see anyone from school?”

  Alys took my hand and tucked it into her elbow. We made our way across the room, pointing out people we knew. When we reached the far wall, Alys pulled away from me.

  “Now, I have a confession. I came over here with a purpose other than to compliment you.”

  She looked oddly nervous. I tilted my head at her, curious.

  “Oh?”

  She scuffed the toe of her dancing shoe against the tile of the ballroom floor before speaking again.

  “I wanted to come talk to you and make sure that you were going to ask Genevieve to dance tonight.”

  My eyebrows shot up.

  “What are you, my mother? Does Genevieve’s virtue need protection from me?”

  “No, I already spoke to her this evening. Gen and I don’t always get along, but she doesn’t play games. I just want to make sure you aren’t going to try and play any with her.”

  “I won’t!”

  She fixed me with a piercing glare.

  “I swear to the goddess, Avery, if you are planning to mess around with her, I will hex you so that you will constantly be followed by the world’s most annoying sound to you. I don’t even know what it is but I will find out and it will follow you. You will never have peace and quiet again.”

  I knew she meant it. I placed my hand on Alys’s bare shoulders and looked deeply into her eyes.

  “Alys, I promise you I’m not here to play any games with Genevieve, unless they’re ones she wants to play. I think we have the beginnings of a real connection. I’m not going to mess that up by playing coy.”

  That seemed to mollify her. Probably because it was the most honest I’d been with anyone other than Mother about how I’d begun to feel about Genevieve. It had been a long time since I’d found myself full of quite so many romantic feelings for someone. I genuinely cared for Genevieve and could see myself spending the rest of my life with her happily.

  “So you are going to ask Gen to dance?”

  I smiled softly and earnestly.

  “As soon as I get the chance.”

  “Good, because I see Ser Antoni, and I want you to introduce me. Genevieve promised she would, but she’s a little tied up, what with being in charge of the Prince’s safety.”

  The change of topic was very typical for Alys. I shook my head at her and let my hands drop from her shoulders.

  “I can introduce you to him. I don’t think you’ll like him once you’ve met him, though.”

  “See, I know that, but I also know that he’s an absolutely divine dancer. Let a girl dream a little!”

  I glanced over at the older knight. His luxurious salt and pepper locks flowed around the shoulders of his dress uniform. I had to admit he was very handsome, but Goddess, he was annoying.

  He had a habit of sticking his nose in where it wasn’t wanted - even when it led him to interrupting experiments and spells alike.

  “Come on then, you atrocious flirt.”

  She beamed at me and I had to laugh. Walking her over to the older man, I pasted a charming smile onto my face before calling his attention.

  “Antoni! Good to see you, old friend!”

  GENEVIEVE

  “Take a break, Ser Genevieve. I’ve got eyes on the family.”

  Allondra spoke brusquely, but the harshness was belied by the smirk that played across her face and the twinkle in her eye.

  I opened my mouth to respond but heard footsteps coming from behind me. Whirling to face the sound, I had my sword half drawn before I heard Allondra’s crackling laugh and recognized the man coming towards me. Avery.

  I couldn’t tell if my heart was skipping beats at the sight of him or just racing from the adrenaline rush that came with being snuck up on. If I was being honest, it was a combination of both. I let my sword slide back into its scabbard while I looked him over.

  He cut a handsome figure in a navy blue tailcoat and trousers with a small, silver wolf head embroidered on the lapel. Unlike most of the men in the room, he didn’t wear a decorative sword. Instead of a sword belt, there was a thin silver chain attaching a small dark leather satchel to the underside of his coat.

  I couldn’t help but notice that his outfit matched my gown almost perfectly. Had he done it on purpose? There was no way to tell.

  I looked down, hoping to hide the blush that seemed to be ever present on my cheeks when he was near me. Tucking a stray hair back into my braid, I
spoke.

  “I wasn’t sure I’d see you tonight. I hadn’t heard much from you since the duel.”

  “Genevieve, I’m so sorry. I got your messages when I got back. I had… an urgent matter to deal with back on my own estate and didn’t think to write before I left. I assure you, it won’t happen again.”

  Again? That was a good sign. I bit my lip and smiled. He bowed.

  “My humblest apologies, truly. I promise I won’t go away without warning you next time.”

  He smiled at me and I knew my cheeks were getting even more pink. I cursed it a little.

  I had spent my entire life training myself to have control over every muscle in my body. Unfortunately, my face had different ideas about what it wanted to do. It had apparently decided that, when it came to Avery, it was going to do its best to embarrass me. But he was still smiling at me. He reached up a hand and brushed his fingers against the back of my cheek.

  Almost as if on cue, the band ended the upbeat courante they’d been playing, and transitioned into a much slower, more romantic chaconne. Around us, the other nobles sought their spouses and partners to join them on the dance floor while the horn and clarinet wove a simple, lilting melody around the dancers.

  Avery bowed to me, so low that I could see the geometric pattern he’d shaved into the hair on the back of his head. When he rose, he held out his hand to me, palm up. His brown eyes were serious, but happy. I thought I could see another emotion in them, but I didn’t quite recognize it.

  I met his gaze, noticing the dimples that popped up with his wide smile and thought that I would be happy to spend all day looking at his face.

  “May I have this dance, lady knight?”

  I smiled and placed my palm in his. It was gratifying to realize that the suave, charming Duke of Wolvington’s palms were as sweaty as mine. His touch sent a small spark through me that had nothing to do with his magical abilities.

  “I would be delighted, my lord Duke.”