Page 11 of Chivalry in the Meadow (Hope Runs Deep #2)

Mia continued fussing with her costume as she finished dressing.

“God almighty, how am I supposed to bend in this bodice?” Mia complained as she picked up the black and gold cotton ankle-length skirt, to shake the wrinkles out of it.

She slipped it over her head, then tried twirling around ineffectually to see how it looked. But without a mirror, she couldn’t tell.

“Well, it will have to do.” Mia sighed. “All I wanted was a chance to get away for a bit, a chance to find a good man, and where do I end up? Cinched into a bodice. Now I’d better hurry if I’m going to eat breakfast.”

She heard a thundering noise in the distance, and wondered what that was, as it didn’t sound like the kind of thunder that came with rain.

Skirt finally in place, she stepped out of the tent, and hearing that thundering noise closer, turned her head to look toward the sound, stepping straight into the path of a galloping steed heading right for her.

The white shape loomed up from the left side of her vision and as she turned to face what it was, she saw the large white horse with a man on its back.

She spun to her left toward the tent to escape being run down.

Suddenly a strong muscular arm reached around her waist, from her right side, scooping her up.

She screamed.

Mia was plopped onto her rear, on top of a muscular thigh, as she continued to scream. The horse reared up, making her scream even more, as the man holding her pulled hard on the reins to stop.

The horse’s hooves landed hard as he stopped. With that, Mia stopped screaming and tried to catch her breath.

The man, she realized now that they were so close, was Sir Cedric.

Close as they were, he was even more handsome. And she was sitting on his muscular thigh which she’d so admired yesterday.

“You bloody idiotic fool!” Sir Alaric, the handsome, dark-haired knight, came running as he yelled and then swore at Sir Cedric, a word Mia wouldn’t have repeated.

As they stopped, he stalked closer, his eyes narrowed in anger.

Mia tried to get her breathing and heartbeat under control.

“Stupid! What the hell did you think you were doing?” Sir Alaric scowled at Sir Cedric. You know not to ride through here like that! You could have killed someone! Are you completely daft, or do you just look it?”

Mia stared at Sir Alaric as Sir Cedric held onto her tightly. She sensed that Sir Alaric was angry because she could’ve been harmed.

How mortifying. My first morning at the Faire, and already I’m being almost run over by a big, handsome knight on his steed.

The other knights had now gathered around them as they’d come from the knight’s tented area at the other end of the row.

She felt she’d made a spectacle of herself in front of them all. Her cheeks heated.

“Having a bit of trouble with your wench?” Sir Thorne asked, his voice dry and sarcastic. He held back further than the other knights, as if he wasn’t a part of their group.

“Let go of her, you damned fool,” Sir Elias said as he approached.

“Clearly the lady wants away from you,” Sir Gareth said. “A fact that illustrates her obvious good taste and intelligence.” He directed his attention to Mia. “My lady” he bowed. “I am your humble servant. If you’ll allow me to remove you from the knave Sir Cedric’s slug of a horse, I shall assist.”

Sir Alaric said nothing but reached for Mia to help her down.

Mia felt his warm hands upon her as he pulled her toward him, but she didn’t move far.

She was still held tight by Sir Cedric, as he tugged back. “If it is not obvious to you, I saved her,” he said. “And clearly, she shoved her breasts at me. Which she certainly wouldn’t have done if she didn’t want to be near me.”

Mia gasped. “I did no such thing!”

“Let go of her before you hurt her,” Sir Alaric said, his voice low with a warning of what he would do should Sir Cedric hurt her.

Oh, no! They’re fighting over me. Tugging at me as if I were some toy to be won.

“I had her first,” Sir Cedric said, tightening his hold on her.

“You didn’t want her,” Sir Thorne said. “You wanted that blonde from last night. This red-haired beauty fell into your lap from your dumb luck.”

“Whether or not I want her, isn’t the issue,” Sir Cedric said. “I had her first, so she’s mine to put down.”

He glared at Sir Alaric. “I realize you don’t have a shred of chivalry in your soul, but if you did, you’d know finders’ keepers’ rules apply to her.”

Mia gasped again.

Sir Cedric’s gaze dropped for a moment, to her bosom, which was heaving, in proper wench fashion, and added in a much softer voice, “Not that I don’t appreciate the wubby, but I’d prefer one that wasn’t conducted on horseback.”

Her cheeks flamed with heat then, her embarrassment total.

This wasn’t the moment to argue with him, or to investigate the man who held her too close, this was the moment to request he put her down, slowly and carefully as they sat atop his tall horse.

“Please put me down,” she said. “Gently.”

Keeping one hand upon her, Sir Cedric unhinged his metal helmet and took it off, pulling off a soft white cap before shaking out a glorious mane of shoulder-length golden hair.

Even red-faced, from riding under the hot morning sun, he was handsome.

Tanned face, sun-streaked hair, vivid blue eyes, and a chiseled chin with a dimple in the middle.

“I’m the damsel in distress,” Mia said. “You dashed up, and rescued me from your horse, in the very best brave knight manner, so thank you. Now please put me down gently.”

“You nearly ran her over,” Sir Alaric said. “She’s uncomfortable. It’s ridiculous for you to keep her, when she wants away from you. Release her,” he ordered.

“She’s safer with me, than with your ill-mannered black stallion,” Sir Cedric growled back. “Here, you, wench whatever your name is, let me have your arm.”

“Address her as a lady,” Sir Alaric growled back, in warning.

“When she’s not dressed as one?” Sir Cedric raised a brow. “Dressed as a common serving wench, one of the lower classes, it’s clear that’s how she wishes to be treated here.”

“Wait. What?” Mia shook her head. “No.”

“Put her down. Now,” Sir Alaric said, his deeper tone implying an or else.

“Remember what happened the last time you two went off script,” Sir Throne said with a sly grin.

“For the last time,” Sir Alaric said, his tone hard as iron, “Put. Her. Down.”

“Really, Sir Cedric,” Sir Elias spoke, trying to ease the tension between the two men. “There are gentler ways of holding a woman on your lap, and the lady has asked you to put her down. Gently.”

“Please, my dear, ignore these men. I will help you,” Sir Cedric said as he moved his hands across her body.

“No! You’ve done enough,” Mia said, as she tried to push his hands away. “Remove your hands from me, sir!”

With that, Sir Cedric raised his hands in the air, completely away from her. “You had but to ask,” he said.

Quickly Sir Alaric’s strong hands moved upon her waist and lifted her down.

“Are you alright?” his quiet voice spoke near her ear once she was on the ground.

“Yes,” she nodded, still feeling the heat in her face as the knights all watched.

As Sir Cedric sat atop his horse, now she could see he wore a gorgeous white tunic embroidered with golden dragons, white tights, and knee-high; white leather boots tied on with leather garters. He and his horse wore white with gold threads everywhere.

The program listed him as the white knight, and he more than fit the part.

“That big horse came out of nowhere,” she said, looking at how big and tall the white horse was. “Frighteningly fast.”

“Yes,” Sir Alaric said. “Quite dangerous. I’m glad you weren’t injured or worse.”

“Why was it so close to my tent?” She frowned, worrying that it might happen again.

“It shouldn’t have been,” Sir Alaric said, sending a glare to Air Sir Cedric.

“Yes, Sir Cedric.” Sir Elias crossed his arms and gave him a stern look. “You know it’s against the rules to ride our horses through here. So why were you breaking that rule?”

“I was on the practice field and realized I’d forgotten my sword,” Sir Cedric said. “It’s in my tent. Everyone is usually gone to breakfast by now. So, no one should still be in their tents.”

“You’re damn lucky you didn’t hurt her,” Sir Elias said.

“Milady, where were you headed, when this oaf nearly ran you down?” Sir Alaric asked.

“To the village to have a late breakfast with my friend Lilly,” she said. “If any is left and they haven’t already stopped serving.”

“Ah,” Sir Cedric interrupted. “Breaking thy fast. May I accompany you?”

“No,” she said, shaking her head at him. “I wish to dine alone, if not with my friend.”

“If you should so, please,” Sir Alaric said. “It would be my pleasure to escort you safely there.” He bowed to her and then held out his arm.

Despite how dark and dangerous he’d appeared to her during the parade of champions, this felt right, so she took his arm. “Thank you, good Sir,” she said.

“Tis my pleasure, milady,” Sir Alaric said. “They will still be serving breakfast, and if they’re already closing the grill, I’ll speak to the cook. You need not fear going hungry.”

She placed one hand on her belly. “If I can eat,” she said. “I’m feeling a bit, unsettled.”

“You had quite a scare.” He patted her hand which was holding his arm. “Once you’re seated and still for a bit, it should ease.”

The other knights dispersed, except for Sir Cedric, who still sat on his horse, watching her walk away, the sun lighting his hair and his costume.

She turned her attention away from him to focus on Sir Alaric, her escort.

“Well, man, are you going to get your sword or not?” Sir Elias challenged Sir Cedric.

“Yes, of course,” Sir Cedric slowly rode his horse over to his tent.

Mia did not turn back to see what he did afterward.

“We haven’t been properly introduced,” Sir Alaric said. “I am Sir Alaric of Ravenwood. And may I have the pleasure of your name, milady?”

“I’m Mia Louise Harkness,” Mia said.