Free Suzanne Robinson by Lord of the Dragon Page B

be to Our Lady of Mercies. Do you purpose to tell me you’ve forgotten the siege?” Laudine folded her arms under her generous chest and shook her head. “The order of the tournament. Remember? I reminded you yestere’en. First the jousts, then the mêlée, and on the third day, the siege of the Castle of Love and Beauty.” Laudine patted the golden braids looped over her ears. “No doubt I’ll be the Queen of Love and Beauty and thus command the castle.”
    Juliana groaned as she bent to allow Alice to set a silver filet on her head over the veil. “I’d forgotten.”
    “Now don’t say you’re going to Vyne Hill,” Laudine said. “You promised you’d attend all three days of the tournament, and we’ve already chosen our guises. If you don’t play Virtue, I might have to, and I have my heart set on being Desire.” Laudine’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. “My gown is the color of rubies.”
    “Don’t you ever think of anything but how to torture men by arousing their lust?”
    “Of course I do, but nothing else is so entertaining.” Laudine grinned at Juliana and waggled her eyebrows up and down. Juliana tried to look severe, but ended up giggling, which caused Laudine to pause and stare. She surveyed the rich gown, the filet of silver, and raised herbrows. “Mmm, mmm, mmm. Someone’s going hunting today. How unlike you, sister.”
    Making haste to distract, Juliana said, “What of this siege?”
    “Ah!” Yolande clapped her hands. “Your father has caused a mock castle to be built, and we ladies are to defend it. Now do you recall? Bertrade will portray Chastity, I am Honor. Then there are Humility and Pride and, oh, many others. The winner of the tournament will lead the knights in siege and try to take the castle.” Yolande put her fingertips to her lips and giggled. “We’re going to pelt them with cakes and flowers, and try to defend against them. But not too well, of course, or my lord de Val—er—the men won’t be able to get to us.”
    “Of course,” Juliana said faintly. For a moment she’d forgotten the mock siege, and about Yolande. Yolande didn’t know what had happened last night between her and Gray. She didn’t know about his promise. If Juliana took part in the siege, Gray de Valence might besiege
her
. Ignoring the tingle of excitement that shot through her, she listened to Laudine continue to scold.
    “Now, Jule, you’ve already embarrassed Father and Mother by vanishing last night. You missed the viewing of the great helms.”
    Before a tournament, the helms of the participants were placed on display with all their fanciful headdresses. Everyone inspected them, and any lady who wished could stand before that of a particular knight and denounce him for an unchivalrous act. Laudine was in the habit of making up fantastical tales about some poor knight and forcing him to go on his knees before her and beg forgiveness.
    “At least you’ve kept your promise to come today,” Laudine said. “What are you doing?”
    Ignoring Laudine’s and Yolande’s stares, Julianaopened the ivory casket Alice had brought to her. Removing a top tray, she sorted through jewelry until she found her silver girdle. She hesitated, then drew out a heavy silver brooch in the shape of a garland and studded with amethysts. The dark green overgown scooped at the neck and then cut down the center of her chest to reveal the pale green garment beneath. She used the brooch to pin the edges of her undertunic at the neck where it slit into a vee just over her breasts. Looking up, she found Laudine staring at her.
    “Holy saints!”
    Juliana reddened. “What?”
    “You’ve a lover.” Laudine covered her mouth with her hands and giggled. “At last, Juliana has a lover.”
    “She has?” said Yolande, aghast.
    Juliana drew herself up and looked down her nose at the two. “I do not.”
    “But you’re coming to the tournament,” Yolande said.
    “I have promised.”
    Laudine laughed. “And