Free Desired by Virginia Henley Page A

coherently when she was this close. He raised his head and glanced about the hall. “I’ll dance with Isabel and you dance with your brother, then have him take you into the gallery.”
    Robert de Beauchamp bowed before Brianna. “Do you care to dance, demoiselle?”
    “Oh yes, my lord, I love to dance.” She feared she sounded too eager. As they moved onto the floor, she kept her lashes lowered. Finally, she found the courage to look up at him. “Oh, you have a gash on your neck!” she blurted.
    “A scratch. Scars are badges of honor, my lady.”
    Brianna had never thought of scars in that way. Men saw things in a different light from women. Perhaps scars did show courage in a warrior. She remembered Warrick’s battle scars and shuddered.
    “I’m more at home in the field than in the dance, my lady,” he explained. He was far too large to dance gracefully.He was a little clumsy, but suddenly she found that a most endearing quality.
    “Please call me Brianna.” Jesu, she sounded too eager again. “Only if you agree to call me Robert.”
    “ ‘My lady’ and ‘my lord’ are so formal.” Now she was stating the obvious!
    “Brianna, I would like to be your champion in the tournament. Will you give me your scarf or sleeve to wear?”
    “Oh yes, Robert, I would be honored.”
    As the measure came to a close, Prince Lionel clapped Robert on the back. “Beauchamp, come and sit with us. You hate to dance as much as I do.” Lionel’s eyes traveled from Brianna’s mouth, down to her breasts, then up again. “She’s a tempting morsel, Robert, but the king’s wards are off limits for bed sport.”
    Brianna blushed hotly.
    “Prince Lionel, Lady Bedford and I are to be betrothed soon, I hope,” Robert said repressively.
    “Ah, you lucky dog! Then she won’t be off limits for bed sport.” He laughed at his own wit.
    Beauchamp placed a protective arm about Brianna and drew her away from the prince. “Excuse me, Your Highness, I must return Lady Bedford, then I shall be happy to join you.”
    Brianna was thrilled that Robert was chivalrously shielding her from Prince Lionel. “He is so coarse,” she murmured, embarrassed.
    “I am in his service, my lady. He is a generous liege lord to me. I hope to become steward of his household.”
    “Loyalty is an admirable quality, my lord.” Brianna could have bitten off her tongue for criticizing the royal prince. They were back to formalities.
    “My lady … Brianna, I hope you are not angry because I said we were to be betrothed, when I haven’t yet asked you.”
    “No, no, I’m not angry,” she assured him.
    “I may arrange it then?” he pressed.
    “Yes, my lord … Robert … if you wish it.”
    Beauchamp bowed over her hand and left her with Adele.
    “He’s going to arrange the betrothal,” Brianna told Adele breathlessly.
    “After only one dance? He must be head over heels!”
    Oh no, that’s me
, thought Brianna.
    Joan strolled along the gallery on Edmund of Kent’s arm. At the far end he spied Prince Edward and Princess Isabel. “This meeting is no accident,” he accused; “admit it was deliberately planned!”
    Joan was about to vehemently deny his accusation when she realized of what he accused her.
    “Princess Isabel talked you into bringing me out here, you little devil!”
    “If you don’t wish to be alone with her, take her straight back to the Banqueting Hall to dance.” Joan had to bite her lip to keep from laughing aloud.
    “I’m happy I amuse you. How the devil will I escape from Isabel? I have an assignation with a lady at ten.”
    “You wouldn’t waste your time with a lady,” Joan teased.
    “Edmund, I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” Isabel said happily.
    “And I for you, Your Highness. You promised to save me a dance.”
    “And when did I do that, sir?” she simpered.
    “When the two of us were private in the stables at Berkhamsted,” he said outrageously.
    “Edmund, you are so wicked.” She let