Joust of Hearts by Genella deGrey Page A

at rushes all the way. “Honestly, men are the most frustrating creatures,” she murmered to the empty room. She pulled her pillow over her head and, in a huff, went to sleep.
     
    * * * *
     
    “You have slept late again, m’lady. If you did not love your sleep so, I am sure Maggie and me would be labeled a disgrace by the others who share our tasks.”
    “Oh, Tilly, do not fuss so,” she mumbled from her stupor and opened her eyes with caution. They’d moved the tapestry so that the sun beamed into the room, illuminating everything to a visual screech. She sank deeper into the warmth and darkness of her bedding.
    Maggie pulled the covering from Melisande’s face. “Now, you will be needing to break your fast. I shall fetch a salver before all is swept away.” She hurried from the room.
    “Your light green gown and ivory robes will do fine for the tour and dinner later this day. Which headpiece would you prefer, your green chaperon or the ivory-horned headdress?”
    Resigned to the invasion, Melisande sat up in her bed and found that she had a slight headache. “I will not be wearing a headpiece, Tilly. I would like a braid.”
    “But, m’lady, everyone will be wearing a head covering of some sort,” Tilly whined in a tone that made Melisande want to place her hands over her ears.
    Here was yet another battle she didn’t care to attend. Besides, she was at the home of a friend, not at court, for heaven’s sake. She should be able to take her ease if she so desired. “Bring me the one I wear for Mass.”
    Tilly did as she was told and returned from the trunks with the hat, handing it to her mistress. Melisande proceeded to remove the length of long sheer white fabric from the headpiece. “We shall fasten this to the top of my head for a covering. Will that suffice?”
    Perhaps if Maggie had been there, Melisande would have drawn more argument from her maids. Together they, at times, were a formative pair. She supposed they only did it for her sake and for the sake of appearances, but there really was no need. Not at Willowbrook.
    After Melisande ate the bread and meat Maggie had brought up, the girls dressed her and began dressing her hair. They wove the braids at the front on both sides of her head to form a crown, then joined loosely at the center to fall down to her waist. With the thin handle of a wooden comb, Maggie meticulously tucked the folded material into the front of the crown. Then she lifted the fabric off Melisande’s face and let it hang from the crown to halfway down her back. Tilly and Maggie both agreed that this was more practical and feminine than the other head coverings.
    Melisande wondered if Devin would like it then, just as quickly, pushed that thought aside.
     
    * * * *
     
    Lord Bergavny was speaking to a group of twenty or so when Melisande finally joined them. “This day we shall take a tour of Willowbrook and her grounds. I myself will escort you to the stables, to the gardens, and finally through the great hall that is the heart of Willowbrook. I shall share with you the history of the battle in which I fought to obtain this property”—Lord Bergavny paused then continued with much puzzlement—“which seems to not have been so many years ago, unless one would study a chart of years.”
    The group chuckled.
    Melisande was not looking forward to that part of the tour. These knights are all the same, she thought to herself. Always talking of their former days of glory.
    At once she became aware of a presence behind her. She spared the intrusion a quick glance. How could she have thought it would be anyone but Devin? Why, she could practically sense his virility. After all, she had felt it when he stood just inside her chamber the night before, even from across her room. Facing forward again, she adjusted her sleeves.
    “Good day, Lady Melisande.” Devin spoke softly, close to her ear.
    She was sure he knew the reaction he caused when he breathed his words so near. A flash