Rise of the Defender by Kathryn Le Veque

when Christopher and
the other knights assembled in the great hall of Lioncross. It was a cavernous
place with vaulted ceilings and an enormous fireplace with a great lion’s head
carved into it. The servants had put fresh rushes on the floor and two banks of
expensive tallow candles burned brightly. Lady Mary had even insisted that
precious frankincense be burned in honor of her daughter’s wedding, the pungent
scent mingling with the heavy smell of smoke.
         Christopher stood in his armor, having not
even bothered to bathe or shave. This ceremony was simply a formality and meant
nothing to him other than the fact that Lioncross Abbey would legally be his.
He was eager to count the wealth in the coffers and get started on improving
the structure. He stood, waiting impatiently, for his bride and her mother to
appear.
         David stood beside him, but Edward and the
other knights were hitting the fine French wine pretty hard, beginning to get
rather loud and boisterous. Edward was a lively sort and could drink with the
best of them, and Christopher enjoyed the man greatly.
         Christopher watched him gulping from his
goblet, laughing with Leeton. He and Edward had fought with Richard for three
years and he had come to think of the man as his second brother. He was tall
and dashingly handsome with his dark hair and golden eyes, and he could fight
with the best of them. His father, Robert, was the Earl of Wolverhampton and
Edward would inherit the title upon the man’s death.
         Robert de Wolfe was still in the Holy Land
with Richard. He and Edward had gone together to fight with Richard, but Edward
left with Christopher. Robert and another knight by the name of Royce
Culbertson had become the very best of friends, Royce having been with Richard
since the beginning of the crusade and marrying a Saracen woman the very first
year. Royce had sent his wife and baby daughter home to England the very next
year, and the child was now three years old. Much to Edward’s horror, Robert
and Royce had drawn up a marriage contract between their two children, and
Edward had come home to visit his betrothed, who was exactly twenty-four years
younger than him.  Edward had protested the ridiculous match but his father
insisted.
         Christopher could sympathize with him,
marrying a girl he had no interest in, but he was jolted from his thoughts by
the appearance of the priest. The man politely requested the knights to gather
about Christopher, indicating the Lady Dustin and Lady Mary were approaching. Fighting
down a resurgence of reluctance, Christopher glanced up and caught a glimpse of
the two women on the balcony above the great hall as they made their way to the
staircase.
         He didn’t get a good look at Dustin until
she descended the stairs and entered the room, holding her mother’s arm. Then,
he found he could not take his eyes off her. She was dressed in a creamy yellow
silk surcoat, well off her beautiful shoulders and embroidered in gold thread.
It was a bit snug, perhaps too snug, and revealed her figure plainly.
         Christopher had never gawked at a woman in
his life and tore himself away from her lest he make this the first time. But
he realized one thing - David had been right. She did have magnificent breasts.
In fact, there wasn’t one thing about the woman that wasn’t magnificent and he
was stunned, suddenly feeling self-conscious of his less-than-kempt appearance.
He found himself regretting he had not bathed.
         “I do apologize for our tardiness,” Mary
said softly. “Are we ready to begin?”
         “Aye,” Christopher stepped forward, gazing
impassively at Dustin before looking at the priest. “You may begin, Father.”
         Throughout the quick ceremony, Dustin held
onto her mother. The action irritated Christopher and glared in the direction
of the women only to realize that Lady Mary did not look at all well. Instead
of Dustin grasping her mother