Read Online Grant Clan 06 - My Desperate Highlander by Keira Montclair - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Keira Montclair
Ads: Link
only knew how much her father had protected her from the outside world. Now everything was such a fresh new experience that she couldn’t get enough. She had to take advantage of her relative freedom and enjoy herself to the fullest when her kin were not watching.
The challengers exited the field while the English knight stayed in the center.
When he was the lone man on the field, the herald announced, “The knight seeks his tokens for good fortune.”
Diana grew wide-eyed. “Is this the part where he gathers scarves and ribbons from the ladies in the crowd?”
Aunt Elspeth nodded. “Since it is his tourney, he will get many, including one from his betrothed. It is tradition. And if the knight sees a lass in the crowd he admires, he may stop in front of her and request a favor. She will either tie one onto his lance or risk insulting him.”
The woman in the front chuckled. “Who would dare insult him? You could get speared by the tip of his lance.”
Diana squirmed in her seat, so excited by the prospect of seeing such a romantic expression of love between the betrothed couple. He stood in the center and pranced his horse in a circle to the delight of the spectators, feigning an approach in several different directions, much to the excitement of the many lassies in the crowd. Each time he turned toward a group of lassies on the grass, the ladies would jump and scream and wave their scarves in the air, hoping to coax the knight to come to them. He changed directions six times before he finally headed toward the main grandstand.
Diana and Elspeth’s grandstand was to the side of the main one, so they could not see inside. How she wished to run out and steal a glimpse at the beautiful bride he had chosen, but to do that, she would have needed to run onto the field.
When he reached the grandstand of his betrothed, he lowered his lance slowly, the blunt end held directly in front of the people who were seated there. His horse bent down onto one knee to the cheers of the audience. Diana could see a lass’s delicate hands reach out and tie her scarf on the end of the lance. The crowd applauded and the knight galloped away, circling the field again with his lance held high in the air, showing his token for all to see. The noise from the crowd was deafening, and Diana giggled as she covered her ears for a moment.
He halted in the center again and pranced around in a small circle, playing the same game again.
Diana whispered, “Won’t his betrothed be upset?”
“Nay, she was chosen first.”
The knight stopped his horse finally, then kneed the beast and headed straight for Diana.
Chapter Eight
Diana lost the ability to swallow. The world slowed as the knight came in her direction, his lance now pointed at her. Her eyes widened, and she clutched Aunt Elspeth’s hand.
The woman in front of her said, “He’s coming for you, lass.”
Diana shook her head, unable to believe he was singling her out. The faster he came, the louder the roar of the crowd. She fastened her gaze on the knight’s and discovered the woman was right. He was coming for her.
For her! Just as she had always dreamed! A knight was coming for her. Well, mayhap just for her favor, but still, he had chosen her. The knight stopped in front of her grandstand, and his horse trotted sideways before he calmed him. As soon as his mount was under control, he lowered his lance directly in front of Diana.
Still unable to believe such a thing would happen, she scrambled to pull a scarf out of her sleeve. Leaning toward the knight, she stared directly into his eyes, and she could swear he smiled at her, though it was impossible to know for sure with his helm in place. Her heart melted as the moment she had waited for her entire life finally presented itself. She fumbled with the piece of fine silk, but managed to tie it on the end. The knight bowed his head to her before turning away and holding his lance up for the crowd to celebrate with him
The challengers exited the field while the English knight stayed in the center.
When he was the lone man on the field, the herald announced, “The knight seeks his tokens for good fortune.”
Diana grew wide-eyed. “Is this the part where he gathers scarves and ribbons from the ladies in the crowd?”
Aunt Elspeth nodded. “Since it is his tourney, he will get many, including one from his betrothed. It is tradition. And if the knight sees a lass in the crowd he admires, he may stop in front of her and request a favor. She will either tie one onto his lance or risk insulting him.”
The woman in the front chuckled. “Who would dare insult him? You could get speared by the tip of his lance.”
Diana squirmed in her seat, so excited by the prospect of seeing such a romantic expression of love between the betrothed couple. He stood in the center and pranced his horse in a circle to the delight of the spectators, feigning an approach in several different directions, much to the excitement of the many lassies in the crowd. Each time he turned toward a group of lassies on the grass, the ladies would jump and scream and wave their scarves in the air, hoping to coax the knight to come to them. He changed directions six times before he finally headed toward the main grandstand.
Diana and Elspeth’s grandstand was to the side of the main one, so they could not see inside. How she wished to run out and steal a glimpse at the beautiful bride he had chosen, but to do that, she would have needed to run onto the field.
When he reached the grandstand of his betrothed, he lowered his lance slowly, the blunt end held directly in front of the people who were seated there. His horse bent down onto one knee to the cheers of the audience. Diana could see a lass’s delicate hands reach out and tie her scarf on the end of the lance. The crowd applauded and the knight galloped away, circling the field again with his lance held high in the air, showing his token for all to see. The noise from the crowd was deafening, and Diana giggled as she covered her ears for a moment.
He halted in the center again and pranced around in a small circle, playing the same game again.
Diana whispered, “Won’t his betrothed be upset?”
“Nay, she was chosen first.”
The knight stopped his horse finally, then kneed the beast and headed straight for Diana.
Chapter Eight
Diana lost the ability to swallow. The world slowed as the knight came in her direction, his lance now pointed at her. Her eyes widened, and she clutched Aunt Elspeth’s hand.
The woman in front of her said, “He’s coming for you, lass.”
Diana shook her head, unable to believe he was singling her out. The faster he came, the louder the roar of the crowd. She fastened her gaze on the knight’s and discovered the woman was right. He was coming for her.
For her! Just as she had always dreamed! A knight was coming for her. Well, mayhap just for her favor, but still, he had chosen her. The knight stopped in front of her grandstand, and his horse trotted sideways before he calmed him. As soon as his mount was under control, he lowered his lance directly in front of Diana.
Still unable to believe such a thing would happen, she scrambled to pull a scarf out of her sleeve. Leaning toward the knight, she stared directly into his eyes, and she could swear he smiled at her, though it was impossible to know for sure with his helm in place. Her heart melted as the moment she had waited for her entire life finally presented itself. She fumbled with the piece of fine silk, but managed to tie it on the end. The knight bowed his head to her before turning away and holding his lance up for the crowd to celebrate with him
Similar Books
