frowned with concern as he watched her leave.
He turned his attention to the care of his mount. He removed the saddle, tossed it to his squire, and then ordered that his horse be allowed to cool down before being given water and oats.
Ten minutes passed, and still his wife hadn't returned. Royce went after her. He heard the sound of retching when he reached the trees. Justin came up to speak to him and also heard the noise.
'Your sister's ill,' Royce said.
'Shouldn't we go to her?' Justin asked, his concern obvious.
Royce shook his head. 'Give her a few more minutes of privacy. If she doesn't come back then, I'll go to her.'
The two men stood side by side, waiting. Several more minutes passed in silence.
'Was it something she ate, do you suppose?' Justin asked. The sound of retching had stopped, but Nicholaa still hadn't walked back to the clearing.
'No,' Royce answered. 'She's made herself ill worrying, Justin.'
'What is she worrying about?'
'You.'
Justin didn't know what to say to that.
Nicholaa came toward them then. She frowned when she saw the two of them standing there, then went to kneel by the stream. She rinsed her mouth with the cool water, then patted water on her face.
'Nicholaa?' Justin called out. 'Have you really made yourself sick worrying about me?'
She turned around to look up at her brother. 'No,' she answered. 'I'm sick for quite another reason.'
Justin looked relieved. He pulled her to her feet.
'I am worried about you, though,' she told him. 'Justin, please understand. I'm your older sister, and I'll always try to protect you.' She turned to Royce. 'If you were going to compete in these games, I'd be worried about you, too. If that means I lack faith in either of you, my only defense is that I love you both.'
'Then it was something you ate that made you sick?' Royce asked.
Nicholaa gave him a roundabout answer. 'I'm feeling fine now.'
Royce didn't look convinced. He seemed preoccupied during dinner, and when they'd finished, he went to the stream. She followed him.
He was bent on worrying about her now, and Nicholaa didn't think a lecture would ease his mind. A spontaneous action might, though.
Her husband was kneeling beside the stream. He'd taken his tunic off and was splashing water over his neck and chest. Nicholaa walked up behind him and used the flat of her foot against his solid backside to give him a quick shove.
He didn't budge. He did turn around, though, and give her a most incredulous look.
She laughed and then tried to push him into the water again.
He thought she'd lost her mind. 'I'm being spontaneous,' she announced as she lunged for him a second time. 'But you aren't cooperating.'
He still didn't fall into the water. Nicholaa backed up, thinking to try again, but Royce suddenly stood up. He deliberately glanced over his shoulder at the water, then looked at her and grinned.
She knew what he was going to do, of course, and immediately lifted her skirts to run in the opposite direction.
He caught her from behind. She let out a shrill scream. Royce picked her up, turned, and held her over the water.
Soldiers came running. She and Royce were suddenly surrounded by armed men ready to defend them.
She was both horrified and embarrassed.
Royce laughed at the blush that covered her face. He dismissed his soldiers, and when they were once again alone, he bent down and kissed her forehead. 'I love you, Nicholaa.'
'I love you, too.'
They shared a long kiss. Nicholaa quite forgot where they were. His touch was magical, and when he was holding her in his arms, all she could think about was him.
She was standing with his arms around her waist when he finally ended the kiss. She stared up into his eyes for a long while until she regained her wits. She noticed the sparkle in his beautiful eyes, that adorable rascal's smile. She noticed something else, too. She was standing in the water. He wasn't.
Her intent was to make him forget to worry about her for just a little while, and when he started laughing, she knew she'd succeeded.
He sat down on the grassy bank, pulled her out of the water and into his lap, laughing over his cunning still, and helped her take off her soggy shoes.
'Royce, if you forgot something, would there still be time to go back home to fetch it?'
'No,' he answered. 'Why do you ask?'
'If you wanted to take something back you couldn't do that, either, could you?'
'No.'
She gave him a radiant smile. 'I have something to tell you,' she whispered.
She didn't go on. She folded her hands in her lap and turned her gaze to his chest. Her sudden shyness made him smile. 'What is it, Nicholaa?'
'We're going to have a baby.'
He was too stunned to react at first. Then he was speechless.
She peeked up to see how he was taking her announcement. She laughed when she saw the look of astonishment on his face. Tears of joy streamed down her cheeks, and she wondered how it was possible to laugh and cry at the same time even as she continued to do just that.
Royce's hand shook when he gently touched her face. 'You're certain about this?' he asked her in a gruff whisper.
It was of course a very logical question. It wasn't logical that after she told him she was certain, he repeated the same question two more times. He couldn't seem to accept it.
'You're pleased, husband?'
'Yes.' He didn't say another word. He didn't need to. There was so much emotion in that simple acknowledgment, so much love. He put his arms around her and held her against him. He was still having difficulty putting his thoughts into words. They stayed that way for a long while, holding each other, kissing, whispering to each other. Every now and then she'd feel him tremble.
Oh, yes, he was very pleased.
Chapter Eighteen
The fields outside London had been turned into a paradise of color. Tents with each baron's colors sprinkled the hills overlooking the site where the games would be held. The king's quarters, on the opposite side, were gigantic and far more elegant than all the others.
It seemed to Nicholaa that everyone in England was in attendance. Women, dressed in their finest gowns, strolled beside the jousting fields so they could be noticed by the men. Children ran from cart to cart, snatching sweets. Minstrels moved through the crowd, singing romantic ballads. Heralds were busy watching everyone so they could accurately record the history of the event in their minds for future recitation.
Only six barons had received the honor of having their men engage in the games. Had all the barons been allowed to enter, the festive occasion would have lasted a month or more.
The experienced soldiers engaged in combat first. Nicholaa stood on the side of the hill with Justin at her side and all the other younger soldiers lined up behind her. They cheered for Lawrence and his team. Baron Hanson's soldiers were almost immediately defeated. Baron George's soldiers left the fields next. By early afternoon only two divisions remained. Baron Guy's soldiers were now pitted against Baron Royce's, just as everyone had
