FOREVER KNIGHTS: #4 Battling Black Roses

“What?” Anna turned a wide-eyed stare on her. “And you didn’t tell me?” She looked utterly horrified.

“It was only in passing, Anna.”

“Was he taken with you?”

Nora shook her head and shrugged.

“Look how he moves.” Anna gushed. “Like a wild cat.” She sighed. Watching the animalistic turn of his head, checking for carriages before crossing the next cobbled walk.

“He moved better than I.” Nora winced.

“What?” Meralee’s eyes snapped to her.

“I tripped over my feet. Nearly tangling in my skirts.” Nora admitted shamefaced.

But the girls were mesmerized watching him. All three gazes leaned out of their seats to trace the line of wide shoulders, narrow hips and black-clad long legs reaching to his shined boots.

“What do you know of him.” Nora sipped creamed tea.

Anna groaned. “I’ve only been talking about him all sennight! Truly Nora? Do you two listen to nothing I say?”

“We do our very best.” Mera said dryly. Sipping her own cup before dabbing her mouth with a cloth napkin.

Anna playfully feigned throwing a tea biscuit at her. “You’re incorrigible, Mera. It’s no wonder you’re scarcely invited to social visits.”

“And how deeply it saddens me.”

Nora’s eyes were glued to the man’s movements as he headed to the other road. Barely hearing her friends.

“She’s not even listening again.” Anna complained.

Nora drug her eyes from his movements to respond but was shocked into stillness when he turned on his heel and looked squarely at the library window. His eyes narrowing. As though meeting her long study.

Nora lurched back. “Surely he cannot see us in here!” The lounge was dark.

“He’s looking at you.” Anna gasped.

“He can’t be.” Meralee frowned. “It’s darker in here then out there. There’s reflections all over the outside of that sugar glass.”

“He sure looks like he’s staring at her.” Anna responded.

Heat suffusing her chest, forced Nora to look at where she’d spilled hot tea down the cut of her gown and into her cleavage. She puffed several breaths to fight the heat.

Meralee swiped up a napkin and tossed it on Nora’s upper breasts, where Nora could tuck it down to absorb the dampness.

“Here.” Meralee pulled Anna’s wrap from her shoulders to drape it around Nora to hide the accident marring the pale-yellow gown.

Anna tugged some curling strands of blonde tresses over Nora’s shoulder to drape them over the damp spot.

“It’s an attractive look.” Meralee grinned.

Wiping the wet stain to ease the burn. Nora looked back to the window but found the road empty.

“Hey, Hey!” Anna caught her chin in a biting grip. “No. I said, no!” She gave Nora a dark look. “I saw him first, I’ve talked about him for a sennight, and now I’m declaring it. He is mine.” Releasing Nora’s chin Anna shook a finger at her blue-eyed friend. “And breaking the lady’s code of honor would be sacrilegious.” She relaxed to take a delicate bite of biscuit. Ending the discussion.

Mera leaned sideways enough to see the man’s coat disappearing down the block. “The only honor code ladies have...” She murmured absentmindedly. “Is that there is no honor in pursuit.”

“Truly?” Anna dropped the chocolate dipped bread to scowl.

“She’s trying to provoke you.” Nora warned.

“It’s true.” Mera nodded.

“You two are deeply awful.” Anna pouted.

“So, who’d you say this gentleman is?” Nora added sugar to her drink.

“Now that you’ve seen him, you’re interested in me talking?” Bitterness tinged Anna’s voice.

“Anna, you switch topics so fast we barely know what you’re saying from one minute to the next...much less whom you’re speaking of.” Mera defended, sipping frothing tea.

Lip curling, Anna gave a grudging shrug. “His name is Black. Lord Derrick Black. Nobody knows anything about him.” Leaning forward she opened her mouth to whisper conspiratorially but Meralee’s dry voice cut her off.

“In Meadowbrook? No one knows about him? He’d have to be a monk.”

“Everyone says he doesn’t socialize nor have introductions to Meadowbrook. A difficult position to be!” She gushed. “Anyway...I plan to fix that…Then wed him.” She announced, sitting back and crossing her arms looking at them both in challenge. “Can you just imagine that fine figure guiding me into a ballroom?”

She found neither intended to argue her claim.

“Ooh, tea.” She purred lurching forward to cup her nearly forgotten cup between two hands. “Tea. Tea. Tea.” Anna chanted cheerfully wiggling in her seat.

“Maybe you should put that down.” Mera eyed her haughtily.

Clutching it under her chin Anna gave Meralee a menacing look.