Wildly Yours

The grand ball hall was abuzz with the cream of society, lords and ladies mingling in a dazzling display of opulence. Crystal chandeliers cast a kaleidoscope of colours across the polished marble floor, where elegant couples glided with precision. The air was alive with laughter, music, and the soft clinking of glasses.

In one corner, a sumptuous feast lay spread. Succulent meats, steaming vegetables, and delicate pastries were arranged with meticulous care. Servants in costumed attire flitted about, proffering silver trays laden with crystal goblets filled with fine wines and champagnes.

Lord Griswold, resplendent in his black tailcoat, beamed with pride as he escorted Leofric through the hall. His eyes sparkled with satisfaction as he introduced Leofric to the assembled nobility, he was completely unaware of the knight's discomfort.

Leofric would love nothing more than to lock himself in his room until morrow's morning when he would sneak out of the manor before the first-morning sun hits the earth. How he wanted to escape the ball, but Lord Griswold, like a hawk, always spotted him. He didn't know what else to do. For the hundredth time that evening, his eyes roamed the hall in search of Isabella. Christ's wounds! The young lady was stunning.

Her exquisite ball gown shimmered in the candlelight, accentuating Isabella's porcelain skin and raven-haired beauty. He could tell the gown was crafted from a luxurious silk velvet with intricate gold and silver embroidery and delicate hand-painted floral motifs on the bodice. The gown radiated elegance, poise and unparalleled beauty. Leofric was breathless.

As if feeling his hot gaze from where she stood chatting with her lady friends, Isabella looked up and cursed under her breath as she quickly averted her eyes.

Leofric frowned. She had been doing that a lot. She barely spoke to him all through the day. Anytime he managed to escape the clutches of Lady Sarah and her husband and tried to converse with Isabella, she would always find an excuse to leave. She was acting strange and distant, and it bothered him as he couldn't help but wonder if he had done or said anything wrong.

"Lord James, Lady Winchester. I am glad you could make it." Lord Griswold greeted the couple that approached them.

"Of course, Lord Griswold. I wouldn't miss the event for any reason." The burly man replied with a blinding smile. He eyed Leofric with a curious gaze. "Is he the one?"

Once again, Lord Griswold's smile reappeared. "Lord James, Lady Winchester, this is Sir Leofric. He is the reason for this joyous gathering." Lord Griswold announced and then went ahead to introduce the Lord and Lady to Leofric.

Leofric bowed graciously, his piercing blue eyes locking onto each face as he greeted the couple." "Nice to meet you too." Lord James chimed in.

"Sir Leofric?" A young lady who wasn't older than two-and-five joined the group.

"Lady Harcourt." Leofric's eyes narrowed into slits for a millisecond. Lady Harcourt, a vision in silk and diamonds.

"Do you two know each other?" Asked Lord Griswold, his curious gaze darting between the two.

"We met a few years ago." The lady spoke, her hard gaze still fixed on Leofric.

Leofric nodded. "I worked for her husband, Lord Harold, a few years ago."

"Yes, he did." She extended a gloved hand to him.

Leofric's almost emptied the content of his stomach at the woman's feet. He was disgusted. His eyes remained locked on her beautiful forest-green eyes, but he made no move to grant the woman's wish.

Noticing the awkwardness, Lord Griswold laughed, "Lady Harcourt, Sir Leofric burnt his lips this morning with a hot tea, so you see, he won't be able to kiss your gracious hand today."

Lady Harcourt withdrew her hand, her eyes flashing with an intensity that told Leofric she was smart enough to know Lord Griswold lied. "Ah, it's fine, Lord Griswold. You don't have to make excuses for him. I know him. I was only trying to see how well he has progressed in fitting into his new role as a member of the high society, but it seems Leofric here is still stuck in his rather barbaric lifestyle."

The air became thick with tension as everyone's eyes darted between Leofric and Lady Harcourt. Apart from being a good swordsman, Leofric was well known for his ill temper. But he surprised everyone with a blinding smile. "Don't tell me you are still angry about our last encounter, where I had promised to slice your tongue with my sword and feed it to your husband's hounds."

Lady Harcourt's face flushed instantly. Oh, how she hated the man.

She met Leofric three years ago when her husband had hired his services to help combat the raiders who had been disturbing the peace of their land.

Just like every other lady, she had been smitten by the man's looks and strength, but in her defence, she had been in a poor state of mind. Her seventy-year-old husband wasn't exactly efficient in bed. She had tried to tell herself that with time she would get used to it, but she had only been fooling herself, for her needs increased.

She began to seek other men's attention. Of course, she was every man's dream, or so she was told. One night, she summoned courage and invited Leofric to the manor. She had tried to seduce him, but it all ended the minute the man learnt about her intention. He had been so furious that his shouts woke the occupants of the manor. Everyone knew about what had happened and couldn't stop talking about it. Her husband, thank heaven, didn't give a flying fig if she slept with all the men in the kingdom.

Lord Griswold laughed and said, "Oh, dear, Sir Leofric, I never knew you could make such funny jokes."

"Neither did I, Lord Griswold." Leofric raised a brow but didn't say a word.

Lord James cleared his throat and asked, "Sir Leofric, what do you think about your promotion? How are you liking it?"

Leofric shrugged. "Nothing special about it."

"I never took you for an ungrateful fellow, Sir Leofric." Lady Harcourt began, "Are you trying to tell us there is nothing special about our King's generosity to you? He promoted you from a classless and landless knight to a Lord. Well, I think I understand you. For a man born from a poor background with no dignity to uphold, you may not understand the value of the opportunity given to you." Lady Harcourt threw in with a smile.

"I find it surprising you know the word 'dignity' because our last encounter left me wondering if you knew what the word meant at all."

Before Lady Harcourt could say anything, Lord Griswold interjected, "We should all be grateful to Sir Leofric for his bravery, which is the reason for our gathering this evening."

"Don't get too ahead of yourself, Lord Griswold. I am sure His Highness would have found another way to defeat Prince Edward with or without Sir Leofric's bravery." Lady Harcourt retorted.

"Too bad we didn't have to wait that long to find out, eh?" Lady Sarah chimed in, and they all nodded in approval.

Leofric's lips tilted to the side, and he shook his head at the woman. He knew she would rather chop her neck off than be grateful to him. "If you would excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, I need to refill my glass." He didn't wait for anybody's permission as he stalked off. Lord Griswold didn't dare go after him.

It wasn't hard to spot Isabella as she stood in one corner chatting animatedly with her brother.

Isabella's laughter was cut short as she spotted Leofric walking towards them. She contemplated running away but decided against it. The more she tried to push the man away, the more he found his way to her by trying to start a conversation— which she always found a way to escape—or by making eye contact with her. It seemed the man didn't know how to take hints.

As soon as Henry spotted Leofric, he straightened his back. "Sir Leofric!" He called out. "Did I tell you how magnificent you look in your uniform?"

Leofric's lips tilted to one side. He said, "Yes, I have lost count of how many times you have complimented me, Henry. Thank you. Someone might think you are my wife with the amount of attention you are giving to me."

Henry's cheeks flushed. "I am sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I was only making sure you were getting compliments due to you."

"Ah, I was only joking." Leofric chuckled at how flushed the young boy looked

"Oh," Henry's cheeks flushed more. "Your glass is empty. Do you need a drink?"

Leofric looked at his glass and then at Isabella. "Yes, I do."

"The usual?" Henry asked,

"Yes, the usual. Thank you, Henry." Henry was out of sight in a second.

Isabella laughed as she turned to Leofric, "The usual?" she asked.

"Yes, he knows what I like." He smiled,

"He adores you." She stated firmly.

Leofric's brows drew together. "He said he wants to be like me."

"And what did you tell him?"

"Every man is different."

"He meant he wants to be as smart and strong as you."

"You think I am smart and strong?" He raised a brow at her.

"If you are not, how else did you win the war?" She imitated his gesture, causing Leofric to smile, and goodness! The man was breathtaking. She couldn't blame the ladies for drooling over him.

"You win. By the time he gets swarmed with Lord duties, he would not remember anything about wielding a sword."

"If he is determined, he can do both. Just like you. You are a Knight and a Lord."

"Wielding a sword is merely a hobby for me. It is something I was born into. It is something that comes naturally to me, but being a lord? I wasn't born to be one, which is why I am struggling to cope."

"It will come naturally to you soon. You are a man born to lead."

"My type of leadership is leading men to kill and destroy and some to their death."

He half expected her to look disgusted by his confession, but she smiled, looking pleased. "Seeing how your men are loyal to the core and ready to jump into the fire with you, I must say you have been a good leader. You always ensured their safety and comfort, am I right?"

"Of course, my men's safety is my priority."

"That is the same thing that is expected of you now."

Seeing his confusion, she couldn't help but laugh. "As a lord, you are to ensure that your people are safe and comfortable. What is expected of you as a lord is no different from what you are already doing as a commander."

"That makes sense." His brows pulled together as he dissected her words.

The music changed. "Dancing time," Isabella said awkwardly, hoping the man wouldn't ask her to dance. "Do you know how to dance, Sir Leofric?"

Leofric's shoulders tensed. "No, I am terrible at it."

"That makes the two of us—"

"Thank goodness."

Her eyes sparkled. She said, "But, I learnt a few steps some years ago. I don't mind checking how rusty they have become." They looked at each other without saying a word. After a few seconds, she asked, "Are you not going to ask me to dance with you, or should I find another partner?" She internally smacked herself.

"Oh, but you said you are terrible at it."

"Yes, but I also said I don't mind checking how rusty they have become."

Leofric was about to give an excuse, but not until he saw a young man approaching them. He instantly knew the man was coming to ask Isabella for a dance. He quickly extended his hand to her. "Will you do me the honour of dancing with me?"

Isabella's cheeks flushed against her wish. Why was she blushing? Christ's toes! What was that flutter? Cue to tell him no. "Yes, I would do you the honour." She placed her into his before she could think better of it. He whisked her away to the dance floor.