A Dishonorable Knight by Michelle Morrison Read Free Book Online

She hadn't
indicated she knew him when he introduced himself, so he could only speculate
at which lady-in-waiting the three of them would play nursemaid to until they
were able to leave her at an abbey, or perhaps one of the border lord's keeps.
    "How came you to be back here,
my lady? Did you not escape with the other women?"
    The woman hesitated and Gareth
wondered if she, too, had been hit on the head. Finally she answered, “I was with
the others, but my horse bolted and I became separated from the group."
For some reason Gareth had the impression she was not telling the truth, but
shrugged. What espionage could one lady-in-waiting engage in?
    When they reached the clearing where
the men had spread out their blankets, Elena said, "Where is the camp?
Where are the others?"
    "Others, my lady?" Bryant
asked politely.
    "Where are the tents? Where are
the other ladies?"
    "My lady, they are all with King
Richard, as Sir Gareth told you."
    Seemingly recovered from her earlier
shock, she sputtered in fury. “After all I have been through today, you expect
me to make do with no inn? No camp? Where, precisely, am I supposed to
sleep?"
    Bryant hurried over to his bedroll
and picked it up. "You may gladly take my blanket, my lady."
    "A blanket? Have you no cots, no
tents? This is ridiculous! I cannot be expected to sleep rolled up in a blanket
with three servants. I am Lady Elena de Vignon!" Gareth's head snapped up
and he grimaced at the pain the sudden movement caused his tender skull.
"I am part of the king's court. I cannot--"
    "You are more than welcome to
climb back on your horse and continue down the road if you do not like our
accommodations," Gareth snapped. "But should you choose to stay, pray
remember that we are not servants and will not be treated as such."
    In the bleaching moonlight, Elena
stared in mute outrage at him. Before she could respond, the three men silently
stretched out on the ground. Elena slowly wrapped the rough blanket around her
shoulders and carefully sat down.
    "If you have any measure of
sense, you'll unsaddle your horse before you sleep."
    "Gareth, she's a gentle lady;
they're not trained as a stable hand," Cynan argued.
    "Then she shouldn't be
riding."
    "You are the rudest man I have
ever had the displeasure to meet," said Elena as she sat up abruptly.
    "Just ignore him my lady, I'll
see to your horse for you," volunteered Bryant.
    With a sigh of relief, Elena laid
back down.
    "You will at least have the
courtesy to thank Bryant for tending your horse, lest I be provoked to call you
the rudest woman I have ever had the displeasure to meet," said Gareth.
    Though the moon’s light washed her
face of color, Gareth could read her indignant thoughts easily for her outrage
was laughably evident. She could not believe his gall, would tell the king of
his arrogance as soon as she reached him. And yet, she realized—for
Gareth saw the dawning realization lift her brows in surprise--she must first
reach Richard and he and his friends were her only way there. "My thanks,
Bryant, for both your blanket and your assistance," Elena said sweetly
before cursing Bryant's companion under her breath.
    "Know you this lady that you are
so unchivalrous, Sir Knight ?" Cynan asked quietly as he and Gareth
settled down to sleep.
    "Aye. She's a conceited lady of
Richard's court who has no manners to those without a title."
    "Do I know her?"
    "I've no doubt you'll recognize
her come morn," Gareth said and then turned his back on Cynan and went to
sleep.
    ***
    "You're right, Gareth, I do
remember this beauty," said Cynan as he peeked at the still-sleeping Elena
the next morning. "But I do not remember having any occasion to know
whether she's conceited or not."
    "Trust me, she is." Gareth
flushed as he remembered her saying, "Do not think to woo me with proud
stories of your herd back home." He rubbed his sword arm with his left
hand. It was stiff and sore from its exertions of the day before and Gareth was
reminded of his