A Lady's Charade (Medieval Romance Novel) by Eliza Knight Read Free Book Online Page A

softly.
    “Where will you take me?”
    “Is that not your village?” His voice held a hint of confusion as he motioned to village beyond the hill.
    “Nay, my lord.” She had to come up with a story quick. It was entirely possible that this knight had found her parents and run them through with the sword at his side.
    “Where are you from?” His voice took on a hard edge and his body stiffened. He seemed to be a cautious man.
    “A place far from here.” Bitterness crept into her voice. Until this moment she hadn’t let any of her anger at her situation leak out. “And quite frankly, none of your affair.”
    The man squeezed her tighter at her tone. “Mind your words, peasant, ” he growled. “I’m sure even where you are from, you were taught how to speak to those superior to yourself.”
    She realized she needed to be careful if she was going to keep her identity a secret. She knew it had been entirely out of her place to say such a thing to the man. Would he tie her to an old ash tree?
    “My apologies, my lord. Scotland is my home.”
    “Shall I assist you in finding a proper place to stay this eve, or do you have a place in mind already?” he inquired, brushing off her rebuke.
    Suddenly recalling her need for a place to sleep she remembered her horse. The animal was all she had. The satchel attached to it filled with her only meager possessions.
    “My horse,” she gasped looking around frantically.
    “Edward, see to her horse,” the knight shouted to one of his men who nodded and went in search of the animal. “When we get your horse back, where should we escort you?”
    “I have no place to go. My parents have deserted me.” She bit back a sob at the real circumstances behind her predicament.
    The knight nodded, the tip of his metal chin grazed the top of her head. He didn’t appear to have too much compassion toward her situation.
    “I see. Have they left you with no coin?” he asked bluntly.
    “None.” She didn’t want to say more. She felt herself sink lower, her chin almost touching her chest, but refused to say more as pride took over.
    “Ah,” he said as he awkwardly patted her, not realizing the heavy gauntlets bruised her tender flesh. “We have many good people in my village. I have one in mind who might take you in. You will have to work of course.”
    All she could do was nod. She was pleased this man seemed to care enough to find her a decent home, where she could stay for a time. Was it too much to hope she might see him again? She bit the inside of her cheek in disgust. This was not court. She wasn’t flirting with the man. For all he knew, she was crawling with lice and just as poor as the man who’d attacked her.
    “What is your name?” he asked tersely.
    “Chloe,” she said faintly, and then pinched herself for giving her true name. Why hadn’t she thought of a new one?
    She heard him suck in his breath, which caused her own heart to beat erratically. Did he know her? She quickly looked up, shadows everywhere. All she could see was two eyes staring intensely at her from beneath a metal helmet. An odd feeling of recognition coiled within her veins, but she knew it was impossible. She’d never been to England, let alone met this knight. Even still her body stirred with the fierceness of his gaze. He flicked his eyes away, breaking the spell.
    “I know of a Scottish maid named Chloe,” he muttered.
    “There are a lot of women named Chloe in Scotland,” she lied. She didn’t really have any idea how many women held the same name, and truth be told, there probably weren’t too many Scots with a French name, but the sooner she got him off the topic the better. From all outward appearances, it seemed he may have been tipped off to look for her and her family.
    “I’ll take you to Maude’s and see if she will accept you on my behalf. She has been close to my family for years. You will be safe with her,” he said, his voice like ice.
    As he spurred the horse