Eliza Knight - The Rules of Chivalry by A Knight's Victory Read Free Book Online Page B

free to do as I please.”
    He smiled turning on his side to stare at her. “What of you, princess? What shall you do?”
    She chewed on her lip a moment. What would she do? Her sisters were already betrothed, the eldest married off. Elena was the only one who had yet to be bartered in a marriage contract. “I’m going to marry you,” she said, nodding in his direction.
    Michael’s lip quirked up in that teasing way of his. “Is that a promise?”
    Elena pressed her lips firmly together and narrowed her brows, hoping her reproachful look would remove his smirk. His smile only deepened bringing out the handsome cleft in his cheek. He wasn’t taking her seriously. She had every intention of linking herself to him forever. To run through the fields and daydream with the clouds for the rest of her life with him. “Just you wait and see, Michael. You’ll marry me.”
    “As you wish, princess.” With that, he leaned down and kissed her tenderly on the lips, before jumping up and running toward the keep.
    The dreams of childhood, how wrong they’d been. All those years she’d worried that Michael would leave Ireland, not her. Now look at the future she’d been dealt. Elena bit the inside of her cheek to keep her jaw from quivering. This was not the time to cry, not the time to think on how things could have been.
    Oh, but how she longed to let Michael embrace her, kiss her.
    “My lady.”
    Those two simple words stroked along her insides, curling up and settling in the pit of her stomach. The way he’d leaned down and placed his soft lips against her wrist , sent her heart aflutter. His breath was heated, sensual, and the feather light kiss was over far too q uickly. Her skin still tingled where his lips had been—her gloves now constrictive.
    “Sir Devereux.” She’d tried to remain as serene as she could, even though she really wanted to climb the railing, jump into his arms, and let him carry her away on hi s massive black horse. His eyes twinkled, and his lips curved slightly in the corners. Could he read her thoughts?
    “I’d be honored if your ladyship would be so kind as to bestow a token on this noble knight?”
    Elena had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from shouting . Instead she’d smiled at Michael, and given him the scarf she’d purchased just for him.
    She was sure with her eyes she’d conveyed her hopes and well wishes for him. And prayed her husband hadn’t noticed.
    Loud hoots and hollers pulled her back to reality.
    “Black Knight! Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!” the crowd cheered.
    Elena dare not move, even though she wanted to scoot to the edge of her seat, or even stand to get a better view. Her gaze glued to Michael as his haughty mount prepared to take a turn. He was certainly on a winning streak. She dug one of her hands inside the many folds of her gown and crossed her fingers where it was out of view of her husband. Sir Michael Devereux was a force to be reckoned with, a well-trained knight, but even he could use a little luck. Or were her fingers crossed for herself?
    Jousts today, swords tomorrow. The next two days would determine her future.
    *****
    Black pawed the ground, and snorted, challenging the charger at the other end of the list field. The muscles of the mighty beast rippled between Michael’s thighs. The mount seemed to say to the opposing horse, “ Y ou may have been bred for stamina and agility, but with my superior size and strength, my master will deliver a devastating blow to yours.” As if in answer, the charger down the field raised its head and whinnied, followed by a loud snort.
    The crowd laughed and shouted, their excitement rippling from one end to the other. “Huzzah! Huzzah! Black Knight! Huzzah!”
    He was honored at the name the crowd had dubbed him, and while he’d been successful so far, he couldn’t let it go to his head. That would be his downfall. A knight could never take his own prowess for granted. Fatality was often the reward for such