Only For A Knight by Sue-Ellen Welfonder Read Free Book Online

should,” he suggested, eyeing her. Holding her gaze, he folded his arms in a way that mirrored one of his father’s favorite postures—the Black Stag’s I-am-the-laird,-tell-me-or-die pose. “Aye, I find myself desirous of knowing.”
     
“The coin is not ill-gotten,” she huffed, meeting his challenge with a defiance most surprising in one of humble birth.
     
But low-born or nay, Robbie’s heart clenched when she drew a deep, shuddery breath and clutched her middle against the chills still racking her.
     
“I only wish to help you,” he said, uncrossing his arms at once. “But I canna if you refuse—”
     
“I am not a thief.” She hurled the words at him, a bit of pleasing color coming back into her cheeks with the brisk denial. “Aye, that I know beyond a doubt. I would not steal a bannock were I starving. ’Tis only that I— . . . I promised and I have e’er taken care—”
     
“Och, lassie, do you not see ’tis you who are in need of care?” Robbie’s smile returned, his own niggling doubts forgotten. Every last one of them banished by the snapping indignation in her beautiful eyes and the returning vibrancy not only staining her cheeks but beginning to thrum all through her.
     
Already a rare beauty, her vexation set her aflame and Robbie found himself sore smitten.
     
Besotted enough to take a chance.
     
Sliding an arm around her waist, he pulled her as close as propriety allowed—now that they were both more or less clothed and she fully wakened and by her senses.
     
But she only stiffened and flashed him an indignant stare. “I did not steal a single coin of yon sillers,” she repeated, clearly mistaking why he’d seized her.
     
Robbie heaved a sigh. “You err, lass. I care not whence you obtained the coin,” he said, seeing no reason to lie. Truth was, she could be transporting a whole coffer brimming with shiny fripperies of mysterious origin and he’d feel the same. “’Tis seeing you well cared for that concerns me—naught else,” he sought to reassure her. “Ne’er you worry.”
     
“And neither should you, good sir. I can assure you that it is not every day that I seek to save a drowning ewe . . . nor do I wish to burden you.” She tried to wriggle free of his grasp, then narrowed her eyes at him when she couldn’t. “Leave me to while here a bit and I shall soon be well enough to be on my way—alone,” she insisted, the shakiness of her voice belying her every spoken word.
     
Robbie cocked a brow. “I vow you ought not be left alone here or elsewhere.” He glanced at her tired nag. “Nor do I believe your mount is fit to carry you where’er it is you wish to go.”
     
To his considerable amazement, she gave a great heaving ruck and broke away from him. Determination pouring off every sweet inch of her, she walked purposely if somewhat wobbly to her horse.
     
“Whate’er ailings and laments may trouble me, I shall tend them on my own. As I have e’er done,” she said, reaching for the pommel and trying without success to slip her foot into the stirrup.
     
A burst of annoyance rose in Robbie. He tried to quell a frown and couldn’t.
     
Not after her bold stride across the grass.
     
Such a saucy piece ought be safely married and with at least two bairns a-tugging at her skirts. Or, better yet, tucked away behind cloistered walls where she proved no danger for unsuspecting knights haplessly riding through the day!
     
And dangerous she was, for just looking at her nigh robbed his ability to breathe.
     
Scarce a wonder since he’d ogled the wet-gleaming expanse of her naked breasts. Seen even more, truth be told. Aye, and hadn’t he savored the enticing sweep of her unclothed curves pressed flush against his own naked flesh?
     
Saints help him, but with her abundant flame-bright hair and long-legged lushness, she was temptation incarnate. He narrowed his eyes at her, keenly aware of the tightening in his jaw.
     
And elsewhere.
     
Worse, his borrowed shirt only underscored her charms. Each fold of