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

the linen clung provocatively to her ripeness, her every sweet curve offering more sensual promise than a man ought be made to suffer.
     
Robbie scowled. At her bounty. And at himself. Especially at himself. After so many years spent building his chivalry and honor, ne’er would he have believed he’d succumb to folly so easily.
     
And a great folly it was.
     
The absolute foolhardiness of riding into Eilean Creag Castle with such a ripe sweetmeat at his side. The lass good as unclothed, her moss-green eyes full of fire and indignation. Not to mention his own soon-to-be bride awaiting him, wholly unsuspecting and, without doubt, sure to be mightily displeased.
     
The repercussions did not bear thinking on.
     
Living them before this night came to a close would be penance enough.
     
And he did not even know the maid’s name.
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
     
     
H ER NAME.
     
Robbie’s need to know it burned through him like a fast-moving firestorm raging out of control.
     
Her refusal to tell him scalded with equal heat and proved an unacceptable omission he meant to correct—now.
     
“Lass.” He pinned his gaze on her. “I would hear your name and learn why you are riding about—fully unescorted?”
     
She met his gaze with annoying calm. “Have you e’er seen a simple lass of the glens travel with a great entourage?”
     
Unable to refute her logic, Robbie gritted his teeth and rammed his fingers through his damp hair. “Then tell me your name and how, amongst the great heather hills, you just happened to be in the lochan when I rode past?”
     
“Because the ewe just happened to be drowning when I rode by,” she said, giving him a small, noncommittal smile—and making no mention of her name.
     
Robbie shifted—stepped closer to her. “You may as well tell me for you are accompanying me to Eilean Creag whether or no you grace my ears with who you are.”
     
“Och, nay, and I will not be going with you.” She lifted her chin, gave him an amazingly bold stare. “And I cannot tell you who I am, or my purpose for riding about, because I do not know,” she said, a sparking flash of agitation lighting her eyes. “I canna remember.”
     
Robbie’s heart stopped. Then immediately began to thunder as the implications penetrated his surprise.
     
“You recall naught?” He stared at her, stroked his chin.
     
“Only hazy bits.”
     
Robbie nodded, not trusting himself to speak.
     
Wild possibilities spun inside him, each one sending little bursts of excitement flickering across his skin—even as his chivalry damned him for seeing his own good fortune in her sorry plight.
     
But, of a saint’s mercy, what man of honor could abandon such a sore-stricken lass to Glenelg’s vast upland wilderness?
     
In especial, a wounded and clearly dazed lass?
     
Nay, to leave her would be . . . unconscionable.
     
Unless she sought to cozen him.
     
Unable to ignore the possibility, Robbie narrowed his eyes at her, studied her with a look that would’ve made a less daring chit’s insides quiver.
     
“Only . . . bits ?” He took another step closer, cocked a brow. “Yet you claim you can care for yourself and that you must hasten on your way? That much you profess to know?”
     
“Aye, to be sure and I do.” She met his stare, unblinking. “I feel it in here,” she added, and pressed a hand over her heart to underscore her words.
     
His own heart thundering, Robbie watched her begin collecting the spilled coins. With surprising calm, she gathered and stuffed them one by one into her pathetically worn money purse.
     
“I have naught to fear in this glen,” she told him with a quick, sidelong glance. “I am safe here—you needn’t fret for me.”
     
Coming closer, she waved one of the coins at him. “But mayhap you will accept recompense—”
     
“God’s eyes—but you can set a man by his ears!” Robbie accused, though with enough good humor to take the sting from his words. “I do not want nor have need of your siller. As for you