Snow Raven by Patricia McAllister Read Free Book Online

given the amount of funds required to sustain a man at Court. Merry had heard he was as fond of little luxuries as she was, a man not averse to spending his last groat on an elegant, pinked and slashed suit or frivolous costume for a masquerade.
    A glance back over her shoulder revealed the contrast between her noble fiancé and someone like Ranald Lindsay. Peer or not, the rugged Scot was hardly fit for Court, not because of his countrified wardrobe but rather his churlish manners. Lindsay was not the sort to make a gallant leg to any woman, much less whisper sweet compliments in her ear. Merry sensed any proposals of an intimate nature would be as blunt and curt as the man himself, and though she normally admired practicality, for some reason this realization irked her.
    She was not used to any man dismissing her so lightly. Granted, she was not reckoned a beauty, but her charm and wit and position with the queen had always assured her a bevy of admirers. Lindsay seemed unimpressed by her status and thus far she had no opportunity to charm him—not that she wished to, Merry firmly assured herself. He was scarcely deserving of recognition, much less such an honor.
    She sniffed and turned her attentions to gathering up what few items had been thrown free and she could reach. There were several small cases containing personal effects and precious jewelry she was determined to retrieve now, and she decided the men could handle the larger of her luggage. Fortunately she had traveled lightly for her impromptu trip to Wales, else the half-dozen suitcases should have easily multiplied thrice over.
    Looking at Jem, she saw the driver was clearly in no condition to lift luggage or anything else. He leaned against the brawny Hugo, blinking as if still somewhat disoriented in the wake of their wild ride. Merry easily stepped into a role of control, the same she had adopted when organizing the household at Falcon’s Lair. Indeed, she felt most comfortable when delegating tasks to others.
    She turned, skirts still held up out of the mud. She felt a perverse tingle of pleasure when she found Ranald Lindsay’s gaze on her again, though no smile softened the corners of his mouth. His dark eyes were inscrutable, as if he sought some explanation for her actions in her appearance. She nodded shortly in acknowledgment. “I will recover what I can, milord, but stronger shoulders will be needed for the baggage.”
    “Aye.” He broke their matched gazes by glancing at his younger brother. “’Tis the first act of atonement you can make, Gilbert.”
    The youth sighed but nodded with resignation. “Where shall we put the luggage? It cannot all fit on three horses.”
    “If needs be, you can ferry it to Whitehall a piece at a time,” Merry put in a trifle sharply. She ignored Gilbert Lindsay’s pained look and tried not to decipher Ranald’s glance. “’Tis the least you can do to make amends, I vow.”
    She tore her gaze from Ranald’s grim expression. Maybe it was best not to know what the brooding Scot thought. She picked a handful of small, scattered items out of the muck and slogged back to join the others. Already the sky had darkened again and the threat of more rain was imminent.
    Ranald glanced at the roiling clouds above them. “’Twould appear nature would hasten our decision.”
    “Decision?” Merry looked at him.
    “Aye. Shelter is advisable, but the nearest town is some miles distant.”
    “Mayhap someone could ride on for help, and have a coach sent back for the others?”
    Ranald regarded Merry as if she was a feather-headed female, and she bristled under his faintly amused air. “By the time they returned, ’twould be long dark and travel all but impossible. I will take your suggestion under advisory, Mistress Tanner, but I believe the wisest course would be for all of us to forge on together.”
    “To London, naturally.”
    Ranald did not reply, but he had already turned back to Gilbert. “Hugo’s mount is