The Troubadour's Romance by Robyn Carr Read Free Book Online

remembers you only as a child. ”
    “ Neither that, Sir Wharton. Maelwine and the others brought me here, ” she informed him.
    Wharton looked around the room. “ Do they keep watch, or are you in need of protection lest you be snatched away by some lusty knight? ”
    “ I need no protection, sir, ” she said, looking sidelong at the king and queen. “ Do you make your service available? ” she asked, raising one brow.
    “ At your call, my lady, ” he said, inclining his head toward her and taking her hand in both of his.
    Fe lise laughed softly, enjoying this much more than she thought she would. “ It occurs to me, sir knight, that the wolf offers to stand guard over the hen. ”
    He smiled then in warm communication, his eyes begin ning to smoulder like hot coals, but Felise ’ s attention was drawn past him to a familiar face. Over Sir Wharton ’ s shoulder and across two tables she saw two men staring at her. They were standing, for the meal was coming to a finish and people were beginning to mill around the room. Had they been seated, she would not have seen either of them.
    Her smile vanished and she felt her tension returning, for it was in fact Sir Royce, the man who had played so brazenly beneath her window. She couldn ’ t place the other man as one of his group, but then she could remember few of them distinctly. While his companion looked at her tenderly, Royce seemed to scowl. His eyes were narrow and there was no trace of a smile.
    Wharton followed her eyes and found them placed to Sir Royce. “ Do you know that man, demoiselle? ” he asked her.
    “ Nay, ” she said quickly. “ That is, we have never been introduced, though I know who he is, in a manner. ”
    “ Ah, your father has warned you to be wary of him? ”
    Her eyes were quickly diverted to Wharton. “ Nay, ” she replied, looking at him curiously. She had almost instinc tively been frightened of Royce, but she couldn ’ t name the reason. His eyes, perhaps -- so cool and unforgiving. Or his roguish spirit or even his size, greater than that of many men. “ Need I be? ” she asked.
    “ Aye, fair Felise , ” Wharton said, his own expression hardening considerably as if he was himself guarded where this Sir Royce was concerned. “ Royce is not to be trusted. ”
    “ But is he not a knight of Henry? ” she asked.
    “ Not all knights of Henry are honorable men, madam. Forsooth, when the king has need of fighting skills, he oft commands a troop of heathens and barbarians; those same ones will betimes affect a gentler pose for the king ’ s court, but their manner changes not -- only their clothes. Royce is treacherous. ”
    Felise had no great urgings toward justice for Royce, but she was bright enough to know Wharton had really said little beyond admitting a personal dislike for the other knight. “ What crimes would you lay to him? ” she asked, begging some clarification.
    Wharton thought for a moment and then brushed aside the question with an excuse of sorts. “ Nay, lady, I will not dishonor myself by repeating loose slander. If he could be held accountable for crimes, he would not linger here over the king ’ s own roast of boar, so leave it understood that his reputation has not reached the justice of his fellows. I once called myself a friend to the Leighton family and soon learned that they scorn friendship in favor of thievery and murder. Yet it cannot be proved, or they ’ d have all been hanged. Use caution where he is concerned. He may have sworn his oath, but he gives short shrift to chivalry. ”
    Felise swallowed hard. She could not deny a strong tendency to believe Wharton, for in her brief association with Royce she pondered his behavior among women. “ I will take care, ” she whispered, looking over and noting that the men were no longer in view. She smiled at her compan ion. “ Rest assured, I could not care for better company, and you are to be toasted for your honorable nature.