The Whispering Night by Kathryn Le Veque Read Free Book Online

looked uncertain
about the whole thing. "I suppose not, but... if your father hears that he
has visited you in your chamber, and you without an escort, he'll...."
    Derica put up a
silencing hand. "I know. It is too horrible to think of." She paused
a moment, looking about the bailey, realizing that she hoped to see Garren.
"I believe this is the one man I do not want them to chase off."
    Aglette was astounded.
The Derica she knew had no use for men, in any way. For her to show interest in
one was astonishing. She started to reply, but the expression on her mistress'
face stopped her.
    "There he is,"
Derica murmured.
    Aglette looked across
the bailey towards the cluster of buildings that housed the stables.  As tall
and strong as an oak, Garren was crossing the compound, apparently heading from
the knight's quarters to the stables. He hadn't seen the ladies and Derica came
to a halt, watching him stroll away from her. His moves were graceful and
powerful.
    "How do I
look?" she hissed.
    Aglette peered at her.
"Look what?"
    Derica elbowed her in
the ribs. "My dress, my hair. How do I look? Am I presentable?"
    "As presentable as
you always are," Aglette replied. Her gaze moved between her mistress'
face and the massive man in the distance. "You are smitten with him."
    "I am not. I just
do not want to appear unkempt or slovenly to the man I am to marry. What kind
of bride do you think I am if I am anything less than composed?"
    It wasn't the reason and
Aglette knew it, but she kept her mouth shut.  She watched Derica as the
woman's green eyes focused on Garren like a cat watching a mouse.  Even after
he disappeared into the stable, she didn't move. She continued to stand there,
waiting and watching, until quite some time later he reappeared.
    Suddenly, she was
moving. "Come along," she whirled for the keep. "Let's go
inside."
    Aglette almost had her
neck snapped by Derica's abrupt movements. "Why the hurry?"
    Derica didn't answer.
She was determinedly walking toward the keep. But in a matter of a few moments,
they heard a deep male voice behind them.
    "Good morn to you,
ladies."
    Garren walked up, his
handsome face shining in the morning sun. Derica came to a halt and turned
around, very casually.
    "Sir Garren,"
she put up her hand to shield the sun from her eyes. "Forgive me, I did
not notice you. Where did you come from?"
    Aglette lifted an
eyebrow at her. Whatever her mistress was up to, she was playing the game quite
coyly. It was a surprise coming from a woman who, under normal circumstances,
gave no thought to such things. But she wisely kept quiet.
    "The stables,"
Garren answered her question. "My horse was acting strangely yesterday and
I wanted to see if he came up lame."
    "Did he?"
    "Slightly. He'll be
no good to me for a day or so."
    "I am sorry to hear
that," Derica said. "My father has several chargers. I am sure you
can borrow one should you need to."
    "Perhaps."
    Garren studied her in
the bright of the day; she was dressed in pale yellow brocade, quite becoming
with her coloring.  He'd spent a sleepless night, tossing and turning with
thoughts of her on his mind; the sapling of confusion had grown into a yearling
of stunning strength, with branches that reached into his mind to cause mass
disorientation. But he had fought the branches, the tree itself, and in the
morning had awoken with the resolve to distance himself from her as much as
possible. No more sneaking into her chamber, no more private conversations. He
had to draw the line if there was to be any hope of him keeping his mission in
focus.
    It had been easy to
reason so with distance between them. But gazing at her, he knew that line
would be extremely difficult to draw. He was attracted to her, more than any
woman he had ever met. Knowing she was to be his wife, and he would be entitled
to all of the husbandly pleasures thereof, was enough to seriously disturb him.
A woman like this could make him forget everything he had ever worked for and
he was