Knight of Her Heart (Conquering the Heart) Read Online Free PDF

hands and you shall bring him before us.”
    “If there is enough evidence to prove his guilt, he may not get a chance to appear before you, Your Majesty. I should like your approval to avenge my sweet cousin’s death.”
    Henry shook his head. “Your request is understood but denied. He will face a fair trial before my court. If proven guilty we assure you he will pay with his life for his crime.” Henry gestured to the page. The lad took two rolls of parchment from a writing tableau and handed them to the king. “Should you find enough evidence to convict Lord Collins, our authorisation for his arrest is contained within,” he instructed as he extended one of the rolls to Rowan.
    Rowan stepped forward for the scroll.
    “God speed, Lord Romsey.” The duke bowed his head. “If that is all, Your Majesty, I take my leave of you both to attend to other matters.”
    Henry gave a barely discernible movement of his head.
    As Bedford departed, Rowan told his king, “I vow to bring Aveline’s murderer to justice.” His sweet cousin had helped him through his own personal nightmare. And while he was still not completely over the pain of those days, Aveline had, at least, helped him to go forward—to channel his disillusionment and anger into his training for knighthood.
    “Now we come to the matter of your wife,” the king stated authoritatively once the doors had closed behind his brother.
    Rowan frowned. “I do not have a wife, Your Majesty.” Surely Henry knew that?
    “A situation that is about to change.”
    Rowan felt his eyes widen at his monarch’s declaration.
    “You are now a recognised member of the nobility. You have been granted title and lands. We expect that you will settle with a wife and produce your heir to secure your line and your seat.”
    It took all Rowan’s willpower to hold his tongue in check. He had no plans to marry. Ever. Henry was not married. Surely the king should be concerning himself with begetting his own heirs, not with ensuring his nobility produce progeny?
    Henry laughed. “Lord Rowan, it is amusing that so many of your men find you difficult to read when we find your thoughts completely transparent. My own marriage will be of high political importance, and the time is not yet right for that to take place.”
    The king could only mean a marriage that would align him with France. The whole purpose of his army marching in France was because he wanted to be recognised as regent and heir-apparent to the French throne.
    “Lord Collins re-marries virtually as soon as he is widowed,” Henry continued.  “We have been told he has chosen a new bride. A maiden whose beauty is renowned and whose father, Lord Blake, was of great service at the Battles of Shrewsbury and Bramham.”
    Demons of guilt ran sharp nails down Rowan’s back at the mention of Lord Blake’s name. Pushing memories aside that he would rather keep buried, Rowan met the intelligent eyes of his liege. “Sire, you recall I was under Lord Blake’s command at Bramham? He is a good man and a most courageous knight on the battle field.”
    “The man you refer to is dead. His title has passed to one of his distant cousins, for whom we do not have the same degree of respect.” Henry waved his hands in dismissal of that subject. “Lord Romsey, ’twould be ideal if you proved Collins’ guilt and arrested him prior to his marriage, however if the marriage has taken place it shall be annulled. Either way, if Collins can be proven guilty you shall take the former Lord Blake’s daughter, Lady Lisette, as your bride.”
    Rowan’s broad frame jerked. “Your Majesty, I—”
    Henry said nothing. He merely pinned Rowan with his most regal, steely gaze and raised his left eyebrow slightly.
    “I am at your command,” Rowan amended wisely. One did not argue with King Henry even if one was the king’s favourite knight.
    The king extended the second roll of parchment to Rowan. “Here is our authority for the marriage of