Margaret Moore - [Warrior 14] Read Online Free PDF Page B

properly and never would. A spasm of pain racked her at the sudden motion, but she pressed her lips togetherto make no sound as she cautiously continued to rise. Turning, she swiftly searched the small building.
    A man stood silhouetted against the window to her left. There could be no mistaking who it was; no one else in Throckton Castle wore his hair to his shoulders.
    Was this God’s idea of a joke, to send her the very man who roused such lust and remorse and bitter jealousy in her while she was at prayer?
    It crossed her mind to flee, but her pride simply wouldn’t permit her to hobble from the chapel like a crippled coward. “What do you want, Sir Blaidd?” she demanded, her voice loud in the quiet.
    “How did you know who it was?” he inquired as he walked toward her.
    She squared her shoulders. “Your hair is very distinctive, in a savage sort of way. And everyone who has ever stayed here and attended chapel knows how that door creaks, and would take care to prevent it if they wanted to enter in secret.”
    He came to a halt a few feet away. “I have no need to be secretive. I was looking for my squire and saw you slip in here. I thought it might be a good time to apologize for any offense I’ve caused you.”
    He sounded absolutely, completely sincere. Yet he didn’t have to apologize at all, and she couldn’t think of any other knight who’d stoop to express regret to anyone, let alone her.
    “You didn’t know I was crippled,” she said. She decided she could be a little magnanimous, too. “I’msorry if I upset a guest in my father’s house. In hindsight, it wasn’t the behavior of a lady.”
    “What say we begin anew, my lady?”
    She made her away around the simple wooden altar that bore a carved wooden crucifix until it was between them, like a defensive wall. “Very well, Sir Blaidd, I agree. We’ll forget my insolence at the gate and your request to dance, and begin again.”
    “Excellent!”
    He sounded as if he was truly pleased, which would mean he would have been disappointed if she’d refused. That was unexpected. And rather delightful.
    Perhaps she was making too much of his apology and enthusiastic tone. Maybe he simply wanted to avoid conflict of any kind while he was a guest of her father’s, which would be wise. “Now that we’ve come to an understanding, Sir Blaidd, you should leave. It isn’t seemly for us to be here alone together.”
    “I suppose not. But first, will you answer one question?”
    She didn’t see any harm in that, since she could always refuse when she heard what it was. She nodded in agreement.
    “Do you play the gatekeeper often, or was that a special welcome?”
    “No, not often.” She wasn’t going to admit that she’d watched the knight and his squire riding up to the gatehouse through a loophole after the sentry called out that someone was approaching. She wouldn’t confess that she’d turned to Dobbin andwryly said, “Here comes another one. Let me see if he’s as arrogant as the rest.”
    Dobbin had started to protest, but she’d given him a devilish grin and he’d thrown up his hands in surrender.
    Sir Blaidd bowed. “Then I’m honored I had at least that much to single me out from the vast horde who’ve come to see your sister.”
    “Yes, sir knight, you’re one of many.”
    “So you wanted to confront me and take my measure first, before your younger sister. I hope I passed muster, for no doubt your opinion means a great deal to Lady Laelia.”
    Becca crossed her arms. “I’m not the eldest. Laelia is.”
    “Forgive me,” he said, obviously taken aback. “She seems less…mature.”
    Becca didn’t know if she should take that as a compliment or not.
    “That explains the necessity of getting her married, though, so that you’ll be free to accept offers for your own hand.”
    She stared at him, dumbfounded. Nobody had ever suggested that she hadn’t married because of Laelia’s spinster state. “There have never been