My Lady's Guardian Read Online Free PDF

herself to relax, but her body wouldn't obey. He was above her on the stairs, and one bad misstep could send them both tumbling to the base of the tower.
    "If you didn't mean to frighten me, why have you been following me?"
    "To spend a moment alone with you, mistress. I have not had enough privacy to declare my feelings for you."
    He came down a few more steps, bringing his boots dangerously near her head.
    "I will meet you at the bottom," she said, then quickly descended to the first floor. Her unease only increased when Sir Roger appeared beside her, blocking her way out of the tower.
    "Mistress Margery," he whispered breathlessly, "your eyes shine like the sun—"
    "Well, thank you, but—"
    "Your hair is dark like the night—"
    He came closer and closer, until her back was against the stone wall.
    "Sir Roger, this is all quite lovely, but why the sudden need to woo me so.. .intensely?"
    "Because I cannot stay any longer."
    He put his hands against the wall on either side of her. She ducked beneath his arm and spun away— but toward the back of the tower instead of the door.
    "Why can't you stay? I have been enjoying your company." The lies were starting to come too easily to her.
    "Because I was told by Sir Humphrey Townsend to be gone when he and his friends arrived."
    "He and his friends?" Her voice came out in a squeak of dismay. "How many?"
    "At least a half dozen. But I had to be here first, to make you realize how happy we could be together."
    He reached to touch her hair. Margery's thoughts were spinning through her head so fast that she let him. Men were coming—in a large group? And she was having trouble fending them off one or two at a time.
    Sir Roger leaned toward her, his eyes closed, his homely face puckered for a kiss.
    "Excuse me, I must leave," she said, elbowing him hard in the stomach.
    He gasped, and his eyes flew wide.
    "Oh, I am so clumsy!" she said, heading for the door. "Please forgive me."
    Margery walked quickly through the great hall, imagining crowds of suitors taking up her time, eating her food, leering at her. She felt trapped, about to be besieged by men who thought of her as only a prize to win. How could the king do this to her?
    Once outside, she took a deep breath of the warm summer air, telling herself not to panic. There had to be a way to protect herself from such an onslaught.
    She saw Gareth near the barracks, watching her with brooding eyes as if he knew everything she was thinking. And suddenly, he was the only answer she could think of.
    Chapter 3
    Alone, Gareth walked toward her, his eyes narrowed, his expression deadly—yet fascinating. She should be afraid of him, but she wasn't, and she didn't understand why. Though he made her uneasy, Margery could not forget that he had saved her life a long time ago. Now he was a tall, muscular stranger, rumored to be so good in battle that no one would fight him. He was just the man she needed.
    In the center of the ward, they both stopped and looked at each other. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words seemed stuck. She had always been able to solve her own problems, and now she felt defeated having to ask Gareth for help.
    He didn't make it any easier. He crossed his arms over his chest and studied her, waiting for her to make the first move. The dying sun seemed to light his hair afire. He was as remote and beautiful as the god Apollo. How would she ever make him understand?
    She took a deep, fortifying breath. "I need to talk to you."
    "What about?"
    She looked around and saw that their unusual behavior was already attracting attention.
    "Come sit with me." She led him to a low bench outside the garden, in full view of the ward. They sat down, she with her back straight, he leaning forward, his arms resting on his thighs. He turned to look at her, so that their knees almost touched.
    "Are you going to tell me the truth now?" Gareth asked.
    "Yes." Well, part of it, she thought, already resenting his superiority. "I told you