Once a Bride Read Online Free PDF

spine straight, Eloise sallied forth to perform her duty—and nearly tripped over her own feet when one knight stepped apart from the others.
    Roland St. Marten. Clad in armor. Now a knight and obviously in service to the earl of Kenworth. He listened to whatever Simon was telling the earl with brooding intensity, which she hoped meant he hadn’t noticed her momentary hesitation.
    Of goodly height and solid warrior’s build, Roland’s raven hair was long enough to brush atop his wide shoulders. His hazel eyes were no less sharp, his jawline no less rugged. On their first meeting, she’d been instantly aware of his potent charms, but utterly fascinated by his aura of strength and power.
    He’d warned Hugh against marrying her, declared her an unsuitable bride. The wretch. Never, in her entire life, had anyone dared insult her so.
    Concentrate on the earl.
    She fixed a pleasant, welcoming smile on her face. Then Roland seemed to sense her presence and turned those intense hazel eyes in her direction. Her knees went weak and her mouth dry. Eloise gathered every shard of willpower to ignore her body’s stirring and force aside her wanton awareness of the man who should be, if fate hadn’t intervened, her brother-by-marriage.
    The man who’d called her brazen, and who she now considered no better than a lowly, disgusting toad.
    With her ire piqued, Eloise managed to turn her attention back where it belonged, on the earl who’d come to arrest her father for treason.
    The earl of Kenworth had noticed her, too. He inspected her with narrowed eyes and thinned mouth. Short. Balding. Well fed. A mean boar in human form.
    Simon looked relieved to see her. “My lady, our guest, William, earl of Kenworth.”
    Eloise dipped into a deep curtsy before the earl, low enough to give a royal personage proper respect. “My lord. You do us honor with your visit. We welcome you and your knights.”
    “ ’Twas you who gave the order for my retinue to remain beyond the walls?”
    She rose to face his sharp disapproval squarely. “I approved our knights’ recommendation, my lord. We shall leave the final decision regarding the encampment to my father.”
    “Who I understand is not here.”
    Nor would he be.
    “Thus our decision to exercise prudence.” She turned to Simon. “Any word on my father’s whereabouts as yet?”
    “Nay, milady. I explained to his lordship that Sir John had gone hunting, unaware we were to have visitors. I expect our patrol and Sir John to return shortly.”
    Eloise strained to reclaim her smile. “My lord, might I offer you and your knights goblets of our finest wine and a hearty repast to make the time pass more quickly?”
    The earl spun to his knights. “Take out patrols. Find him!”
    Father needs more time!
    “Surely that is not necessary. If naught else, Father will be home for evening meal.”
    “I suspect not.” The earl took a menacing step toward her, glanced at Simon. “I swear, if Hamelin is not found quickly, I shall hold you both accountable for aiding a traitor!”
    Eloise nearly choked on an ill-advised, strangling gasp.
    Simon drew his sword, the rasp of steel from his leather scabbard a call to battle, answered swiftly by the earl’s knights.
    “Sir John a traitor?” Simon asked fiercely. “Never! How dare you insult his lordship in his own hall, with him not here to defend against your base accusation!”
    The earl waved a dismissing hand. “Hamelin has been duly charged! And how dare you draw your sword on a peer of the realm! Seize him!”
    A last sword whipped from its scabbard. Roland’s.
    “We seize no one except Sir John. Sheathe your swords.” The earl’s hands clenched, his anger now focused on Roland. “I gave an order I expect to be obeyed.”
    “And I am under the king’s orders, which I intend to obey. Attempt to seize Sir Simon and I will stand with him.”
    “You are a fool. The king will hear of your insolence.”
    The corner of Roland’s mouth quirked.