A Dishonorable Knight Read Online Free Page B

A Dishonorable Knight
Book: A Dishonorable Knight Read Online Free
Author: Michelle Morrison
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said
sharply.
    Cynan took a deep breath and visibly
relaxed. "I am sorry, Gareth. No one could ever accuse you of cowardice.
‘Tis just that if you could only distance yourself from this court, you would
see who the true ruler should be. Please, come back home with us."
    "And I suppose if I do not, you
two will stay here, constantly nipping at my heels, eh?"
    "Aye, and Enid will surely give
you no end of trouble for that!" laughed Bryant, referring to Cynan's
wife.
    Gareth chuckled as he shook his head
at his friend. "I can only promise to think about it now."
    "You do that," said Cynan,
winking at Bryant. "For you never can tell when Richard will send you on
another important mission of state." Gareth held open the doors to the
hall for his friends. "Perhaps this time, he will send you to Scotland to
borrow a sack of flour from James!" Gareth laughed good naturedly as he
shoved his friend through the doorway, but remained outside in the cool evening
air. He took a deep breath and tried to settle the jumble of information
muddling his brain. His father caught up in a plot to unseat the king? His countrymen rallying to Richmond’s banner? His best friends taking part in secret meetings? He must be
losing his head.
    Gareth took another calming breath
and prepared to face his king as if he knew nothing. Treason was definitely an
easy way to lose your head.

Chapter 3
     
    Elena crawled into the soft down bed
she shared with Catherine. As she lay there shivering, waiting for the linen to
warm, she repeated to herself like a litany, "’Tis better this way. The
king has favored me. ‘Tis better this way." While she had mildly cared for
Edgeford she felt nothing but fear for the earl. Lord Edgeford was handsome and
devoted to her--had she not convinced him to follow her here to Middleham? The
earl was another matter. Before she entered the bedroom, she had heard Margaret
and Catherine talking about him.
    "I never saw his first two
wives—they may have been sickly women. But 'tis been a long-standing
rumor that he's hard on women." In the darkened doorway, Elena shivered,
remembering the earl's thick hands and meaty forearms.
    "Do you think Elena will be
happy with him?"
    Elena heard a sigh she assumed was
from Margaret. "I do not know, Catherine. He is a powerful earl. Elena
always made it clear that a title was what she sought, so I hope being a
countess will make up for whatever else she may have to bear."
    Despite her litany, Elena could not
keep Margaret's words from her mind: "He is hard on women." Surely
the king could not know this and still betroth her to him? Elena sat up in bed
with a start, causing Catherine to mumble in her sleep and grope for the
covers. Perhaps he did not know! Perhaps he believed the earl to be kind and
gentle. Flopping back against her pillows in relief, Elena vowed to seek out
the king at the first opportunity and tell him what she had heard. Perchance
she could still be married to Lord Edgeford by midsummer, after all.
    Awakening early the next morning, she
dressed with extra care, choosing a demure high-waisted gown of soft pink and
covering her hair with a fine veil. She hurried downstairs, hoping to catch
Richard while he broke his fast. All she found at the great table, however,
were crusts of bread and rinds of cheese.
    "Has His Majesty risen
yet?" she asked a sleepy eyed serving girl.
    "Aye, my lady. Risen, eaten, and
left for a fine day's hunting, I'll wager."
    Stomping her booted foot against the
soiled rushes, Elena cursed her luck. Her luck over the next two days was just
as bad. No, Elena thought, worse, since she had to spend those days with the
Lady Elizabeth, listening to her plan Elena’s wedding as if she were a simple
child with no say on the event--even had she wanted it to occur. By the third
day, Elena had given up hope of talking to Richard any time soon as his entire
entourage was preparing to remove to Nottingham Castle.
    "Do not tell me," Elena
grumbled to herself. "The

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