Knight of My Dreams Read Online Free

mother’s friend with surprise. This was not something she knew anything about at all!
    â€œMother,” Lord Jonathan suddenly hissed in warning, but the woman ignored him.
    â€œOh, I do not think—” Alice began.
    â€œâ€™Tis a fine idea.”
    Alice snapped her mouth closed and turned disbelieving eyes to her mother. Lady Houghton was suddenly standing before them, beaming. “Mother—”
    â€œâ€™Twould not be any trouble at all, I am sure, Margaret. Alice would love to help you with your son. Why, she knows plenty of lovely young women for Jonathan to look over. She’s been here at court for some time now.”
    â€œLook over?” Alice frowned, feeling herself react with indignation at her mother’s phrasing. “Rather like looking over falcons, choosing one to hood and bind?” She wanted to be wed someday, but not chosen like property—and she imagined other girls felt the same.
    â€œAye, it is rather like that, is it not?” Lady Fairley agreed, to Alice’s horror.
    â€œDaughter, you can make a list and arrange for Jonathan to meet with those he finds to his taste,” Alice’s mother enthused.
    â€œâ€™Tis perfect!” Lady Fairley cried, then turned to pat her son’s arm soothingly. He looked wary as she said, “You see, dear? With Lady Alice’s aid, you should have a bride in no time.”
    The knight’s only answer was a long, drawn-out groan. Alice sympathized.

Chapter Two
    â€œM others!” Wrinkling her nose in irritation, Alice waited impatiently for the list she had just finished writing to dry. Thanks to her mother’s volunteering her for the task, she had spent the better part of yesterday and most of this morning seeking out the names of every available lady at court—a sorry task, to be sure. There were a dozen other things she would rather have been doing, most of them away from here.
    Once, she had been perfectly happy back at Houghton Castle, reading, walking the fields, spending her time in solitary pursuits. Then her mother had begun to worry that she enjoyed her own company too much and insisted on her coming here to London. That had been bad enough in itself—Alice had little patience for the preening and backstabbing she’d discovered went on here at court—but now the dear woman had promised to help her find a bride for Lord Jonathan. Not that it should be so difficult a task. The man was good-looking, strong, and was unquestionably a renowned warrior; the court’s ladies would line up to be introduced. But what had possessed her mother to volunteer Alice for this endeavor? Good Lord, her preference for her own company and lack of friendships with other girls her own age had been part of her mother’s excuse for bringing her here. How was she now expected to know everyone, and who would be suitable for a man such as Lord Jonathan?
    Well, she supposed she had done well enough in making up a list of the available ladies. All it had taken was a little cleverness. Alice had sought out several of the loudest gossips at court and merely mentioned the task she’d been set. Now she had a lovely list. All she had to do was present it to Lord Jonathan and her chore was finished. Just thinking of the man conjured his face, and she found that disturbing. She paused in waving her list to dry it, and contemplated his features in her mind’s eye. The man really was quite handsome. And he had been kindness itself yesterday . . . when he hadn’t been scowling or frowning at his mother.
    She smiled slightly at the memory, then stood. Oddly enough, she had found the scowls endearing. At moments, they had transformed the ragged knight into nothing more than a sulky and suspicious child. And it was clear that the man adored his mother, despite his stormy expressions.
    â€œAll finished?”
    She glanced up as her mother entered the room. Alice looked at her list.