Knight of My Dreams Read Online Free Page A

“Aye. You may take it to Lady Fairley now.”
    â€œNot I.” Her mother smiled. “I have an audience with the queen. You shall have to deliver it. I believe my brother mentioned meeting Lady Fairley and her son in the stables. No doubt you shall find them there if you hurry.”
    â€œThe stables?” Alice stared at her mother, aghast. “But Uncle has hated horses ever since—”
    â€œEver since his mount threw him into that tree, breaking his leg,” Lady Houghton finished impatiently. “Yes, yes. I have heard that often enough from him. Yet it appears he is willing to visit and perhaps even ride the beasts to please Lady Fairley. Speaking of which, you had best be off before they are away and you miss them.”
    â€œOh, but—” Alice cut off her own protest. Her mother was no longer there to hear it; she had rushed out of the room. Realizing that there was nothing for it but to see to the duty herself. Alice allowed herself a moment of distaste, then quickly rolled up the parchment she held and set off.
    Neither Lady Fairley nor Alice’s uncle were about, but she did find Lord Jonathan outside the stables. He stood, staring out into the distance, a frown once again clouding his handsome features. Alice paused for a moment to take in his youthful expression, amusement twisting her lips as she gazed upon him. Then, realizing that she was wasting prime reading time—her mother could hardly complain about her loafing around reading if she had an audience with the queen—she took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, and started forward.
    â€œMy lord,” she began. “My mother said I might find yourself and Lady Fairley here. Fortune has apparently smiled upon me, for here you are.”
    The knight glanced around at her words and gave a quick nod. “Aye. Here I am. Unfortunately, my mother is not. She is off on a picnic with your uncle.”
    â€œAh, well . . .” Alice hesitated, as startled by his disgust at that idea as she was by the knowledge itself. Really, she found it difficult to wrap her comprehension around the idea of Lady Fairley being interested in James. The man was a twit. She could not imagine that a woman who had raised such a handsome and strong son as Lord Jonathan would be interested in such a fop.
    Pushing the concern aside for later consideration, Alice offered Lord Jonathan a smile. “I suppose it matters little; I can place this in my lord’s hands as easily as my lady’s.”
    â€œWhat is it?” the big man asked, giving her his full attention as he took the scroll.
    â€œA list of all the eligible ladies presently at court. There are quite a few as you can see.”
    â€œQuite a few?” The knight gaped at the list as he unrolled it. “There are at least forty names here.” He gave her a pointed look.
    â€œCloser to fifty, actually,” Alice agreed, stepping back and preparing to make her escape. “Perhaps you could weed through the names and scratch off those who are obviously unsuitable. Then arrange meetings with the rest and—”
    â€œBrilliant!” Lord Jonathan interrupted. He was looking at her in a way that made her heart flutter. “You and I shall go on a picnic . . . to weed through these names together.”
    â€œA picnic?” Alice stared at him blankly. “Oh, I—”
    â€œWell, I hardly know these ladies,” he reasoned. “I shall need your assistance in learning of them. And you have proven to be a rather quick girl. Come.” Ignoring her weak protests, the big man grabbed Alice’s arm and rushed her into the stables. “We must get mounts, but then I know just where we will go.”
    â€œB loody-minded horse, bouncing me around like a sack of wheat! I swear, my arse is the color of—Oh, I suppose I should not be mentioning such things in your presence, my lady.”
    Margaret rolled her