Love and Deception: a Clean Medieval Historical Romance Read Online Free

Her maid had a penchant for haggling, which was almost legendary in their hometown.
    “Would the lady care for some ribbons for her hair?”
    She glanced at Sir Stephen and she slowly shook her head. “They are quite lovely, but I must refuse.”
    “You do not approve of the craftsmanship?” he queried. She saw his spine stiffen briefly but made no comment of it.
    “’Tis lovely, Sir Stephen,” she replied. “I can see that the detail is very fine. But I cannot accept a gift from a man who is not my betrothed. I will not dishonor Lord Braxton by doing so.”
    I already risk much by agreeing to this trip , she thought sullenly. But if the young knight was to be believed, this was at Lord Braxton’s suggestion and she had been chomping at the bit already to stretch her legs after spending several days cooped up in the castle.
    “I thought you were one of those ladies who would look down on common crafts,” he said.
    She shook her head. “Oh no, not at all. It is in our best interests to support our own merchants and craftsmen. It is, after all, the support of the nobles that will allow them to perfect their crafts. If this happens, they will be able to attract more consumers and increase their revenue.”
    Stephen watched as her eyes lit up with the topic of economics before her mouth suddenly clamped itself shut.
    “But I am sure Lord Braxton already knows this,” she mumbled, the vibrant twinkle in her eyes replaced by a shuttered look that halted any questions he might have had.
    “I am sure Lord Braxton will be quite pleased to know his betrothed has wisdom in such matters,” he said instead.
    She nodded but said nothing further and Stephen felt that the highlight of their tour had passed by before he had the chance to savor it. They passed by a stall selling the most wondrous fabric and he noted how her eyes lit up when the woman held up a deep blue velvet with intricate gold embroidery. It would have looked lovely on her, bringing out the cerulean of her eyes. As with the ribbons, she praised the cloth and the craftsmanship, bringing out the joy and pride in the woman’s eyes, before saying that its owner would be a very lucky lady indeed.
    “It would have looked beautiful on you,” he had argued.
    Her spine stiffened and she turned to him, her eyes deadly serious. “Sir Stephen, I cannot and will not do anything that will dishonor my betrothed. I will accept any gifts he would give me with great pleasure but I shall not purchase my own nor accept gifts that will undermine his role as my provider.”
    He watched her walk back towards the castle with her back ramrod straight. She stopped to accept a handful of half-wilted flowers from a young boy who looked at her with stars in his eyes. He noted with some irritation that it was irrational for him to feel so aggrieved that she would accept this meager offering from a dirty street urchin but she would spurn his offerings of velvet and silk.
    On the same note, he was vastly relieved that his betrothed was not wont to accept the attentions of men as they came.
    “She is sworn to Lord Braxton and no one else,” a soft voice spoke beside him.
    He looked wryly at the maid whose arms were loaded with her purchases. “And how would you know, milady?”
    “You might want to ask her,” Celia continued. “But there is no telling if she would give you a straight answer for that matter.”
    The conversation ground to a halt as they walked back to the castle. His eyes followed Lady Rosamund as she ascended the stairs, her bearing noble and regal, her movements graceful and precise. She curtsied when Sir Gregory came into view and he almost glowered when he pressed a chaste kiss on her hand before he caught himself.
    His betrothed was tying him in knots and heaven help him but he was beginning to enjoy it.

Chapter 5
    R osamund approached the cloaked figure with great trepidation. She had not known him for very long and her meeting him so late in the shadows