Mary Gillgannon Read Online Free

shiver. “They said their intentions were to ransom us, but I fear...” She fluttered her long, dark lashes demurely. “I fear their intentions were something much worse.”
    “They meant to ransom you?” The dark-eyed knight named Richard spoke abruptly. “How can that be? How could they hope to ransom a nun?”
    Marguerite gave a soft, seductive laugh. “You thought we were nuns? Oh, no, my lord. While we travel from Stafford Priory, we aren’t bound by holy orders. I am Lady Marguerite Fitz Hugh, and this is my cousin, Astra de Mortain,”
    Astra felt the man holding her stiffen at the mention of Stafford, but she was too surprised by Marguerite’s words to ponder why. Marguerite had introduced Astra as her cousin. It was a blatant lie, and it made Astra exceedingly uncomfortable. It was one thing to tell a falsehood to the group of disreputable louts, another to deceive wellborn knights, especially after they had come to their rescue. Astra opened her mouth to protest. Marguerite silenced her with bright, pleading eyes.
    The smaller knight bowed again, this time with a regal flourish. “We are honored to be at your service, demoiselles. I am William de Lacy, Baron of Thornbury. And my companion...” He gestured to the dark-eyed knight. “That is Richard Reivers, also known as the Black Leopard, one of the bravest and fiercest knights in Christendom.”
    Astra could only stare. Sweet Jesu! They had been rescued by a baron! A baron and a... a devil! She glanced again at Sir Richard. He still had not removed his helmet, and he appeared as deadly and dangerous as ever. The Black Leopard—how many men had he killed to win that horrifying appellation?
    Marguerite seemed slightly taken aback by the prominence of their rescuers, but she recovered quickly. “You must be here for the tournament,” she suggested. “I told my cousin there would be knights in the area, that someone would come to our rescue.”
    “But where are your men?” Sir Richard asked. “Surely you don’t travel without an escort.”
    “In the confusion of the fair, we became separated from my father’s knights. Then those awful men...” Marguerite glanced with a shudder at the slaughtered pair lying gruesomely nearby. “They offered to help us.” Her lower lip trembled. “I feel like such a fool. We should have known better than to trust such ill-mannered knaves.”
    “Aye, you should have known better,” Lord de Lacy agreed dryly. “You were very lucky we came along when we did.” He gave Astra a concerned look. “Can you walk, my lady?”
    Astra nodded.
    “Very well then, I think we’d best be finding your men.”
    De Chilham spotted them as soon as they left the woods. He rushed up, his face flushed, his thinning hair sweaty and disheveled. “Lady Marguerite, where have you been? Who are these men?”
    De Lacy stepped forward, bowing gracefully to the older knight. “Your mistress came very near to being kidnapped by a group of ruffians. My companion Sir Richard and I arrived just in time to prevent the abduction.”
    The blood drained from de Chilham’s face. “Lady Marguerite, is this true?”
    With a chagrined look, Marguerite nodded.
    For a moment de Chilham stared at her, then he exploded. “This time, demoiselle, you have gone too far. Your father will hear of your adventures as soon as I deliver you to Ravensmore, and I promise you, he will not be pleased. Get yourself to your horse this minute—and see you do not get into any more trouble on the way!”
    Marguerite managed another dramatic shift. She suddenly appeared as meek and contrite as a chastised child. She bowed politely to de Lacy and Reivers and then walked off with dainty, mincing steps, lifting her skirts fastidiously to avoid the muck of the fairgrounds.
    Astra would have followed her friend, but Sir Richard continued to hold her arm. She turned and stared at him in puzzlement, wondering if he thought she would be ill again. His helmet did not