Read Online A Knight for Love by A.M. Westerling - Free Book Online
Authors: A.M. Westerling
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first. His bland voice hid any emotion he might feel.
She smothered the impulse to laugh . The greeting seemed better suited for the great hall, not a wilderness clearing where the music came not from minstrels but from birds.
“Alyna. Alyna Caperun. I told you that when we first met, but you misunderstood.” She replied boldly, eager to prove she hadn’t deceived him willingly.
Warin nodded ruefully. “ True. You must forgive me, then, for your appearance did nothing to belie what I heard.” He glanced away. “And why didn’t you set me straight?”
She shrugged. “It should appear odd to find a lady, gently born and reared, lost and accompanied by none. Once you had the misconception it seemed prudent to leave you think I was Alan.”
“Did you not fear discovery?”
Alyna smiled slightly. “I hadn ’t thought of that.” She was relieved to see her hands had stopped shaking; she kept them close to the flames. Her clothing began to steam, wispy gray tendrils escaping from the fabric like the softest eider down.
“And the tale you told me? Of following your brother and the betrayal by your comrades? You spoke the truth?” His voice was suspicious.
“Aye,” she nodded. She hesitated before shyly adding, “I must thank you for your assistance. Doubtless I would sit there still if not for your care.”
He waved off her words. “ It was nothing.”
He lied, she thought, keenly aware of the anger beginning to show in the clipped tones. She didn’t know what to say then for his growing hostility intimidated her.
“I am sorry,” she whispered finally. “I meant no insult, I can only offer that the shock of my brother’s death….” Her voice trailed away. She could only stare at Warin. She longed to appease him, but she couldn’t offer an explanation if she didn’t know what angered him so.
And he was clearly angry now. His eyes, narrowed slightly, were on her, mouth clenched and jaw set as if carved in stone. He locked his gaze with hers for what seemed like an eternity but in reality was mere seconds.
“I can overlook the fact you chose to remain as Alan for, as you say, the shock of your brother’s death tampered with your reason. However, for one who claims to be gently born and reared, you sadly lack in manners. To run from one who opened her home to you is unjust.”
Alyna’s cheeks flamed. He referred to Ada. She opened her mouth to reply, to remind him of the flowers she had brought Ada last night but Warin held up a hand, halting her.
“Furthermore, Alyna, the gift of life is precious. You, in your foolhardy attempt to cross the river, risked not only your life but that of my horse as well as me.”
“I didn ’t ask to be rescued,” she flared. “Not two days past when you found me and not this morning. Your anger isn’t justified, Sir Warin.” She emphasized his name to indicate her contempt.
“Unlike you,” his contempt matched hers equally, “I value the human spirit.”
“Finely spoken for one just returned from the battle fields of the Holy Land.” Her taunt hit its mark for anguish flared in his eyes.
He sat silent for a moment, face motionless but for a muscle that twitched as he clenched and unclenched his jaw. Slowly he stood and turned away. His words, when they came, were controlled and edged with steel.
“A matter of which you know naught.”
“I – I am sorry,” she whispered, appalled at her impudence for she knew memories of his time in Palestine pained him.
“Aye, as am I.”
She watched him walk towards Citadel, watched as he burrowed his face in that majestic neck. His last words had been cryptic and she puzzled over them. Sorry for what – for meeting her? For saving her life? Or mayhap he yet referred to his time on Crusade. Again she glimpsed a dark side to him. One that baffled her yet intrigued her nonetheless.
Minutes crept by before Warin turned back to her, nostrils flared, eyes chips of ice. “As much as I want to, courtesy
She smothered the impulse to laugh . The greeting seemed better suited for the great hall, not a wilderness clearing where the music came not from minstrels but from birds.
“Alyna. Alyna Caperun. I told you that when we first met, but you misunderstood.” She replied boldly, eager to prove she hadn’t deceived him willingly.
Warin nodded ruefully. “ True. You must forgive me, then, for your appearance did nothing to belie what I heard.” He glanced away. “And why didn’t you set me straight?”
She shrugged. “It should appear odd to find a lady, gently born and reared, lost and accompanied by none. Once you had the misconception it seemed prudent to leave you think I was Alan.”
“Did you not fear discovery?”
Alyna smiled slightly. “I hadn ’t thought of that.” She was relieved to see her hands had stopped shaking; she kept them close to the flames. Her clothing began to steam, wispy gray tendrils escaping from the fabric like the softest eider down.
“And the tale you told me? Of following your brother and the betrayal by your comrades? You spoke the truth?” His voice was suspicious.
“Aye,” she nodded. She hesitated before shyly adding, “I must thank you for your assistance. Doubtless I would sit there still if not for your care.”
He waved off her words. “ It was nothing.”
He lied, she thought, keenly aware of the anger beginning to show in the clipped tones. She didn’t know what to say then for his growing hostility intimidated her.
“I am sorry,” she whispered finally. “I meant no insult, I can only offer that the shock of my brother’s death….” Her voice trailed away. She could only stare at Warin. She longed to appease him, but she couldn’t offer an explanation if she didn’t know what angered him so.
And he was clearly angry now. His eyes, narrowed slightly, were on her, mouth clenched and jaw set as if carved in stone. He locked his gaze with hers for what seemed like an eternity but in reality was mere seconds.
“I can overlook the fact you chose to remain as Alan for, as you say, the shock of your brother’s death tampered with your reason. However, for one who claims to be gently born and reared, you sadly lack in manners. To run from one who opened her home to you is unjust.”
Alyna’s cheeks flamed. He referred to Ada. She opened her mouth to reply, to remind him of the flowers she had brought Ada last night but Warin held up a hand, halting her.
“Furthermore, Alyna, the gift of life is precious. You, in your foolhardy attempt to cross the river, risked not only your life but that of my horse as well as me.”
“I didn ’t ask to be rescued,” she flared. “Not two days past when you found me and not this morning. Your anger isn’t justified, Sir Warin.” She emphasized his name to indicate her contempt.
“Unlike you,” his contempt matched hers equally, “I value the human spirit.”
“Finely spoken for one just returned from the battle fields of the Holy Land.” Her taunt hit its mark for anguish flared in his eyes.
He sat silent for a moment, face motionless but for a muscle that twitched as he clenched and unclenched his jaw. Slowly he stood and turned away. His words, when they came, were controlled and edged with steel.
“A matter of which you know naught.”
“I – I am sorry,” she whispered, appalled at her impudence for she knew memories of his time in Palestine pained him.
“Aye, as am I.”
She watched him walk towards Citadel, watched as he burrowed his face in that majestic neck. His last words had been cryptic and she puzzled over them. Sorry for what – for meeting her? For saving her life? Or mayhap he yet referred to his time on Crusade. Again she glimpsed a dark side to him. One that baffled her yet intrigued her nonetheless.
Minutes crept by before Warin turned back to her, nostrils flared, eyes chips of ice. “As much as I want to, courtesy
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