Read Online Candace C. Bowen - A Knight Series 02 by A Knight of Battle - Free Book Online Page B

as he has all but stated his intentions towards me.”
    “The man sounds vile. Surely your father would not force you to marry him?”
    “What choice does he have, Lecie? One negative word to the king and my father loses the only livelihood he has ever known.”
    “So your happiness is to be sacrificed.” Wiping away a stray tear, Lecie swallowed hard. “It is not fair.”
    “Talan said not to fear, as he would not let me go so easily.” Mylla forced a bright smile. “I am placing my trust in him.”
    “It is well deserved. He is one of the most honorable men I have ever met and it is quite evident that he loves you.”
    “I would say the same for Albin.” Mylla smoothly changed the subject. “I have never seen a man so in love.”
    “What do you mean?” Daring to hope, Lecie darted a glance towards Albin and caught him looking at her. Sharing a smile, she turned back to Mylla. “You think Sir Albin is in love with me?”
    “Do not you think it obvious also?”
    “No, I do not.” Confused, Lecie slightly shook her head. “Why do you think it is so obvious?”
    “Well for one, he cannot stop looking at you. Every time he thinks you are not looking, he stares at you.”
    “Mylla, you jest.”
    “I most certainly do not,” Mylla assured her with a smile. “It is not only that, it is the way he looks at you.”
    “How does he look at me?” Catching her breath, Lecie anxiously waited for Mylla to respond.
    “He looks at you with such a yearning my heart almost breaks for him.”
    “I never knew or dreamt it to be possible.” Lecie slightly shook her head. “I had only hoped. Are you certain?”
    “With four older brothers, I can most certainly tell when one of them is besotted. Well, except for Edmund that is. His only love seems to be following in Da’s footsteps.”
    “I so want to believe you.” Sneaking a peek at Albin, Lecie felt flushed and warm all over.
    “Sir Talan has even remarked how Sir Albin seems to be conflicted where you are concerned. Cannot you see it for yourself?”
    “There were times in the past I thought he cared as much as I for him, yet he always managed to leave me wondering if it was something I had imagined.”
    “Well there is no imagining the way he is looking at you right this moment,” Mylla spoke behind her hand. “He is a man in love if ever I have seen one.”
    Lecie abruptly glanced over her shoulder to catch Albin’s intense gaze focused on her. She stood mesmerized by the look of longing on his face until with a start he realized she caught him staring at her.
    Abruptly dipping his head to her, he clasped Talan’s shoulder to guide him into the stream of people moving off in the opposite direction.
    “See what I mean? It is almost as if he is afraid of me.” Turning back to Mylla, Lecie froze at the look of dismay on her friend’s face. “Mylla, what is it?’
    “Ah, fortune has indeed favored me this day.”
    Lecie’s gaze shifted to the elder portly man garbed all in black with the king’s crest emblazoned on his tunic approaching them through the crowd. Doffing his black velvet cap, his full lower lip jutted out as he appraised Mylla with dark shifty eyes.
    “My lord justice, what an unexpected visit.” Lowering her eyes, Mylla shifted uneasily.
    Passing his cap to his harried young clerk, Justice de Glanville searched the crowd around them. “You are in public without escort?”
    “I am with my brothers, Leofrick, Edmund and Caine as well as Sir Talan, my lord justice.” Mylla’s voice was barely above a whisper, causing Justice de Glanville to step closer. “They are all nearby.”
    “Sir Talan?” Justice de Glanville’s graying brows drew together in a frown. “He is a Knight to the disgraced Baron Erlegh, is he not?”
    “He is, my lord justice.”
    “What business does he have in escorting you here?”
    The look of panic in Mylla’s eyes had Lecie scanning the crowd for some sight of Albin or Talan to rescue them from the