Read Online Chivalrous by Dina L. Sleiman - Free Book Online

raised her brow in agreement.
    Being careful of her voice again, Gwen merely grunted, “My thanks.” Maintaining a masculine stride, she hurried from the man who held her fate in his ink-stained hands.
    Once she and Rosalind made their way around the corner, she ducked into an alleyway and collapsed against the wall. “We did it.” She sighed. “I cannot believe we actually did it.”
    Rosalind giggled. “I like the way you barely said a word. Smart of you. Or perhaps addlebrained. I haven’t yet decided.”
    â€œSmart indeed.” Gwen smiled, no doubt a smile of exuberance to match the one on the face of the handsome knight.
    â€œSmart perhaps, if you get paired with that scrawny fellow behind you.”
    â€œYes, but did you see the other one? He was glorious.” Gwen’s hand clapped over her mouth. She had not meant for the statement to come out sounding so dreamy and feminine.
    â€œOh, good gracious!” Rosalind planted her fists on her hips. “Do not tell me that now, of all times, you have decided to notice a man? Your timing always was utter rot. Thank the good Lord you didn’t let this girlish nonsense show in front of the scribe.”
    Gwen gathered herself together. “I would never! And I did not mean it that way. Only that he seemed a formidable competitor, just as I have always dreamed.”
    â€œAh, so then you didn’t notice him at the first.” Rosalind studied Gwen for a moment. “Interesting, for he caught my attention straightaway, fine-looking fellow that he is. Why, a man like that could cause a girl to tumble from her tower of virtue.”
    Rosalind fanned herself with one hand, then placed it firmly on her hip. “But I noticed other things about him as well. Hissurcoat was frayed about the edges, and he had no servant. And did you hear the scribe speaking with him? The man is newly knighted and merely ward to a nobleman.”
    A poor, newly knighted ward to a nobleman. Sir Allen of Ellsworth was nothing more. A hope that Gwen had not allowed to fully form in her mind was shot down like a bird from flight with an arrow straight through its chest. Besides which, she had no time for ludicrous thoughts of romance. She had a tournament to fight.
    â€œGood observations, Rosalind. You may now add spying to your ever-growing list of vocational skills.”
    â€œAnd squire to a knight, but do not change the subject.”
    â€œI am not changing the subject. The subject is the tournament tomorrow, and as your keen assessment indicates, I now stand a good chance of making it through the first round.”
    â€œBut to what purpose?” Rosalind huffed. “Sir Hugh will be so disappointed with me. And heaven help us both if your father finds out. I swear, Lady Gwendolyn, if you get me tossed out upon my rump . . .” She did not finish the idle threat, although she shook a finger Gwen’s way.
    But Gwen’s mind remained focused upon Rosalind’s question. To what purpose? She had asked herself the same question over and again as she had snuck out to train, as she had plotted and connived to get the proper armor and papers, and even today as she had lied to her parents in order to come and enter the tournament.
    But deep down she knew.
    She did it for more than just one brief moment of joy as she had tried to convince herself and Rosalind. This was not just one final wild romp before she settled into marriage. A small—albeit admittedly foolhardy—part of her yet held out hope that if she won, her father might see her through new eyes. Thathe might grow to love and appreciate the true Gwen. That he might let her choose her own course in life.
    A course that would never, ever include marriage.
    But even as the thought went through her mind, another one clashed against it like a lance against a shield. No, not a thought so much as an image. The image of a purehearted, breath-stoppingly