Read Online If My Heart Could See You by Sherry Ewing - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sherry Ewing
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arm and spoke more sternly than she intended. “You must guard your master well, Sir Geoffrey, for ’tis his safety that I stand in fear of.”
“Have you not heard, the Devil’s Dragon of Blackmore is invincible,” he jested, “and, of course, so are his men?”
She let go of his arm, not amused by his cavalier jest of her beliefs and hurt that he made fun of her.
“Do not make light of my words, Sir Geoffrey, as you know not of what I have seen.”
“I do not mean to cause you sorrow, my lady.”
Kenna gave an embarrassed smile at his words. “I fear, Sir Knight, that I am no lady of a Great Hall, but just a lowly born woman trying to heal the hurts of her clan.”
“I fear you must humor me . . . my lady,” Geoffrey said honestly. “I can be most persuasive when I must needs be.”
Kenna was halted from replying by the shout of their liege across the yard.
“Geoffrey!” Dristan called, through the pelting rain. “Do you dare to dally this day at a woman’s side?”
“Nay, my lord!” he replied over his shoulder, and gave her a sheepish smile.
Kenna continued to stare at him most strangely, as her heart did a tiny flip when his eyes began to twinkle. As he lingered at her side, she quickly came to realize ’twas not an unpleasant feeling when it appeared he showed an interest in her.
“I must leave,” he said simply, although ’twas clear he did not wish to depart. He took her cool hand and kissed her fingertips.
A soft sigh escaped her lips.
“Duty to your liege calls,” Kenna replied warmly. “I beg thee please heed my words I have spoken this day, regarding our Lord Dristan.”
“I shall always guard my lord’s back Mistress Kenna─”
“Call me Kenna,” she all but whispered to him, offering him leave to use her given name.
“Kenna . . . ’tis a lovely name. I but wish . . . ”
“Geoffrey!” Dristan bellowed with more urgency, for appar ently, he would tolerate no further dalliance with the fairer sex this day.
Kenna gave Geoffrey a small understanding smile, which he returned then bowed over her hand and reluctantly released her, before he hurried to join the men in their training. She turned and quickly made her way through the rain to her home. As she reached the doorway, she turned just once more to stare through the barbican gate, knowing her knight had but moments afore passed under its portcullis. For the second time that day, she pondered the thought about change in the air, and mayhap for her, ’twould be most welcoming. She opened the door to her dwelling and entered its warmth with a most endearing smile.
Nine
The se’nnight’s that followed became routine for those under the care of Dristan of Blackmore. Day in and day out, the Devil’s Dragon drilled his men in the lists with a ruthlessness and expertise that had been learned from being in mortal danger and battle. There was no mercy given and no man asked for it in fear of retaliation for their laziness. From sun up to sun down, the ring of steel resounding against steel echoed throughout the castle walls as all trained to impress their liege lord. Some excelled at the tasks they were given; others would require a bit more time with a broad sword in their hands to meet Dristan’s high standards of defense. By the time the evening meal was finished, the men retired exhausted to the garrison hall to rest their weary bodies ’til the ordeal began all over again the next day. Even a willing wench to ease their comfort was far from their minds.
For one, the training was the most tiring task that had ever been undertaken in her young life. Amiria’s entire body ached as she longed to put aside her armor and sword and return to being a lady. That, of course, was also the most pressing reason of the stress placed upon her weary shoulders. ’Twas only a matter of time afore the runner returned from Edinburgh and, with his return, her ruse would fall down upon her most likely in the harshest manner.
“Have you not heard, the Devil’s Dragon of Blackmore is invincible,” he jested, “and, of course, so are his men?”
She let go of his arm, not amused by his cavalier jest of her beliefs and hurt that he made fun of her.
“Do not make light of my words, Sir Geoffrey, as you know not of what I have seen.”
“I do not mean to cause you sorrow, my lady.”
Kenna gave an embarrassed smile at his words. “I fear, Sir Knight, that I am no lady of a Great Hall, but just a lowly born woman trying to heal the hurts of her clan.”
“I fear you must humor me . . . my lady,” Geoffrey said honestly. “I can be most persuasive when I must needs be.”
Kenna was halted from replying by the shout of their liege across the yard.
“Geoffrey!” Dristan called, through the pelting rain. “Do you dare to dally this day at a woman’s side?”
“Nay, my lord!” he replied over his shoulder, and gave her a sheepish smile.
Kenna continued to stare at him most strangely, as her heart did a tiny flip when his eyes began to twinkle. As he lingered at her side, she quickly came to realize ’twas not an unpleasant feeling when it appeared he showed an interest in her.
“I must leave,” he said simply, although ’twas clear he did not wish to depart. He took her cool hand and kissed her fingertips.
A soft sigh escaped her lips.
“Duty to your liege calls,” Kenna replied warmly. “I beg thee please heed my words I have spoken this day, regarding our Lord Dristan.”
“I shall always guard my lord’s back Mistress Kenna─”
“Call me Kenna,” she all but whispered to him, offering him leave to use her given name.
“Kenna . . . ’tis a lovely name. I but wish . . . ”
“Geoffrey!” Dristan bellowed with more urgency, for appar ently, he would tolerate no further dalliance with the fairer sex this day.
Kenna gave Geoffrey a small understanding smile, which he returned then bowed over her hand and reluctantly released her, before he hurried to join the men in their training. She turned and quickly made her way through the rain to her home. As she reached the doorway, she turned just once more to stare through the barbican gate, knowing her knight had but moments afore passed under its portcullis. For the second time that day, she pondered the thought about change in the air, and mayhap for her, ’twould be most welcoming. She opened the door to her dwelling and entered its warmth with a most endearing smile.
Nine
The se’nnight’s that followed became routine for those under the care of Dristan of Blackmore. Day in and day out, the Devil’s Dragon drilled his men in the lists with a ruthlessness and expertise that had been learned from being in mortal danger and battle. There was no mercy given and no man asked for it in fear of retaliation for their laziness. From sun up to sun down, the ring of steel resounding against steel echoed throughout the castle walls as all trained to impress their liege lord. Some excelled at the tasks they were given; others would require a bit more time with a broad sword in their hands to meet Dristan’s high standards of defense. By the time the evening meal was finished, the men retired exhausted to the garrison hall to rest their weary bodies ’til the ordeal began all over again the next day. Even a willing wench to ease their comfort was far from their minds.
For one, the training was the most tiring task that had ever been undertaken in her young life. Amiria’s entire body ached as she longed to put aside her armor and sword and return to being a lady. That, of course, was also the most pressing reason of the stress placed upon her weary shoulders. ’Twas only a matter of time afore the runner returned from Edinburgh and, with his return, her ruse would fall down upon her most likely in the harshest manner.
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