Read Online My Lady Imposter by Sara Bennett - My Lady Imposter - Free Book Online

she heard the clatter of hooves, and twisting about saw a fair head and blue tunic... and heard a voice she knew.
    “My lady?”
    Snuff stumbled and fell, half dragging her with him. Richard reached them then, and seeing the ragged man, growled and raised his sword. Kathryn caught her breath in a cry: “Richard, no!”
    They froze into a tableau. The page held his dagger uncertainly. The mare snorted and whinnied. Snuff, sheltering his head, crouched upon the ground and peeped up through his fingers. And Richard, the sword still raised, looked at her, pale with surprise. “Kathryn?”
    “No,” she said. “No, Sir Richard. He meant no harm. He...” She felt the tears coming and said, “Give him some coins. ‘Twas all he wanted. Give him his money!” Her mare jerked around, sidling beneath her desperate hands as she tried to turn. Her cloak came loose, blown out like wings behind her. The page hurried to her side. Behind them, Richard stared after her, while the ragged man’s pale eyes flickered from him to her with the rapidity of lightning.
    Kathryn spurred the mare into a canter, and then a gallop. Back towards the drawbridge. Inside, she flung the reins to one of the men-at-arms, slid down and ran. The garden welcomed her, sweet and serene, and she sank down into a bower by the roses and sobbed until her heart felt as if it must drown in sorrow.
    Why she wept, she wasn’t quite certain. Perhaps because she had realized suddenly how isolated she felt, how alone. She was not a lady, and yet no longer a peasant. She was caught in the door between two worlds. Quite, quite alone.
    “What are you blubbering about?”
    She stiffened and began to sob all the harder. He had found her. Why couldn’t he leave her be?
    The scabbard of his sword rang as it struck the stone seat. “Kathryn? You ran off like some hoyden. Come now, it’s not so bad, surely? I paid the man, and more than he deserved. He was a half-wit, I think. He gaped at me all the while and said not a word. Kathryn?”
    She turned her face away, her shoulders trembling.
    “Did he insult you, is that it?”
    The sword rasped up the scabbard.
    “Would you like me to run him through?”
    She turned in sheer amazement, eyes wide and swimming with tears. He had the sword out, testing the edge, his eyes fierce and bright under the fair fringe of hair. A sob made her hiccup; she covered her mouth. “Run him through?” she repeated in her precisely learned speech.
    “Yes, damn you. Because I will, if you want me to, if he insulted you.”
    She looked away, her breath coming painfully. A magical wand had touched her heart and she could hardly see for fresh tears.
    “No one,” he went on, “should be allowed to insult the Lady de Brusac without retribution.”
    The wonder faltered and died. He was only keeping up the pretence. He didn’t really care about her, about Kathryn. She didn’t reply, and after a moment the sword was returned to its sheath. A bird alighted on the grass, hopping and pecking. She watched it a moment, letting the tears dry on her cheeks.
    “We are to go to de Brusac,” he said at last. “To Sir Piers.”
    She stiffened but did not reply.
    “Lord Ralf has sent a message that we are coming, and why. It will be dangerous. The roads are not safe.”
    “I hope you do not come with us,” she said coldly, and stuck out her lip.
    “Do you not?” he said, after a moment, in a cool, uninterested voice. “Then you will be disappointed. I am coming.”
    She flicked him a glance under sooty lashes. He was frowning, but at her glance he reached out and brushed her mouth gently with his forefinger. “Remember what I said about pouting.”
    She opened her mouth to insult him, but he had risen and was standing looking down at her, the sun at his back blinding her eyes. He seemed immensely tall and overpowering. She gazed up in silence.
    “Do you wish to see your family before we depart? You may not have the chance to do so