Read Online My Valiant Knight by Hannah Howell - Free Book Online Page A

fool hasna the sense to realize near all he has done in his cursed life has thoroughly blackened our name, but leaving his daughter to rot in the hands of his enemies is one thing he willna do. What troubles me is the gnawing fear that he willna abide by any treaty or bargain made to free us.”
    “I have worried about the same thing, then scolded myself for thinking so poorly of my own father.”
    “ ’Tis no fault of yours, lassie. When a mon acts as your father has over the years, he earns the doubt of even his closest kin.” Ronald reached up to briefly clasp her hand. “Just heed this—if your father means to trick or betray Sir Gabel, he will give no thought to your weel-being. ’Tis a hard truth for ye to face, but ye must face it square. Kenning how treacherous your father can be may be all that saves your life.”
    Ainslee lightly squeezed his hand before releasing it. “Ye are right. ‘Tis hard to admit one’s own father canna be trusted, not even to keep his child safe from harm, but I accepted that distasteful truth a long time ago. I but suffer from the occasional twinge of guilt o’er thinking it. What troubles me is the feeling that I ought to warn Sir Gabel.”
    “The mon kens what your father is, sweeting.”
    “True, yet, Sir Gabel is an honorable mon, I think. An honorable mon isna often weel-armed against a mon like Duggan MacNairn. The betrayals my father can commit wouldna be easy for a mon like de Amalville to guess at.”
    “Weel, ye must follow what your heart tells you. If the time comes when ye can see that your father means to pull some trickery, to break a bond of honor, and Sir Gabel doesna see it, ye can speak out without fear of being a traitor. It canna hurt to let Sir Gabel see that at least one of the MacNairns understands the meaning of honor.”
     
     
    As they rode through the huge, iron-studded gates of Bellefleur, Ainslee began to feel painfully conspicuous. She knew that her clothes had suffered badly from their travel, and that she was probably dirty as well. There had been little opportunity to wash off all the travel dust clinging to her. When two women rushed up to Gabel to cry welcome and embrace him, Ainslee felt even worse. The women were adorned in lovely gowns of a soft, flowing material. Ainslee felt as if she wore rags. It was pinched vanity which caused her such discomfort and she knew it, but she was unable to push it aside. All she could think about was what Gabel must think when he looked at the lovely dark-haired women greeting him, and then looked at her.
    Before the women could ask any questions, Gabel instructed two men to take Ronald to a room and make him comfortable. Ainslee tried to follow Ronald, but Gabel grabbed her by the arm and tugged her into the great hall, ushering the two blatantly curious women in ahead of him. Ainslee was gently pushed into the seat on his right and waited in tense silence as the two pages hastily served them a light repast of sweet wine, bread, and cheese. By the time Gabel introduced her to his aunt Marie and her daughter Elaine, Ainslee’s stomach was so knotted with nerves she could barely eat.
    “You should have sent word that you were bringing guests,” Marie gently scolded Gabel.
    Gabel slouched comfortably in his high-backed oak chair, sipped wine from an etched silver goblet, and smiled at his petite aunt “Lady MacNairn’s addition to our party was quite unexpected. Aye, she is a guest, but, then too, she is not.”
    “You confuse me, nephew.”
    “I wish the Lady Ainslee and her companion to be treated as our honored guests, but they are also to remain under guard. They are being held for ransom. You look quite shocked, Aunt. ’Tis not as if such a happenstance was rare.”
    “True, but you have never dealt with anyone in such a manner.”
    “A mere whim of fate. No one has fallen into my hands is all.”
    “Ransoming is quite common in Scotland, m’lady,” Ainslee said, then wondered crossly why