Read Online Telepathy of Hearts by Eve Irving - Free Book Online Page A

Lady. I may have heard you wrong. Search where? ” Matheus frowned as he spoke, misunderstanding her.
    â€œWith respect, my Lord you chided me for disciplining her. I did try to tell you. Eleanor is a wicked child. She took off on her grey to the lakes, knowing full well your advent was today. ” Lowering her eyes, a little embarrassed, Lady Bruce continued. “I am afraid she even rides astride just like a boy, with no stockings upon her legs or slippers on her feet. Without the threat of the birch I could not control her. ”
    Matheus told his men to make merry and sleep off some of the journey in the barn. He took Richard aside. Matheus was cursing Eleanor in his head, unwilling, perhaps emba r rassed even to share his disappointment.
    Unwise Mistress, unwise. For damnation of the devil I will seek and I will find.
    Teeth clenched and temper returning the tick of his cheek he hissed. “I will make her my quarry, hunting her down and bringing her back strapped to my horse if I have too. For God is my witness, this maid has played my p a tience too long. If I have to punish her to protect her, then punish I will. ”
    * * * *
    Richard watched as his Matheus rode off. They had been friends since childhood and he knew Matheus ’s temper.
    He knew that Eleanor of Lancaster would soon return with her noble butt strapped onto the back of Matheus ’s sa d dle. Muttering, he said to no one in particular, “Dear God, if the King decides on a bride for me, may she be a widow woman g rateful for a warm bed and a gentle hand, for love Eleanor as I do, untouched maidens seem to be as wild as boar. ”
    Lady Bruce heard. Her eyes glittered. “There are plenty the strings of a young bow that have been broken upon the back of an old fiddle, my Lord Sline. ”
    Richard Sline grinned back at her. “I play well my Lady, the sound as I stroke it doth send shivers through me …the fiddle I mean. Perhaps you would lend me your back? ”
    * * * *
    Matheus rode his destrier hard in temper, stopping only when the froth of sweat had patterned his black steed with a blanket of white. The time he took to make the great lakes had not stilled his spirit for on h is arrival he was still e n raged, s houting her name in damnation.
    â€œEleanor , where are you? Tell me now, for hunt and find you I will. Best for you to declare where you hide and speak not , fo r damnation I will punish you! ” The mount ains seemed to be in agreement as his eyes clouded from stormy blue to the cloudy grey cloak ing summit s shrouded in l ave n der mists .
    There was no doubt that Matheus was a skilled knight. But as a hunter there was no better. Noticing signs that ot h ers would have miss ed, Matheus as always focused. Yes, his prey had passed this way.
    There was a length of grey horse tail that had caught in the brier. On open ground, the fern was parted toward the lake. With no other trail, he knew Eleanor had ridden through. Looking across the moorland there was a copse of trees. Nestled aside the lake track was a likely place for a horse to shelter as the wind was bitter, and he would gamble his purse Arthur would be there, butt against the wind. He journeyed there and was proved right.
    King Arthur was a big mount for a lady. He was sixteen hands of dapple grey destrier. Trying to shelter against the wind, he stood just as Matheus imagined. Head low and butt to the wind. The copse did not provide the horse much she l ter; the bulk of his body was exposed to the gusts. As the Old Earl would say , Arthur had a leg in each corner, a solid horse who had proved his worth in battle, retiring from the field only because a blow to his head in a joust had taken an eye.
    Matheus dismounted and pulled the scarf from his neck. Walking up to Arthur he soothed him. Talking to the horse so as not to startle him and stroking the grey ’s neck he said, “Hello old boy, where is your lady, eh? ”
    Arthur kept