Read Online The Iron Knight (The De Russe Legacy Book 3) by Kathryn Le Veque - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kathryn Le Veque
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your daughter are well is hardly a bother. If it was a situation involving my daughter and granddaughter, then I would surely want to know.”
Sophina smiled thinly. “You do not know my father very well,” she said. “He only cares for important information. Small details, and tribulations that have no bearing on his life, do not matter to him.”
Lucien digested her statement. She was painting a rather callous picture of her father. He glanced at Emmaline to see what the girl’s reaction was, but she was focused on her pet, nuzzling him and rubbing his belly. She didn’t seem much interested in what her mother was saying about her grandfather.
“But you matter to him,” he said to Sophina. “You and your daughter.”
“I wish that were true,” Sophina muttered. When she saw Lucien turn to look at her, curiously, she realized she had commented before she could think of a polite reply. She had become so comfortable with the man over the past couple of hours that replying truthfully had been her first instinct. It had been a mistake; she knew that. He would think she was either bitter or unwanted, or both. Quickly, she scrambled to smooth over her slip. “I simply mean to say that my father is a very busy man. He has a new wife now and many things that require his attention. Emmaline and I are unscathed, thanks to you, so there is no need to concern my father over it.”
Lucien wasn’t sure he believed her glossed-over explanation but he didn’t dispute her. He was still under the impression that there was something careless or unpleasant, or both, between the lady and her father. It shouldn’t have concerned him in the least but he found that it did. It intrigued him. He couldn’t imagine a father not caring for his daughter.
Not caring for Lady Sophina.
Lost in thought, he caught sight of one of his patrols riding along the road. They always traveled in pairs and when he saw them moving down the road towards him, at a distance, he lifted his hand to catch their attention. Suddenly, the patrol was thundering in his direction and Storm, at the sound of rushing hooves, began to get excited. Still in the saddle, Sophina held on tightly as Lucien calmed the horse down.
“Not to worry, my lady,” he told her. “Storm will not throw you. He is simply excited when he hears the charge of horses. He thinks that he is supposed to be part of it.”
Sophina wasn’t so sure, holding on to the saddle nervously. “He is a very big horse,” she said. “I would imagine he is quite formidable in battle.”
Lucien patted the horse’s face affectionately. “He is,” he said. “I have other warhorses that are more aggressive and more deadly, but Storm is very smart. He senses danger and goes out of his way to avoid it. He has saved my life on more than one occasion.”
Sophina watched Lucien stroke and pat the horse and it was clear that he loved the beast. “Then I am glad to know you have such support in your profession,” Sophina said. “Surely, if you serve the king as you do, then it is most important for you to have the very best of everything, horses included.”
Lucien grinned. “If the king expects me to defend his throne, then you are correct. I must have the best of everything. I am fortunate enough to have the means.”
Sophina tore her gaze away from him because the patrol was drawing very close, heavily armed men on big horses. Emmaline, walking next to her, seemed a bit intimidated by the approaching pair and Sophina reached down, touching her child reassuringly.
“This is all very new to us,” she said to Lucien. “My father’s home of Thruxton Castle is significantly smaller than Spelthorne. We do not have great armies. There are no heavily-armed knights. My father’s existence is not as grand as yours.”
Lucien turned to look at her. “Your father does not have the need for big weapons and big armies, I am sure,” he said. “Out here, I am the law, so heavily-armed men are a
Sophina smiled thinly. “You do not know my father very well,” she said. “He only cares for important information. Small details, and tribulations that have no bearing on his life, do not matter to him.”
Lucien digested her statement. She was painting a rather callous picture of her father. He glanced at Emmaline to see what the girl’s reaction was, but she was focused on her pet, nuzzling him and rubbing his belly. She didn’t seem much interested in what her mother was saying about her grandfather.
“But you matter to him,” he said to Sophina. “You and your daughter.”
“I wish that were true,” Sophina muttered. When she saw Lucien turn to look at her, curiously, she realized she had commented before she could think of a polite reply. She had become so comfortable with the man over the past couple of hours that replying truthfully had been her first instinct. It had been a mistake; she knew that. He would think she was either bitter or unwanted, or both. Quickly, she scrambled to smooth over her slip. “I simply mean to say that my father is a very busy man. He has a new wife now and many things that require his attention. Emmaline and I are unscathed, thanks to you, so there is no need to concern my father over it.”
Lucien wasn’t sure he believed her glossed-over explanation but he didn’t dispute her. He was still under the impression that there was something careless or unpleasant, or both, between the lady and her father. It shouldn’t have concerned him in the least but he found that it did. It intrigued him. He couldn’t imagine a father not caring for his daughter.
Not caring for Lady Sophina.
Lost in thought, he caught sight of one of his patrols riding along the road. They always traveled in pairs and when he saw them moving down the road towards him, at a distance, he lifted his hand to catch their attention. Suddenly, the patrol was thundering in his direction and Storm, at the sound of rushing hooves, began to get excited. Still in the saddle, Sophina held on tightly as Lucien calmed the horse down.
“Not to worry, my lady,” he told her. “Storm will not throw you. He is simply excited when he hears the charge of horses. He thinks that he is supposed to be part of it.”
Sophina wasn’t so sure, holding on to the saddle nervously. “He is a very big horse,” she said. “I would imagine he is quite formidable in battle.”
Lucien patted the horse’s face affectionately. “He is,” he said. “I have other warhorses that are more aggressive and more deadly, but Storm is very smart. He senses danger and goes out of his way to avoid it. He has saved my life on more than one occasion.”
Sophina watched Lucien stroke and pat the horse and it was clear that he loved the beast. “Then I am glad to know you have such support in your profession,” Sophina said. “Surely, if you serve the king as you do, then it is most important for you to have the very best of everything, horses included.”
Lucien grinned. “If the king expects me to defend his throne, then you are correct. I must have the best of everything. I am fortunate enough to have the means.”
Sophina tore her gaze away from him because the patrol was drawing very close, heavily armed men on big horses. Emmaline, walking next to her, seemed a bit intimidated by the approaching pair and Sophina reached down, touching her child reassuringly.
“This is all very new to us,” she said to Lucien. “My father’s home of Thruxton Castle is significantly smaller than Spelthorne. We do not have great armies. There are no heavily-armed knights. My father’s existence is not as grand as yours.”
Lucien turned to look at her. “Your father does not have the need for big weapons and big armies, I am sure,” he said. “Out here, I am the law, so heavily-armed men are a
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