Read Online The Queen's Lady by Shannon Drake - Free Book Online Page A

strength and finally found it. “Thank you,” she enunciated, stepping back on her own at last. Of course, she must have made a sadly ridiculous picture, she thought, her riding hat gone, every pin lost from her hair, wild strands of it flying everywhere and filled with leaves and twigs. There was dirt on her face; she could feel it. Her riding costume was completely askew.
    Embarrassed by her appearance, she knew she was defensive, and she even knew she had been wrong to take offense, when he had so clearly saved her life. As he stared at her, she felt the blood rush to her cheeks, and she wanted desperately to open her mouth and speak, yet something—pride? shame?—kept her from it.
    She saw disappointment seep into his eyes as she remained silent, and that made it all the worse. Why did she care so much what he thought of her?
    She managed to whisper words at last. “It wasn’t the queen’s fault,” she said, but she knew those words were not enough. He’d saved her life. She needed to thank him.
    It didn’t help that he just kept staring at her.
    At last she dredged up some dignity, as well as her manners. “Thank you,” she said primly and quietly. “You saved my life.”
    He bowed low to her courteously, as if her words had not come shamefully late. “Perhaps you’ll learn to ride with greater authority now that you are home,” he said, and turned away, heading for his mount.
    Naturally his horse had obediently awaited him.
    She followed him, moving with swift and certain strides. “I ride quite well,” she informed him.
    â€œOh?”
    She flushed again. “My horse shied and fell,” she told him.
    â€œI see.”
    She could see that he didn’t believe her. “She reared straight up, and then went over,” she elaborated.
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œYou are impossible!” she exclaimed.
    â€œI’m so sorry. Why is that?”
    â€œYou are not listening to me.”
    â€œOf course I am.”
    â€œYou do not believe a word I say.”
    â€œDid I say any such thing?” he demanded.
    She tried very hard not to grit her teeth as she gathered up her torn riding skirt so she would not trip. “Again, I thank you for saving my life,” she said, and started down the path.
    Unaware that he had followed her, she was startled when he grasped her arm. She spun around and stared up at him, her breath catching, her heart beating too quickly. Like him or not, he was imposingly tall and strong. He was also aggravating beyond redemption. But there was nothing repulsive about his touch.
    â€œWhere are you going?”
    Where indeed?
    â€œTo find the queen.”
    â€œOn foot?”
    She exhaled. “My horse, as you may have noticed, is nowhere to be seen.”
    â€œCome.” When she continued to stand stiffly, he smiled at last and said, “You don’t need to be afraid of me.”
    â€œI’m not.”
    â€œPerhaps not, but you’re wary.”
    â€œYou haven’t learned to love the queen. Maybe you will now,” she informed him.
    â€œI serve Queen Mary with all that is in me.”
    â€œBut it’s Scotland you love,” she informed him.
    His smile deepened. “If it’s Scotland I love, she is the persona of Scotland, is she not? Now come along. Join me in the saddle, so we can find the others.”
    â€œYou’re horrible, and I don’t think I can sit a horse with you.”
    He laughed out loud then. “I agree with you, and you attack me.”
    â€œYou are not at all agreeing with me.”
    He reached out and touched her forehead, brushing a strand of leaf litter from her forehead. It was an oddly tender gesture. Suddenly she didn’t want to argue with him, she wanted to…
    Feel his fingers brush her flesh again.
    She stepped back quickly. He had a wife. One he adored, though she was so gravely ill.
    â€œCome,” he said