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Authors: Elizabeth Rose
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He has gone back to Banesmoor and wants naught to do with me. I assure you there would be no talking between us.”
“Then it’s up to you to change his mind,” she said with a smile. “I would stay here and tend to your father until he recovers, though there is not much my healing herbs can do that your kiss hasn’t already healed. He just needs time to rest , and also nourishment, which I would give him. In the meantime, mayhap you need to go to Sir Braden.”
“But he is back at Banesmoor, and after this battle, they are now our sworn enemies.”
“Mayhap you can change that somehow too. Now, is there a way you can get into Banesmoor without anyone seeing you? If so, you may be able to contact Sir Braden and change his mind before he marries the wrong girl.”
“You sound as if you are assuming I want to be with the man.”
“Well, don’t you?”
Portia felt a fluttering in her chest at just the mention of the idea. She knew the old woman was right in her assumption, and that she had only been guarding herself by denying her attraction to the man as well.
“I suppose I do fancy him . . . just a little,” she admitted.
“Quit standing here wasting time, my dear. If you are to change his mind, ’twill not be easy if what you say is true. Most knights are blinded by a wealthy dowry, a title and a beautiful lady. It sounds as if Sir Braden is about to have all three. So you would need to think of something you can give him that he would want more than what he’s already been offered.”
“Juturna, I am afraid Sir Braden no longer wants anything I could possibly offer. I basically announced that he was a traitor and now my father has put out the order to have him captured and killed.”
“And is that what you want as well?” she asked. “To have him punished or his life taken because of you?”
“Nay, of course not. If I could take it all back, I would. I mean him no harm, I swear it.”
“Tell him, child, not me. Now, I ask you again. Do you have a way you can sneak into the castle to speak with him without anyone seeing you?”
“I do,” she said with a slight nod of the head. But unfortunately, she knew she’d have to f ollow her stepmother’s orders and go as a spy to Banesmoor in order to do it.
Chapter 9
Braden woke this morning, feeling like a new man. He’d been in the lord’s good graces since last night, and as he’d sat by the fire drinking with the knights, he felt like they’d accepted him now. Aye, he was making himself a new home and a new life after all. He headed to the great hall, nodding to the lords and ladies as he headed down the corridor.
While he missed Manterra and Lord Wolfe as well as the Lady Rae, he truly like d Lord Solomon and the people of the castle too. He also felt he had much in common with Sir Samuel since they’d both held the position of captain of the guard, though he’d given up that title when he decided to come to Banesmoor. Now if only he could bring himself to like his betrothed, and get her to like him as well.
“Sir Braden, please join us at the dais to break the fast,” said Sir Samuel, coming to his side.
“The dais?” he asked. “Are you sure I am to be seated with the nobles when I am still a newcomer to Banesmoor?”
“You are more than a newcomer, you are Lady Christabel’s betrothed,” the man reminded him. “The wedding banns have been posted this morning, making it official. Let me show you,” he said, guiding him to the door to the great hall and pointing out a scroll nailed to the wood. “There are more like this throughout the castle as well as in the village and on the door of the church. Your wedding would take place in three weeks, being announced every Sunday at mass until then, as is proper.”
“Three weeks ? So quickly?” he asked, suddenly becoming very nervous. He looked to the post on the door and read the words aloud announcing his marriage. “Here ye, here ye, Lord Solomon, ruler of all
“Then it’s up to you to change his mind,” she said with a smile. “I would stay here and tend to your father until he recovers, though there is not much my healing herbs can do that your kiss hasn’t already healed. He just needs time to rest , and also nourishment, which I would give him. In the meantime, mayhap you need to go to Sir Braden.”
“But he is back at Banesmoor, and after this battle, they are now our sworn enemies.”
“Mayhap you can change that somehow too. Now, is there a way you can get into Banesmoor without anyone seeing you? If so, you may be able to contact Sir Braden and change his mind before he marries the wrong girl.”
“You sound as if you are assuming I want to be with the man.”
“Well, don’t you?”
Portia felt a fluttering in her chest at just the mention of the idea. She knew the old woman was right in her assumption, and that she had only been guarding herself by denying her attraction to the man as well.
“I suppose I do fancy him . . . just a little,” she admitted.
“Quit standing here wasting time, my dear. If you are to change his mind, ’twill not be easy if what you say is true. Most knights are blinded by a wealthy dowry, a title and a beautiful lady. It sounds as if Sir Braden is about to have all three. So you would need to think of something you can give him that he would want more than what he’s already been offered.”
“Juturna, I am afraid Sir Braden no longer wants anything I could possibly offer. I basically announced that he was a traitor and now my father has put out the order to have him captured and killed.”
“And is that what you want as well?” she asked. “To have him punished or his life taken because of you?”
“Nay, of course not. If I could take it all back, I would. I mean him no harm, I swear it.”
“Tell him, child, not me. Now, I ask you again. Do you have a way you can sneak into the castle to speak with him without anyone seeing you?”
“I do,” she said with a slight nod of the head. But unfortunately, she knew she’d have to f ollow her stepmother’s orders and go as a spy to Banesmoor in order to do it.
Chapter 9
Braden woke this morning, feeling like a new man. He’d been in the lord’s good graces since last night, and as he’d sat by the fire drinking with the knights, he felt like they’d accepted him now. Aye, he was making himself a new home and a new life after all. He headed to the great hall, nodding to the lords and ladies as he headed down the corridor.
While he missed Manterra and Lord Wolfe as well as the Lady Rae, he truly like d Lord Solomon and the people of the castle too. He also felt he had much in common with Sir Samuel since they’d both held the position of captain of the guard, though he’d given up that title when he decided to come to Banesmoor. Now if only he could bring himself to like his betrothed, and get her to like him as well.
“Sir Braden, please join us at the dais to break the fast,” said Sir Samuel, coming to his side.
“The dais?” he asked. “Are you sure I am to be seated with the nobles when I am still a newcomer to Banesmoor?”
“You are more than a newcomer, you are Lady Christabel’s betrothed,” the man reminded him. “The wedding banns have been posted this morning, making it official. Let me show you,” he said, guiding him to the door to the great hall and pointing out a scroll nailed to the wood. “There are more like this throughout the castle as well as in the village and on the door of the church. Your wedding would take place in three weeks, being announced every Sunday at mass until then, as is proper.”
“Three weeks ? So quickly?” he asked, suddenly becoming very nervous. He looked to the post on the door and read the words aloud announcing his marriage. “Here ye, here ye, Lord Solomon, ruler of all
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