Read Online The Table of Less Valued Knights by Marie Phillips - Free Book Online

and his heart fell through it.
    ‘Lady Elaine,’ he said, looking away, across the water. ‘Surely you know that I will follow this quest through to the end, no matter what? You don’t have to repay me in this way.’
    ‘It’s not that,’ said Elaine, in a voice of anguish. ‘I wanted to … I mean, I felt … I truly felt … But my intention was base. Please forgive me.’
    ‘Of course I forgive you,’ said Humphrey. ‘There is nothing to forgive.’
    ‘I wish I could explain,’ said Elaine. ‘I’m so sorry.’ She reached towards him for a moment, then drew her hand back without touching him. ‘But I can’t. I can’t. I’m sorry.’
    ‘I understand. You are betrothed to Sir Alistair,’ said Humphrey.
    ‘It’s not that,’ Elaine said again.
    ‘Then what is it?’
    Elaine shook her head. She wiped tears from her eyes. Then she got up and ran back to her tent, on her ankle which was not at all injured, leaving Humphrey alone under those stars which were indeed beautiful, but so cold.

Twelve
    The next day, Elaine rose for breakfast early. By the time Humphrey emerged from his tent she had finished her meal and returned to her own tent to pack up for the day’s ride. Conrad was still chattering about the woman who had unhorsed Humphrey, because in his world that had happened the day before, and not a lifetime ago. Both Humphrey and Elaine took extra care over the grooming and saddling of their horses that morning, thoroughly brushing manes and tails, closely examining hooves for mud and stones, ensuring the perfect alignment of bridle straps. If they didn’t speak to each other it was perfectly normal because they were preoccupied with the journey ahead.
    The road took them along the riverbank that had been the setting for the scene of the night before. By daylight the river seemed innocuous enough, the water twinkling prettily under the sun, the road lined with chestnut trees which provided welcome shade. It should have been a pleasant ride. But the silence between Humphrey and Elaine grew until it was a fourth companion which even Conrad couldn’t ignore. First he stopped teasing Humphrey, put off by the lack of response, and started to sing instead. Then, when Elaine didn’t join in, he stopped that too. A heavy sleeper, he had no idea that his master had been woken by Elaine in the night, or what had passed between them. All he knew was that both Humphrey and Elaine had gone to bed angry and that they appeared to have got up even angrier. He fretted that he had done something wrong. Was it the food?Was it just him, causing annoyance merely by being himself? He placed one of his hands palm down on Jemima’s warm neck, trying to take comfort in her steadfastness, but it wasn’t enough for the elephant to like him. He needed his companions to like him too. Meanwhile, for Humphrey and Elaine, enormous, anxious Conrad on his waddling elephant had no more presence than a cloud.
    Shortly before noon they reached a point where the river diverted into a wood which grew so thick that Conrad and Jemima would not be able to pass without uprooting dozens of trees. Humphrey stopped, and the other two drew up alongside. Conrad looked down at him, awaiting instruction. Elaine gazed straight ahead.
    ‘I’m sure we can skirt around it,’ said Humphrey, in a light voice that sounded unnatural to him. ‘It doesn’t look that big a forest.’
    ‘Whatever you say,’ said Conrad.
    Elaine only nodded.
    So Humphrey led the way across the heath that bordered the wood. As he rode, he tried to think of the words he might say to Elaine that would make everything normal again. It was only a kiss. How many maidens had he kissed? He had thought her willing. He could simply apologise. But she had leaned into him, had responded, he was sure of it. Then why had she pushed him away? This was the path that his thoughts had been following all day, and it circled back on itself, over and over. There was only one other