Read Online The Whispering Night by Kathryn Le Veque - Free Book Online

and uncles and brothers were a group marred by male shortcomings.
Another male into the fold only fueled their fires. Garren was doing what he
had to do in order not to be trampled by them.
    Her hurt was easing.
"But you were...," she tried to find the right words. "In front
of Aglette, you acted as if I had done something to offend you. Only the
evening before, you had been warm and kind in my chamber, yet when I saw you in
the bailey, you were...."
    He put his hand up to
silence her. "I know," he said softly. "But your servant could
also be a witness for your family. Were they to ask her, she could say that she
saw me demonstrate kindness toward you, something that could, again, be
perceived as weakness. I want nothing to be used against me."
    “Aglette is not a servant.
She is my friend, and loyal to the death.”
    “My apologies, then. But
I could not make that assumption.”
    She wondered if she
should believe him or not. "So what you are telling me, in essence, is
that in public you cannot show me any kindness so long as my family is around?
Only when we are alone, is that it?"
    "While your family
still gnashes their teeth every time they see me, I am not sure there is any
other alternative."
    "Are you so
concerned they would think you weak that you would rather have me think you a
cad?"
    "No," he shook
his head slowly. "But I pray you understand my reasoning."
    "But those things
you said in the hall, how you have no need or interest in marrying me. Is that
true?"
    "No."
    "Then you do have
interest?"
    "Can you not see it
in my face, even now?"
    She could, but she was
terrified of this man she did not know, yet was enormously attracted to. He had
the power to bend her emotions like grass in the wind.
    "I see a man who
says one thing, yet demonstrates another," she said after a moment.
"I think you make excuses to soothe me. I shall not be made a fool
of."
    He sighed, feeling like
he was losing a battle. This one involved feeling and he hadn't a sword big
enough to fight it.
    "I understand your
reservation. What would convince you that I am a man of my word?"
    She looked at him,
thoughtfully. "Would you consider yourself a strong man, Sir Garren?"
    "Stronger than
most, I suppose."
    "Then if you are so
strong, what should it matter what my family thinks? If you are so strong,
their opinion should mean nothing to you. You can stand on your strength
alone."
    He gazed at her a long
moment. Then, he smiled. "Wiser words were never spoken, my lady."
    "Perhaps. But will
you heed them?"
    "I can see that it
will cost me your respect not to. And your respect means more to me than
theirs."
    She was surprised.
"It does?"
    "It does."
    His expression made her
feel giddy.  They stood there on the sturdy wooden steps, gazing at each other,
feeling a tide of new emotion sweep through them.  Garren knew it was unhealthy
for him, but he couldn't help it. It was far easier to give in than to resist. 
Perhaps he should just learn to work with his traitorous emotions so that they
did not interfere in his thought process.  He had always been the adaptable
sort. With that thought, he let go of his fear and simply enjoyed something
he'd never felt before in his life.
    It was a bold move to
reach out and take her hand.  It was even bolder to place a tender kiss on the
inside of her wrist.  He could feel her hand tremble and it pleased him
tremendously.  He wanted so badly to kiss her lips, but he wouldn't dare. Her
soft hand in his calloused one, for the moment, was enough.
    "There you
are!"
    The roar came from the
entrance to the larger tower. Startled, Derica and Garren looked up to see
Alger and Lon standing in the doorway, swords in hand. One-eyed Alger leapt
onto the steps, pulling Derica away from Garren.
    "So you take her
out here with lustful intentions," he growled. "I shall teach you
some manners, le Mon. Women in the Holy Land may respond like dogs in heat, but
civilized English women do not."
    Alger was armed, but
Garren