Page 42 of Desire's Ransom
A tall, slender man of noble bearing chuckled at that. “Willin’ or no, theywillpay.”
Warin whispered furiously in Ryland’s ear. “I told ye this was a mistake, m’lord.”
Ryland hushed him with a hiss and faced the tall gentleman. If he was as noble as he appeared, perhaps Ryland could appeal to the man’s sense of honor. “Sir, the information I seek will cost you nothing, and yet I offer payment for it. Surely you’ll honor such a humble and courteous request.”
The man straightened, moved by Ryland’s chivalrous words. “Well said.” Then he called out, “What say ye, all? Shall we give aid to these foreigners?”
After a few nods and grunts, the camp seemed to reach a consensus.
“Who do you seek?” one of the women asked.
Ryland politely inclined his head. “My lady, I’m searching for a woman lost in the woods.”
Gray added, “He said she went missin’ three days ago.”
A man dressed as a friar spoke. “Three days? Is that so?” He studied the knights, one by one, sizing them up as if he were choosing a horse. “Ye’re English.”
“Aye.” That was fairly obvious.
“And of high rank,” another said.
He nodded.
“Have ye just arrived in Eire?” the red-haired beauty asked.
“We’ve been here a sennight.”
Ryland felt like a wandering thief being interrogated by the local lawmen. But what else could he do? For all he knew, these might be the Shire-Reeves of the Woodkerns.
“Why do ye seek this lass?” another asked.
Ryland would have preferred to keep his reasons to himself. After all, there were some who might think preventing a foreigner from finding his Irish bride was a good idea.
But he had little choice. He was fairly sure if he didn’t answer their questions, they’d just send the knights on their way…after they robbed them of their silver just for spite.
So he answered. “The lady is to be my bride.”
A few of the outlaws stiffened.
Before Ryland could wonder why, the black-bearded outlaw spoke. His voice was laced with amusement. “So your bride ran away, did she? And what reason did ye give her for that?”
Ryland straightened with pride. He’d had about enough of prying questions. Besides, he’d never given a woman reason to flee in his entire life. “I wasn’t even given the courtesy of meeting her.”
It was Gray’s turn to interrogate him. “Why would ye wish to wed a lass ye’ve never met?”
He gave her a rueful chuckle. She obviously didn’t understand the responsibilities of nobility. Women like her probably married for love. “’Tisn’t my wish. ’Tis my duty.”
“Your duty?”
“I was commanded by the king to do so.”
“The king?” the noble outlaw remarked with raised brows. “John Lackland?”
Behind him, Ryland’s men stirred at the insult. He could almost feel the anger boiling off of them in silent waves.
“King John,”he said pointedly, “wishes to forge an alliance between our people—”
“Pah!” a sour-faced outlaw snarled. “He wishes to seize our land is what ye mean.”
