Page 12 of Knight of Havoc
“We are probably safer here with these knights then left to our own devices back at Blackmore,” he stated before taking off his leather gloves and tucking them into the belt at his waist. “At least we have the protection of many instead of trying to do everything with the few servants we had left. Without your guardsmen, we were left vulnerable.”
“I can only pray that they will return to Blackmore once we are finally allowed to make our way home—and that when that time comes, things will look differently from how they were when we left the place. I felt horrible releasing the servants from their service to my family,” she murmured.
“They understood your dire circumstances, my lady, and took no offense. They were lucky they yet lived after Stephen’s army got through with the place,” Hawke answered with his softFrench accent that used to cause her heart to soar in her youth. Now he was more like the older brother that she’d never had.
Elysande nodded. “I still do not like the fact that Sir Reynard forced my hand,” she hissed, and her eyes drifted back to the man who continued to creep into her head at all hours of the day. Nay, ’twas worse than that, for not only had he physically shown up wherever she went at Blackmore, but he had also unknowingly invaded her dreams at night. A rosy blush flushed her face whilst she remembered some of those visions. They had been so intimate. So vivid, filled with a passion she had never experienced before in all her score of years. They had embedded themselves in her mind so completely that at times she swore she could almost still feel his touch upon her bare skin. ’Twas as if her mind betrayed how she really felt about a knight she barely knew but yearned to know in every aspect.God’s Bones!
“I was pleased you came to the decision to leave. There was nothing left for us at Blackmore, and you know it, Elysande,” Hawke replied, using her given name to add extra weight to his words.
She frowned and watched whilst Reynard left his friends and began making his way back in her direction. She nodded to Hawke. “See to Olive and ensure she is settled for the night. My guess is we will not linger long here at Bristol.”
Hawke’s eyes narrowed watching Reynard’s steady approach. “Are you certain you do not wish for me to stay by your side, my lady?”
“Aye.” She did not say another word. If anything, Elysande knew she would be safe with so many around if she had to call for aid. Besides, with her still sitting on her horse, she had the upper hand and the height to feel dominant over the man who stood upon the ground.
“Let me assist you from your horse, my lady,” Reynard said, holding up his hands.
A sly smirk crept across her lips. “I am more than capable of dismounting myself, sir,” she said watching as his brow furrowed.
“Do you plan to hate me all the way to Oxford?” he asked settling his arms across that well-muscled chest.
She could not help the light laugh that escaped her mouth, even when it caused the line of Reynard’s own mouth to creep ever so slightly upward. “Mayhap. Time will tell, Sir Knight.”
A chuckle rumbled in his chest. “Well then… until you figure out how you shall treat me on a day-to-day basis, why do you not give me this one concession by allowing my chivalrous nature to speak for itself by helping you?”
“I still hate you for making me leave my home.” She took off her leather gloves and wondered if she should just jump down from her horse to spite him.
“I understand completely,” he replied, staring up at her.
“Such an emotion most likely will continue for some time to come,” she continued whilst swinging one leg over the pommel of her saddle. She was still unaccustomed to wearing a tunic and hose, but Hawke and Reynard had suggested she would be more comfortable in a man’s attire than traveling wearing a gown that would not permit her to sit astride in the saddle.
“I will not even make an attempt to change your mind in regard to me,” Reynard attested, stepping forward and once more holding up his hands. “May I?”
“Aye. I suppose,” she at last said, leaning down to rest her palms on his shoulders.
She tried not to think of him holding her close when her body slid down the front of his chest. Nor when their eyes met and held upon her descent to the ground. Nay! Her fingers continued to feel the fabric of his tunic until she remembered herself. Tilting her head back, she felt so small standing next to this tallwarrior, and she gulped when the pounding of her heart once again betrayed her tangled feelings.
Another chuckle left him as though he knew the direction in which her thoughts had strayed. Instead of making some snide comment, he instead took hold of her hand and tucked it into the crook of his elbow. “Let me introduce you to my friends. They will treat you with the utmost respect and I know that they, too, shall watch over and protect you.
She could only nod her reply. When he took her the short distance to where the men waited, Elysande did her best to remember their names. Richard, Blake, Kingsley and Oswin all bowed before her as they were each presented to her. All handsome rogues whom Elysande would need to protect her heart from or else it would surely be lost to one of these knights.
Chapter Nine
Reynard sat ata long table in the great hall eating his meal. Those closest to him sat at the same table with Elysande and her captain at the far end. She was far enough away that she would not be able to hear their hushed conversations unless they wished to make them audible by raising their voices to include her. But still… she was close enough that he could still watch over her, not that Hawke wasn’t capable of such a deed. Reynard frowned, confused by his own protectiveness. Why he was bothering worrying over the woman when she was certainly protected by a knight who had been performing such a duty for many a year? The lady did not need him, and he could only ponder his stupidity for making such a vow.
But the deed was done, and Reynard now felt obligated to carry out his words. Whilst joining the rest of the team that would head to Winchester come the morn, Elysande would barely come within arms distance to him, or so he presumed. But that was of little import. There were enough knights here to ensure her safety as they traveled. He would not need to be directly involved.
Her laughter rang out and drew the knights nearby to gaze upon her as if they were moths flying into a flame. The sound was infectious, causing Reynard to steel his heart against falling under her spell. Aye… she was casting her magic toward every male around her whether she knew it or not. Reynard couldalready see for himself that Kingsley hung onto her every word. He was certain ’twould not be long before Blake did the same if his cow-eyed attention to the woman was any indication as to where his feelings could lie.
Richard gave him a nudge, and Reynard turned his attention back to the man seated next to him.
“You did not hear a word I said,” Richard stated with a frown. “’Tis clear you have been besotted with the young lady since we caught up with you at Blackmore. Get your head out of the clouds and pay attention.”
“I amnotbesotted,” Reynard grumbled before taking his eyes from the black-haired beauty sitting at the far end of the table.
“Aye, you are,mon ami. You do not have the time to indulge in a frivolous affair with the lady. We already accommodated you for the extra days you spent convincing her to leave her home. We must needs leave for Winchester come the morn. Even now, we are two days behind schedule.” Richard took a sip from his chalice, but his worried frown never left his brow.
“Have no fear, Richard. There are no plans hatching inside my head to have an affair with Lady Elysande now or in my future. She is only under my protection until I can deliver her into the empress’s keeping,” Reynard replied taking a drink of his wine.
