Page 155 of Historical Hotties
“What do ye wish, Sir Ryton?”
Ryton was trying to bank his irritation, knowing he must deal with the lady calmly. He rattled the latch; it was still locked. “My lady, Lord Richard and his wife will be in need of their chapel shortly. They pray three times a day and their nooning prayeris fast approaching. You may not commandeer the chapel any longer. You must unlock the door.”
There was another long pause. “Sir Ryton, if I unlock this door, I would have yer oath that Sir Creed is not with ye.”
Ryton glanced at his brother, who was already descending the stairs. “He is not with me, my lady,” he said after a moment, allowing Creed enough time to put distance between them. “Would you open the door now, please?”
The lock slowly unlatched. Ryton stood back as Carington pulled the door open, her red-rimmed eyes peering up at him. He remained impassive as they studied one another.
“Now,” he said quietly. “What is the meaning of the locked door? You frightened Sir Creed with this behavior. He thought something was quite wrong.”
The door opened wider and she stepped out into the sun. She brushed a stray lock from her face, her eyes never leaving Ryton’s face.
“I would ask ye a question, Sir Ryton, and I would have an honest answer,” she said.
“You have my vow.”
Her lovely face was pale, her eyes still moist from crying. But he saw her take a deep breath and a spark ignited in the emerald eyes. It put him on his guard.
“What kind of man is it that ye’ve saddled me with?” she demanded quietly.
He lifted an eyebrow at her tone. “What do you mean?”
“Exactly that,” she hissed, gaining steam. “Lady Julia told me of Sir Creed and his… his lust for the child queen. She says everyone knows of it. She said that Sir Creed begot Isabella with child and that the whole of England knows it. Is this the kind of man ye would have protect me? A man who would prey upon innocent young maidens?”
It was difficult for Ryton to stay neutral. “Lady,” he said slowly. “You seem to be quite willing to throw about accusations without seeking the truth of the matter. Would you truly be so foolish as to believe everything Lady Julia tells you?”
Some of Carington’s fire banked, but not entirely. Ryton had a point but she was not yet willing to concede. “Then I would ask ye the truth,” she said. “However, being his brother, it is natural that ye would defend him, is it not?”
“Then who would you hear it from that you would believe?”
She was guarded, hesitant. In truth, she was not sure. Everyone at Prudhoe would defend Creed, she suspected, except for Lady Julia and perhaps that lout Jory. Everyone had their opinion and their side to take. She began to cool.
“Who would be honest with me?” she asked.
Ryton was steady. “I would, brother or no. As Captain of the Guard, it is my duty to be fair and honest with all despite family ties.”
Carington regarded him a moment. He had always tried to be fair with her, if she thought on it. No matter how she had behaved since they’d met, he had always tried to be even-handed and truthful. He had never been cruel. Sweet Jesus, how she wanted to believe the man if he countered everything Julia had told her about his brother.
“Tell me, then,” she whispered. “And tell me the truth.”
For a split second, Ryton heard the same tone in her voice that he had heard earlier in Creed’s. There was a wistfulness that was difficult to put his finger on. An inkling of an idea formed in his mind but he quickly chased it away. He had not the time to gracefully or rationally deal with it.
“Six months ago, my brother was in the service of the king,” he said in a low voice. “The king regarded him very well. So well, in fact, that he sent him as the head of a group of knights to escort the king’s bride from France. As always, Creed performedhis duties flawlessly. But the child bride of the king took a liking to my brother and sought to make him a conquest. When he refused, she was grievously insulted and sought to destroy him. She accused him of hideous things. But I can assure you, lady, that my brother is completely innocent of all slander charged against him. He is an honorable, trustworthy man and a fine knight. I would not have him in my service if he was otherwise and I certainly would not have assigned him to guard you.”
Carington gazed back at Ryton, her expression open with astonishment. “The queen tried to seduce him?”
“Aye.”
“But… but why?”
Ryton smiled wryly. “She saw something she wanted. When she could not have him, she made sure to ruin him.”
Carington savored the information, digested it, before allowing herself to form a reply. As she spoke, her head wagged back and forth, slowly. “I’ve heard tale of Sassenach women of royal blood, how they lack of scruples and morals. I thought it was talk. Most of my countrymen hate the English and the French as well. Can it be that they were right?”
Ryton nodded faintly. “With rare exception.”
She was reluctant to give in so easily, still. “Do ye swear what ye have told me is the truth about yer brother?”
