Free The Christmas Knight by Michele Sinclair

actions and methods of evicting her, his angel would probably only view him as the devil.
    Today’s encounter solidified his resolve. Until he was in full control of himself and once again uncaring of how others saw or reacted to him, Ranulf had no intention of meeting Lady Bronwyn or her sisters. And if last night’s inability to sleep was an indicator, it might be a long while before that time came.
     

    A short, burly man with curly red-brown hair and matching beard entered the darkened room in the gatehouse. “They’re ready to leave, my lord.”
    Ranulf waved Magnus over to where he stood in the dimly lit gatehouse. “Tristan, Gowan, Ansel, and Drake are going with you. One of you is to return at least every two days until I say otherwise. For now, you are in charge of the women’s welfare and I will hold you responsible if anything happens to them.” Ranulf held out his arm and Magnus clutched it. “If all is ready, depart and ride swiftly. By sundown they should be back and safe where they belong.”
    If Magnus was nervous with the responsibility, he did not show it. With a sharp nod, he turned and left to see that his lord’s orders were obeyed. Ranulf followed him but stopped just inside the doorframe to scan for Bronwyn. His line of sight, however, was hampered by carts laden with food and provisions and those who were returning to their responsibilities at Syndlear. The small exiting group had become quite large.
    Tyr, who had remained out of sight since their last encounter, popped into view and sauntered over with a grin he knew would aggravate Ranulf. “You can thank me later.”
    Ranulf gestured to the mass starting to make their way out of the castle gates. “You’re responsible for this?”
    “It looks like more are leaving than there are. The women needed a few families to help them or did you think that they should also do without servants, ladies’ maids, or even a cook? I could just see Magnus tackling the job.”
    Ranulf grimaced. He had forgotten that Syndlear had been abandoned. “Where are they?”
    “The women? Your future bride? Gone. They were the first to leave. So, you can finally escape this gatehouse.”
    Ranulf’s brows popped up in a high arch of denial. “Listen, friend,” Tyr continued, “I won’t pry into why you care about what these women think, but don’t ask me to pretend that that’s not the reason behind this nonsense.”
    Ranulf eyed his friend for a few seconds and then decided against refuting what was the unfortunate truth. “And just what would you have me do? Force them to be in my presence day after day?”
    Tyr did nothing to hide his exasperation. “Not all women are like those of court, Ranulf.”
    “No, but I still have a responsibility to protect Laon’s daughters, even if it is from me. It is better they should leave and save them the trouble of pretending not to be offended. Meanwhile, do me a favor and go make sure that Drake knows to stay in the back and help with the slower in the group.”
    “Where’re you going?”
    Ranulf shrugged and headed toward the round tower. “You know so much. You figure it out.”
    Ranulf arrived at the tower steps and was about to enter when the frizzy-haired old woman who had practically sneered at him when he had refused an audience stepped into his path. “You don’t want to be doing that, my lord.”
    “I could say the same for you,” Ranulf warned.
    Constance held his gaze for several seconds and then moved aside, but she didn’t do so quietly. “Men like you have too much pride and for that you’ll pay a price.” She pointed to the stairwell. “If you enter this tower, I promise that you will have wished you spent just a few minutes with my mistress to learn about this place.”
    Her direct stare held no shock, pity, or revulsion at his missing eye. If anything, the woman was quite indignant at his behavior to her mistress and was openly letting him know so. Ranulf found himself surprised by