Free The Chase by Lynsay Sands

I...”
    “Unbarred the gate so all and sundry may enter?” he finished when her voice faded
     helplessly away.
    “Nay!” she cried at once, reclaiming her wits enough to try to defend herself. “ 'Twas
     Sister Blanche who unbarred the gate.”
    “At your order,” Seonaid stated, unwilling to see the woman escape her fault by pushing it
     onto another. Resheathing her sword, she turned to glance at the bishop. “Sister Blanche
     didna wish to unbar the gate but couldna refuse a direct order. She did it only because
     Lady Elizabeth threatened to return her to England in shame did she no do as she was told.
     She came to warn us as soon as the deed was done.”
    The bishop nodded his head in silent understanding. “Sister Blanche has naught to fear;
     she will not be the one returning to England in shame.”
    No one mistook the meaning behind his words, least of all Lady Elizabeth, who gasped as
     she hurried forward to fall on her knees before the prelate.
    Seonaid grimaced at the undignified display, then glanced at Lord Rolfe before turning to
     peer at the two other men. Both of them had resheathed their own swords, though they
     remained tense and alert. It did not require much effort to work out who the man in plaid
     was. Her betrothed. Who else would be traveling with Lord Rolfe? Besides, Lady Helen's
     description of the man had been most apt. Fair-haired and handsome as an angel, or some
     such rot. He was all of those things and more. A fine specimen of a man. With excellent
     knees, she noted again, then frowned at her own wayward thoughts. He was the man who had
     neglected to collect her for so long, the man who had made it obvious he had no interest
     in marrying her. It took an order from the king to bring him to her, and she wanted no
     such man, especially an Englishman. Especially a Sherwell.
    Besides, even had she been able to overlook everything else, there was no way to avoid the
     fact that he would no doubt find her sorely lacking as a wife. It took only one look at
     his handsome visage to realize it. Her betrothed was heavenly, perfect, and no doubt used
     to heavenly, perfect women. Seonaid suffered no delusions regarding herself. She was too
     tall, too thin, too unfeminine both in manner and in knowledge to even manage being
     average. She knew naught about being a lady and doubted she could even pass herself off as
     a true woman. She'd spent too many years in the company of only men. Men and Aeldrabut
     then, Aeldra was as lacking in the softer refinements of a lady as herself.
    Nay, she thought sadly, he would not want her... and she had no desire to hear him say so.
     While she might lack the finer requirements of a lady, she had more than her fair share of
     pride, and her pride was unwilling to wait about and hear his refusal. Gesturing for
     Aeldra to follow, she turned her back on the man and strode toward the door of the church,
     then paused to swipe up her plaid. She picked up Aeldra's as well and tossed it to her,
     then started forward again, only to pause when fingers closed around her upper arm.
    “Where do you think you are going?”

The Chase

Chapter Four
    Seonaid paused in her steps, eyes snapping as she glared at the hand on her arm. She had
     known the moment she'd felt his touch who stopped her, even before she heard the smooth
     velvet of his voice with its clipped English accent.
    “Unhand me or I shall unhand you,” she commanded. Her lips curled up with satisfaction
     when he released her at once, though a glance at his face showed only surprised amusement
     and no fear. When he bowed to her with mock civility, Seonaid found the gesture most
     irritating.
    “Forgive me, my lady. 'Tis poorly done of me to touch you without at least first
     introducing myself. Lord Blake Sherwell at your service.” The introduction was followed by
     another of the mocking bows.
    Seonaid shifted, her expression darkening before she forced a