Free Knight of My Dreams by Lynsay Sands

noticed,” Jonathan admitted wryly. “After three days of feasting and dancing, all the songs are sounding the same.” He leaned forward and confided, “I have been judging the length of a dance by how many times my feet were stepped on.”
    A lice was amused by Lord Jonathan’s admission, but the man had obviously not taken her point. “Well, I fear your mother has noticed even if you have not, and she appears to be growing irritated.”
    Her dance partner glanced over toward his mother, but his only reaction was to tighten his hand on hers.
    She decided to try again. “In fact, she is beginning to look quite vexed. Really, my lord, I take her point. Is this feast not about finding a bride for you? ‘Twill be difficult for you to do so should you continue dancing with me, neglecting the women brought here for you to consider.”
    â€œI need consider the matter no further. Any one of them is interchangeable with the others. Besides, I like dancing with you . You do not step on my toes, you do not breathe garlic into my face, you do not spill food on me, and you can converse.”
    Alice blinked once, twice, then ventured, “Converse? I take it you have found some of the women—”
    â€œUnable to string two words together that have more than four letters in them. And many of them are deceitful. You should hear what they say about each other!”
    â€œOh, dear.” Alice bit her tongue to keep from laughing. Then she became worried. “Oh, my. Your mother is headed in our direction. I suspect she is about to tell you that you should be dancing with the others.”
    Lord Jonathan glanced over his shoulder, his expression becoming irritated. He promptly began to walk Alice in the opposite direction.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” she asked in surprise.
    â€œI am getting us out of here.”
    â€œOh, but—” Alice began. She got no farther as Lord Jonathan picked up the pace. He hustled her out of the great hall, and a glance over Alice’s shoulder just before they slipped through the door showed Lady Fairley pausing, hands on hips, eyes narrowed, as she watched them flee. She did not look at all pleased. Once again, Alice was reminded that the woman positively did not see her as bridal material for her son. She found herself inexplicably saddened.
    Lord Jonathan slowed to a walk once they were outside, and Alice glanced at him curiously, peering at his face in the moonlight. His distraction was obvious, so she left him to his thoughts and they walked in companionable silence for several moments; then she recognized the path he had taken. She smiled slightly.
    â€œThe stables again, my lord?” she asked with quiet humor.
    â€œWhat?” He sounded bewildered, then glanced around and seemed to realize she meant their destination. He shook his head. “Nay.”
    Despite his negation, they continued silently in that general direction, but Alice didn’t question him further. She noted, however, that he was rubbing his stomach absently, his gaze and face working as if he were resolving some problem. Quite suddenly he asked, “Are you hungry, Alice?”
    Startled by his use of her given name, it took Alice a moment to digest his question. She considered it seriously and nodded with some surprise. “Aye. Actually, I am.”
    â€œAs am I. Come.” Taking her hand again, he tugged her off the path they had been on and along another, this one leading around the back of the keep. He urged her silently through a door there, pressed a finger to his lips, then led her along a dim hallway that grew warmer as they went.
    â€œWait here,” he instructed, bringing her to a halt outside a set of double doors. He slid through.
    Alice obeyed for all of a minute; then curiosity got the better of her. She cautiously eased open the door, and wasn’t at all surprised to see that the doors led into the kitchens. And what a huge