Free Morgan the Rogue by Lynn Granville Page B

well of her.
                  'It is easier to traverse than the mountain paths,' Morgan replied.  'Trust me and I shall bring you to Conway sooner than you may imagine.'
                  'Yes, I shall trust you,' she said, her clear eyes meeting his in a way that sent a jolt through his body.  'Even though my good William has warned me not to.'
                  Morgan felt that he might drown in the clear mountain pools of her eyes, experiencing that sharp stirring of desire he had known once before when looking into her face.  He was also aware of guilt, for she and all her race were his sworn enemy, and he was deceiving her, using her for his own ends.
                  He must not let himself like her too much!
                  They rode in silence for two hours or more, penetrating into the heart of the huge forest.  Morgan appeared deep in thought and yet was aware of what was around him.  He had for some while suspected that they were being watched, though he was not yet completely certain whether the watchers were English or Welsh.
                  'Why do you frown so?' she asked and he shook his head, not wishing to alarm her.
                  He dropped back to ride by the side of the captain of her men, giving him a questing glance.  He nodded, confirming Morgan's suspicion that they were being shadowed.
                  'In your opinion - Welsh or English?'
                  'I think they must be Welsh, sir.'  Morgan nodded at the confirmation of his own judgement, for he had felt the watchers too stealthy and surefooted to be English.  'They seem more curious than anything.  At the moment I don't see any sign of…' The man stiffened as both he and Morgan suddenly saw a party of horsemen coming through the trees towards them.  'These are English…the King's men…'
                  Some ten men-at-arms had ridden up to Lady Rosamund, who spurred her horse forward to greet them.  She was smiling, clearly pleased, and as he rode up to her she turned to beckon him closer.
                  'This is well met,' she said.  'His Majesty is near at hand and received the message I sent to Conway yesterday.  He has sent an escort to bring us in lest we meet with any hostility in the area.  I have told Sir John Forster that we have been riding for some hours and seen no sign of anything untoward.  Apparently, there has been some lawlessness from bands of robbers and brigands in these mountains; it seems that gold meant for his coffers has been going astray in recent months, and the culprits have proved impossible to find.  Richard wanted to make sure I was well protected.'
                  'He must think highly of you, my lady.'
                  'Yes, he has been a good friend to me,' she said and looked happier than he had seen her.
                  'Then it is good that you will soon be seeing him again.'
                  Morgan dropped back to ride with the captain of her own guard, for he could see that Sir John was a man of Lady Rosamund's rank and it was more fitting that he should ride beside her.
                  'They have gone, sir.  I think they ran off as soon as the King's escort joined us.'
                  'Yes…' Morgan looked at the captain as he spoke.  He seemed a bright, intelligent man though young for the position he held.  'I am called Morgan – what may I call you?'
                  'Thomas Bridger, sir.'
                  'How long have you served Lady Rosamund?'
                  'Since she was wed; before that I served His Majesty.  I did not want to leave him, but he made me captain of Lady Rosamund's bodyguard and told me that if I wished to serve him I must go with her.  I have been content to serve her, for she is a good woman, deserving of a better fate than