Free A VOW TO KEEP (The Vengeance Trilogy) by Lana Williams Page A

gestured for Nicholas to come to her. Grasping his small hand in hers, she approached her grandfather. She had no need of assistance from a man as boorish as Sir Edward. The rude knight deserved the same treatment he’d given Matthew.
    Before she could utter a greeting, Sir Edward said, “Lord Blackwell, I’m pleased to deliver your granddaughter, Lady Alyna, to you.”
    Annoyed, Alyna glared at the knight. Was she some sort of bundle he’d carted about?
    “Alyna.” Lord Blackwell took her hand before she could offer it, smiling as his gaze took in her face. “I’m pleased you’re here. For so long, I’ve looked forward to seeing you again.”
    Lines etched his mouth and creased his forehead, but his eyes had not changed at all. Their amber depths studied her even as she studied him. Heat rose in her face at his close scrutiny. “I, too, have waited a long time to visit with you.”
    As though he remembered the reason for their last meeting when her mother had died, a shadow crossed his face, then passed as quickly as it had come. “You’ve grown into a lovely young woman.”
    Disbelief and pleasure fought within her at his words. She pushed aside the feelings to concentrate on what was more important. “I’m anxious to hear what you have to tell me. Sir Royce insisted speed was of the essence. We left Montvue rather abruptly.”
    Her grandfather surveyed the group of men. “Where is Royce?”
    “My lord, I would speak to you about Royce’s absence,” Edward said.
    Lord Blackwell raised a brow. “Aye?”
    “In private, if it pleases you.”
    The older man frowned. “It does not please me. I have no intention of leaving my granddaughter when she’s just arrived. What is it?”
    Edward glanced at Alyna as though he wished she’d honor his desire for privacy. She refused to accommodate him. She tilted her head to the side and did her best to act as though she didn’t understand the look he’d given her.
    His mouth tightened with displeasure. He turned again to her grandfather, leaned toward him, and lowered his voice. “I’m sorry to advise you of this, my lord, but Royce left Lady Alyna this morning to chase after some thieves supposedly nearby.”
    Alyna was shocked. His tone suggested he disapproved of Royce’s departure and the reason for it. He was obviously trying to cast a shadow over Royce in her grandfather’s eyes. But why?
    Her grandfather seemed unaffected by Edward’s words. “If they are the ones who have been troubling us, then I would be most pleased if Royce destroyed the lot of them.”
    “But, my lord, leaving Lady Alyna went against your orders. Sir Royce was to personally accompany your granddaughter to Northe Castle, was he not?”
    “Edward, I’m certain Royce’s decision to leave Alyna was well planned, just as all his other actions. Should I doubt your ability to watch over my granddaughter in Royce’s absence for so short a journey?”
    “Nay, my lord,” sputtered the knight. “Of course not.”
    Lord Blackwell turned back to Alyna. At last he noticed Nicholas, who peeked at him from behind her. “Whom do we have here?”
    Alyna drew a deep breath, not sure what reaction she would receive at her announcement. “This is my son, Nicholas.”
    “Your son?” He looked with disbelief at Alyna then back at Nicholas. “But how...I mean when?”
    “Nicholas is just past four years.” Alyna held Nicholas’s hand firmly in hers.
    Lord Blackwell shook his head, still bewildered at the news. “It seems I’ve missed more than I thought.” He looked again at Nicholas and squatted down. “How do you do, Nicholas?”
    Nicholas stepped forward and stared for a long moment. He bowed to Lord Blackwell, much to Blackwell’s delight. “Well. Thank you.”
    “We have much to discuss,” her grandfather said, with a pointed look at Alyna.
    She nodded, but held her tongue, not offering any explanation for her son.
    Lord Blackwell rose and tucked Alyna’s hand in the crook