Free Lost Love by Maryse Dawson

gazing lovingly down into her face. "I hope ye two are as happy as we are."
    Arabella felt her face flush, and a twinge of jealousy surge through her. She would love to be as happy as they obviously were, but her marriage was far removed from theirs. John smoothly changed the subject. "Dost thou intend to stay, or art thou travelling onwards?"
    "I would ask thy hospitality for a few days. One of my knights took an arrow to his side this morning—I wondered if thy physician will take a look at him."
    "Of course! How did it happen?" The two men walked off, deep in discussion, leaving Arabella and Isabel alone. Arabella smiled at her. "Would thee like some refreshment?"
    "Aye, I am starving. I hath not eaten since early this morning, and I could eat half a pig!"
    Arabella laughed. "I will call for some food and wine. Come, take a seat with me by the fire."
    Isabel settled herself in one of the big seats and sighed contentedly. "It is so nice to be on firm ground again. That cart seems to get bumpier each time I travel on it. I would far rather ride on a horse."
    "Why dost thou not?"
    "My husband. He insists that we travel together, so he can look after me. Betwixt thee and I, it can get a bit stifling."
    Arabella glanced at Fendrel. Aye, she knew exactly how she felt. "But he loves thee and mayhap just wants to protect thee?"
    Isabel's sighed. "I knowest it to be so, but sometimes, just sometimes, I wouldst like to be on my own. I wouldst love to ride out on my horse again—it has been so long."
    Arabella's eyes darted to Fendrel. Leaning forward, she whispered to her, "Mayhap we can aid one another."
    "How so? Dost thou experience the same with Lord John?"
    "Nay. Our marriage was…arranged and John dost not trust me to stay here, so he makes his guard Fendrel watch over me constantly. I like it not!"
    "Thou dost not seem unhappy. I am sorry; I didst not know thy marriage was so."
    "Does it matter? Is it not our lot in life, as women, to accept what befalls us?"
    "Well, nay, but then 'tis easy for me to say, because I married a man I love. I suppose if thou is given to a man for another reason, then mayhap we do hath to accept it. But I wouldst like it not!"
    "Me neither. This is why I hath tried to escape, but Fendrel watches me constantly."
    "Which one is Fendrel?" Isabel asked, glancing around. Several knights sat around the hall, some playing chess, others quaffing wine and stroking the castle dogs.
    "He stands by the dais."
    Isabel glanced at Fendrel on the other side of the hall, who was casually looking at his nails. "He dost not seem to be watching thee now."
    "Oh, he is. I think he hath eyes in the back of his head!"
    Isabel laughed. "We art a fine pair, are we not?"
    "Aye. Ah, here are the refreshments."
    Esme placed a tray of food and drink on the small table betwixt them. Arabella dismissed her and proceeded to pour a goblet of wine for Isabel, who was helping herself to a small platter of meats.
    "I hath an idea how we can take a ride together," Arabella said quietly, looking at Isabel over her goblet of wine.
    Isabel chewed her bottom lip. "What didst thee hath in mind?"
    "If we can distract Fendrel, we can make our way to the stables, where thee can command a mare each for us."
    "Me?"
    "Aye. The stable hands will only take orders from Lord John, but they will listen to thee, if thy tone is commanding. They certainly will not heed me!"
    Isabel's eyes lit up. "Dare we do such a thing?"
    "Of course. It will give us time to ride out together and hath a break from the confines of the castle. It makes sense."
    Arabella wasn't telling the complete truth. Her intention, once saddled, was to ride like the wind straight back to Arnscroft, but she wouldn't tell Isabel that for fear of her backing out. Nay, she wasn't lying—she just wasn't telling the whole truth.
    "How do we distract Fendrel?" Isabel asked.
    "Go to walk past him and suddenly fall, as though thy ankle hath twisted beneath thee. He will aid thee, and I