Free My Valiant Knight by Hannah Howell Page A

troubling. As they had traveled from Kengarvey to Bellefleur, Gabel had closely watched the rapport between Ainslee and Ronald, the way she tenderly cared for the man’s wounds and how Ronald fretted over her, as well as the way the pair talked to each other, openly with an unhidden affection. With every mile they rode, he had grown to dislike it more. and more. He had even caught himself vying for Ainslee’s attention like some lovesick boy.
    If Justice discovered that, Gabel mused, the man would tease him unmercifully. Worse, Justice might even feel inclined to indulge in a little matchmaking. Although he had only known Ainslee for two days, Gabel knew he was going to have difficulty fighting the allure Ainslee MacNairn held for him. He did not need Justice trying to push him and Ainslee into each other’s arms. He was going to have to be careful, and make Justice believe that, if he felt anything at all, it was a base lust. That was something he and Justice could occasionally chuckle over and then forget.
    “ ’Tis but stung vanity,” Gabel replied, and smiled crookedly at Justice. “ ’Tis not easy to seduce a lass or convince her of my greatness when she spends all of her time nursing some old man.”
    Justice laughed and shook his head. “For shame, cousin. You should not be considering seduction when you are in the midst of a search for a wife to grace Bellefleur.”
    “Aye, a wife.” Gabel was disappointed, yet not really surprised when the thought of searching for a suitable wife no longer held any interest for him. “Aunt Marie told me that Lady Margaret Fraser will be arriving at Bellefleur in a few days. Her father hopes to convince me that his daughter will make me a good wife.”
    “ ’Tis not a good time to conduct a courtship. Knowing all we do about Duggan MacNairn, I cannot believe this ransoming will be an easy business.”
    “Nay. I expect trouble. Howbeit, ’tis too late to stop Fraser. He has already begun his journey here, and we do not know what route he travels.”
    Justice nodded. “So we must do as best we can. For your sake, I pray that there is no trouble.”
    “You can not pray for that any harder than I do.”
     
     
    It was not easy, but Ainslee ignored Michael as she made her way up onto the thick encircling walls of Bellefleur. The young man clung to her like a shadow on a sunny day. He had been standing outside her room when, clean and refreshed from her bath, she had gone to see how Ronald fared. Assured that her dear friend was not suffering, and still surprised over the high quality of the quarters he had been given, she had left to find a faintly smiling Michael outside that room as well. She knew he was now at her heels, but she refused to look at him.
    Standing at the ramparts, she took a deep breath of the crisp fall air. It was nearly dark, the days already growing noticeably shorter. Ainslee knew that, if her father hesitated to ransom her, she could easily be a captive at Bellefleur for the length of the winter. When she saw Gabel approach her, she knew that a lengthy stay could prove dangerous. Just the sight of his big, strong form caused a skip in her heartbeat. She hated to think of how that infatuation could mature, if she spent too much time in his company.
    “Are you looking for your father to ride to your rescue?” Gabel asked, leaning against the wall and subtlety waving Michael away.
    Ainslee gave him a brief look of disgust. “I am looking for your weak points, my cocksure knight, so that I may return to conquer your lands and give you a wee taste of captivity.”
    “I am all atremble.” He took her hand in his, slowly drew it to his lips, and brushed a kiss over her knuckles. “Yet, what man could protest imprisonment by such fine blue eyes?”
    It was nonsense, Ainslee knew it, but she smiled and even felt her heart flutter. The tone of his deep voice stroked her. She tensed only briefly when he reached out to thread his long fingers through her