My Valiant Knight Read Free Page B

moved as he did. The situation needed to be smoothed over and swiftly.
    “M’lady,” Gabel called to the girl in a light, friendly voice as he stepped to the fore of his men. “You cannot believe that you can take us all.”
    “Nay, my fine knight, I am not such a fool,” she replied as she crouched into a fighting stance. “Howbeit, I shall leave ye sorely aware that ye have faced a MacNairn.”
    “Sweet heaven,” murmured Justice as he edged closer to Gabel. “That bastard MacNairn breeds some very fine women.”
    “So, you believe she is that laird’s spawn?” Gabel did not even glance at his cousin, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on the girl.
    “Aye, Gabel. She wears the MacNairn brooch at her shoulder. You could see that for yourself, if you would but tear your eyes from her hair.”
    “Glorious, is it not? I have a craving to wrap myself in its thick waves. I will see if I can hold her gaze upon me, whilst you edge up to her from the left. Tread warily, cousin. She may well be able to wield that sword with some skill. It looks to have been made specifically to fit her small hands.” Gabel smiled at the girl as Justice inched away. “There is no need for bloodshed, m’lady. We do not seek to harm you.”
    “Oh?” Ainslee briefly glanced at his men. “Ye brought a score or more fighting men with you so that we might exchange court gossip? Stay back,” she hissed when she saw him edge toward her, Ugly’s low growl of warning a confirmation of her suspicion that the man tried to sneak up on her. “Watch Ronald,” she ordered the dog, and the animal adopted an unmovable stance by the unconscious Scot.
    “Do not urge your beast to the attack, m‘lady, for my men will quickly cut him down.” Gabel knew he had judged her right when her eyes widened; she glanced nervously at the dog and then glared at him. The animal was trained to command, and eager to protect her and the man. It meant she had spent time and affection on the grotesque beast. “Give over, m’lady, and you will come to no harm.”
    Ainslee studied him closely and realized that she wanted to believe him, but she suddenly did not trust her own instincts. The man was too handsome, and she was far too aware of that despite the tense confrontation they were engaged in. He was taller than most of his men, his long body lean and muscular. Since he wore only his braies and boots, she could see that his complexion was naturally dark, not browned by the sun. His somewhat angular features could not really be called handsome, but they intrigued the eye and demanded respect. An aquiline nose was framed by well-defined, high cheekbones and led to a firm, slightly thin-lipped mouth. Straight dark brows crowned rich deep brown eyes so heavily lashed that Ainslee was certain they had caused some women to suffer sharp pangs of envy. His jaw was firm, implying a strength she had no doubt he possessed in full measure. His broad chest was smooth and hairless, a hint of dark curls finally appearing just below his navel and lightly dusting what little showed of his long, well-shaped legs. Both her mind and her body found the man far too intriguing, and she fought hard against that ill-timed interest.
    She made a sharp, scornful noise in response to his claim that she would come to no harm. “Do ye mean to escort me home then, Norman?”
    “I mean to hold you to ransom,” Gabel replied.
    There was such a strong tone of honesty in his voice that Ainslee almost submitted, but she suddenly espied one of the Normans stealthily approaching her from the side. Swiftly, not allowing herself time to consider what she was doing, she pulled her dagger from beneath the wide girdle at her waist, and hurled it at the man. Confident that her weapon had found its mark, she fixed all of her attention on the man facing her, for she knew there would be swift and lethal retribution.
    “Justice,” cried Gabel when his cousin yelped in pain. “Are you harmed?”
    “Aye, but