LITMIR.BIZ

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someone has been searching her belongings. I don’t know why, but I’ve found her gowns spread out, as though they were looking for something.’

      The thief again. Ewan frowned, for Honora had never mentioned a threat to herself.

      ‘Does she know about it?’

      Katherine shrugged. ‘I’ve tried to keep it from her. She has enough worries. But I’ve alerted Father’s soldiers to keep our chamber guarded at all times.’

      ‘Good.’

      She ventured a conspiratorial smile at him, and Ewan reached out to take her hand. The smooth skin was cool, completely unlike Honora’s roughened palm. Katherine allowed him to hold her hand for a few moments, but when his thumb grazed her palm, she pulled her hand back.

      ‘What is the matter?’ he asked.

      She gripped her hands together, staring off into the distance. ‘It’s my foolishness. And I’m feeling angry at myself for what happened last night. I was weak, when I should have tended the cut on your arm.’

      It was the last thing he’d expected her to say. ‘It’s all right.’

      ‘No, it wasn’t. My sister helped you, when it should have been me.’ Katherine lowered her gaze, as though ashamed of herself. And when she stared at Honora, there was envy in her eyes.

      He understood what it meant to compare herself to a sibling. All his life, he’d lived in the shadow of his brothers. But now, he was finally seizing control of his fate. With Katherine as his bride, he could at last be master of his own lands.

      To lighten her mood, Ewan suggested, ‘If I slice my arm open again, I’ll call upon you to sew it up.’

      Her lips tilted. ‘And as soon as you start to bleed, I’ll likely faint. You’d be better off with a healer.’ She shook her head and sighed. ‘Honora has far more courage than I.’

      He didn’t deny it, but neither did he expect Katherine to be the same as her sister. To change the subject, he asked, ‘Is there anyone she might wed?’

      ‘Sir Ademar asked her to consider him,’ Katherine admitted. Her colour deepened, though Ewan didn’t understand why. ‘He told me last night.’

      He’d known that Honora had given Ademar a token, a ribbon. Yet she’d said nothing about him as a possible husband.

      Ewan reached into the basket and tore another chicken leg off the roasted fowl. No. Sir Ademar was not at all suitable for Honora. Off the battlefield, the man was far too quiet. Honora would run over him, dominating every aspect of their marriage. She could only live with a man who had the personality to equal her own.

      ‘Will she accept him as her husband, do you think?’ He kept his question casual, as though he weren’t interested in whether or not Honora intended to marry.

      ‘Perhaps.’ Katherine broke off another piece of cheese and leaned closer to him. ‘He has been kind to her.’ Raising up the food, she looked directly into his eyes. ‘He’s handsome, too.’

      When she placed the cheese in his mouth, Ewan captured her fingertips, kissing them. It was expected of him. But her fingers felt cold beneath his mouth. Katherine’s face turned scarlet, but she did not pull away.

      Before he could pursue things further, a noise interrupted them. Horses were approaching at a steady speed.

      Ewan broke away and unsheathed his sword. From this distance, he could not see the men, but he would take no chances with their safety. Katherine made a small sound, and he pushed her behind him. From his periphery, he spied Honora clenching her dagger, poised in a fighting stance.

      It was three men, armed, but carrying no shields. Ewan at last recognised two of the suitors, Sir Ademar and Beaulais. The third man he hadn’t seen before.

      Honora had gone white. She moved beside him, and her fear unnerved him. Nothing and no one had ever frightened Honora.

      But this man did.

      Chapter Six

      Ewan moved beside Honora, keeping Katherine behind them. ‘Who is he?’

      ‘John St Leger of Ceredys. My husband’s son and the new Baron.’ There was no tremble in her voice, but Honora looked as though she were about to be sick.

      Ewan sheathed his sword, but rested his hand upon the hilt. The men drew their horses to a stop, but did not immediately dismount. He wasn’t surprised; it allowed them the physical height advantage.

      Katherine stepped forwards to greet them, but Ewan halted her. ‘Wait.’

      ‘Why are they here?’ she murmured. She glanced at her sister, whose face was the colour of snow.

      Honora did not move. Her hands locked around her waist, as though she craved a sword and scabbard. In a low whisper so her sister couldn’t hear, she murmured, ‘Keep him away from me, Ewan.’

      He almost wondered if he’d imagined the words. What had this man done to her? But he gave a slight nod, letting her know he’d heard.

      Lord Beaulais was the first to dismount, and he sent a false smile towards Katherine. Ewan’s grip tightened on the sword hilt. If Beaulais dared to offend the women, he’d find himself with a few missing limbs.

      ‘We saw you leaving with the women, MacEgan.’ The nobleman smirked and added, ‘You didn’t think we’d let you have both of them all to yourself, now did you?’

      Ewan folded his arms and regarded Beaulais. ‘I don’t recall Lady Katherine inviting any of you.’

      ‘Her father invited all of us,’ Beaulais corrected.

      Sir Ademar cast a fleeting glance at Katherine. He didn’t speak to her, nor smile, but something provoked Ewan’s suspicions. There was an uneasiness in the knight’s demeanour, as though he had come to prevent the other two from an attack.

      But right now, his greater concern was Honora. Ewan took a step closer to her, even as Sir Ademar dismounted.

      The knight approached them, though his gaze flickered back to the men. ‘I am glad to see you this morn, m-my Lady Honora. You look …’ he struggled to find the right words ‘… very fine. That is, I mean … your face is like a …’

      ‘A diamond. A pearl. Just choose a damned jewel and be done with it,’ Beaulais shot back.

      Katherine glared at the nobleman, and nodded for Ademar to continue. The knight knelt before them, his face crimson. Ewan almost pitied the man.

      Certainly Honora did, for she accepted the knight’s hand and nodded for him to rise. ‘Thank you for your kindness, Sir Ademar.’

      The softness on her face caught Ewan by surprise. He was accustomed to seeing her in fierce concentration, as though she were facing an enemy. But at this moment, she became gentle, reminding him that she was female and desirable.

      Ewan didn’t like the way she was looking at the knight, even if the man’s intentions were honourable. Honora smiled at Ademar, and Ewan wanted to tear her hand away from his. It was an irrational thought, for what did it matter if she chose to wed the knight? It was one less suitor competing for Katherine’s hand. But it bothered him more than it should have.

      A moment later, after she drew back, he felt the soft touch of Honora’s hand upon his spine. What was she doing? He nearly jerked away, so startled was he to feel her hand upon him. She moved her palm towards the dagger sheathed at his side.

      She had her own weapon … why the need for a second blade? Then again, he didn’t trust Beaulais not to start a fight.

      Katherine exchanged a glance with Sir Ademar and offered an excuse. ‘We were about to return to Ardennes, weren’t we? If you’d like to accompany us back—’

      ‘I fear we interrupted your meal.’ Beaulais gestured to the basket of

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