A Dishonorable Knight - By Morrison, Michelle Page 0,139

just a few nights past. She had held her breath while Richard had questioned Gareth for she knew that Richard would have never wasted court time questioning a knight unless he doubted that knight's loyalty. That he had not charged Gareth with any crime did not relieve her of that worry. Should Gareth have any enemies in this court, or should anyone discover that they had been to Aberstwyth, his life would be forfeit quicker than hers would.

The small group of women rode around the perimeter walls to the far corner of the bailey where men were training with swords, shields, and pikes. While the other ladies chatted and laughed with the countess, pointing out the most handsome knight or the most adept with the sword, Elena sat still on her horse, mesmerized by the sight of Gareth, who leaned against a cart on the far side of the training soldiers. Bareheaded, shirt sleeves pushed past his elbows, arms crossed lazily over his chest, he laughed at something an older knight was telling him. One of the practicing knights called out to him and Gareth nodded and bent to pick up his helmet and shield. Elena studied every detail of his appearance, memorizing it for future daydreams.

"Elena!" Catherine called shrilly. "Isn't that the handsome knight you spent a month with alone?"

Elena dragged her gaze from Gareth and turned to Catherine who, with her question, had gained the attention of the countess and the other three ladies. Though Catherine's face appeared blandly innocent, Elena saw straight through her ploy. "Indeed, that is Sir Gareth who rescued me from the brigands who attacked us and escorted me into the safekeeping and protection of his noble father."

"But how humiliating," Catherine persisted, "to have no privacy while traveling through the dark woods of Wales, spending every night with this man you hardly know."

Elena refused to let Catherine get the best of her. "Surely you are exaggerating, Catherine. You will have the good countess here fearing for her very life when near one of His Majesty's knights. Sir Gareth was a paragon of chivalry and virtue as he escorted me to safety. I not once encountered an unsavory moment in his company and I would trust my life and the life of my mother into Sir Gareth's hands without hesitation." Ha! Elena thought, you'll have to be in this court a few more years before you can think to make me look bad, Catherine.

"What adventure!" the Countess of Salisbury said, obviously intrigued by Elena's experience. Deciding to show Catherine exactly what she was up against, Elena turned on her favorite-lady-in-waiting charm and set out winning over the visiting noblewoman.

"Indeed it was. And as for the Welsh forests being dark and ugly places, I must tell you I have never seen such lush beauty. They are quite peaceful and I would vouch that they are less plagued by villains and robbers than are our own English woods. I am sure your ladyship would find them most pleasing."

"I would love to visit them," the Countess avowed. “But tell me, weren't you afraid? From what Lady Catherine has told me, I had feared for your virtue and soundness of mind after such an excursion."

Elena smiled smugly at the furious Catherine. "I've no doubt you did. But as usual, Lady Catherine worries herself far too much about my virtue. Why, I would not have felt more comfortable in the presence of a priest and a host of nuns. Not once did Sir Gareth initiate an unwanted advance. It would do Lady Catherine a world of good to go through such an adventure as I had so that she might realize not everyone is as wicked as she seems to fear they are."

The countess nodded and urged her horse closer to Elena's. "But tell me, what of sleeping in the forest at night? Weren't you frightened of goblins and evil spirits?"

Elena described the Welsh landscape to the intrigued countess, being careful not to vary from the story she and Gareth had so far told. She answered question after question, delighting in watching Catherine fume.

"My lady, perhaps you would like to see the flower gardens now?" Catherine finally interrupted.

"What's that?" the countess asked. "Oh yes, of course. I suppose we are making these poor lads nervous with our continued observance, aren't we?" The countess laughed and the other ladies followed suit, tittering behind their hands. Elena smiled, but her eyes were drawn to the practice field where Gareth was battling another