A Dishonorable Knight - By Morrison, Michelle Page 0,96
paused in mid-stroke. How, exactly, would she go about bringing up the subject? "Where were you last night, Gareth? I waited for you for hours." No. "Why didn't we continue our lessons last night? Aren't I an apt pupil?" Absolutely not. Well, she decided, something will come to me. She’d never before been at a loss for words. Marching down the narrow hall, she came into the main living area where Gareth, his friends, Morgan, and Samuel were talking. The discussion stopped the instant Elena entered the room and she had the distinct impression that she was the topic.
"Good morning," the men chimed, Bryant quickly standing to give her his chair.
"Good morning," she responded, glancing at each man's guilty face before settling her gaze on Gareth. Bryant handed her a bowl of freshly picked berries and a wedge of cheese. Elena slowly ate as she watched the men try to cover their discomfiture by talking about the weather. What exactly had they been talking about? she wondered. She was given no opportunity to decipher that puzzle as Gareth, Morgan, and Samuel stood and moved to leave.
"Where are you going," Elena asked Gareth.
"I must spend today with my father," he said once the two men had left. "Bryant and Cynan will take you to the book shop this morning and then wherever you would like to go. I understand the beach is beautiful at this time of year. Why don't you three have a picnic?"
"But--" Elena began, confusion, disappointment and, yes, hurt feelings swirling within her.
"You'll be well taken care of, Lady. Enjoy!" Turning, Gareth quickly followed his father and Samuel out.
"Well if that isn't ill-mannered," she said.
"Yes, but that's Gareth for you," Cynan said, trying to effect a disappointed face. "Bryant and I have tried and tried to teach him how to behave, but you see, he's just a heathen mountain boy at heart. Bryant and I, however," he continued with a bow, "are experts at courtly manners and gentle entertainments."
"Are you now?" Elena said, trying to infuse her tone with a lightheartedness she did not feel.
"What? Why? Was I or was I not acting in a manner befitting a duke, Lady Elena?"
Elena laughed in genuine amusement. "Oh, indeed."
Cynan turned to Bryant. "You see?"
"You need not humor him, my lady," Bryant said. "It only makes him worse."
"You mean it makes me better."
Bryant shook his head and looked at Elena as if to say, "I told you so."
Sobering slightly, Cynan stole a handful of Elena's berries and said, "Gareth said you were interested in the bookseller across town. Shall we go there first?"
Elena nodded and finished her bit of cheese as she stood. "I'd also like to stop by my seamstress's shop and see how she's coming on my dress."
"Wonderful! Bryant's never been inducted into the joys of waiting for a woman as she talks dresses with another woman."
Elena couldn't contain her laughter at the worried look on Bryant's face.
Outside it was nearly as beautiful as the day before, but to Elena, something was missing. She refused to allow herself to think that she missed Gareth's presence, but somewhere in her heart, she knew that's what the problem was.
The walk to the bookseller's shop seemed farther than it had the day before, but once they arrived, Elena forgot the walk, her escorts, and Gareth's absence in her bed. The tiny, cluttered shop was stacked from floor to ceiling, wall to wall with books. Elena was amazed at the quantity, especially considering they were in the far reaches of Wales.
"I've more books than most of the shops in London," a stooped elderly man said from a wooden chair in the corner. He laid down the book he was reading and pushed himself to his feet, his hair a wild tangle of thin white curls.
"Yes, you do." Elena agreed. "How did you come by them all, especially here."
"Think the Welsh are nothing but illiterate shepherds, eh?" Elena was slightly taken aback and embarrassed, but the old man laughed.
"For the most part, we are!" He paused in his laughter to cough and wipe his mouth with a handkerchief. "But having ships in and out of the harbor allows me to gather books from all over the world. Look here," he said, gesturing for Elena to follow him as he wove through stacks of books to the back corner. "This one is from the land of sand and heathens. Look at those letters! I'll never in a thousand