Page 20 of Knight School Chronicles Box Set

H e knew now why Alden and the others had been smirking.

Though he liked the man and could easily count him as a future friend, that he’d not warned Gareth but instead had let him flounder upon seeing Ashcroft’s daughter was something he planned to speak to the man about.

As he sat across from her, more than one possible warning flitted through his mind.

Alden could have said she was the most beautiful woman in England, and he’d have been speaking the truth.

He could have said her hair, lighter than his own, somewhere between black and brown, cascaded beautifully down her back in wave after wave.

He could have said the smattering of delicate freckles across her nose were in contrast with every other feature on her face.

He could have described her big, bold eyes, the color of which he’d spent the entire dinner trying to determine.

Not brown, or blue or green, but some combination of all three.

Alden could have warned him that every move she made was with both confidence and grace, reflecting her noble birth and an inner strength he could admire. When she smiled, her eyes lit brightly as if from within, making it impossible not to return such a smile.

In truth, the woman was extraordinary, unlike any he’d ever met. Instantly drawn to her, Gareth was also aware that she was not the sort of woman for him and likely betrothed to some important noble.

Even so, he could not look away.

“Your move, Sir Gareth.”

With the fire beside them on their right, the table from which they came now being cleared by servants to the far left of them, the pair of them likely made a cozy scene sitting as they were. His mug of ale sat beside her wine at the side of the chessboard.

Gareth suddenly had the strangest notion that he could sit with her each eve like this. Absurd. He did not know her. Nor she him. Neither could they ever be together. But still...

He initiated the King’s Pawn Opening and was not surprised when Lady Evelina mirrored Player White’s move, responding in kind.

“I’ve heard it said you are the greatest tourney player in England. Is such a claim true?”

She spoke softly, each word enunciated clearly. What would it be like to make a woman such as Lady Evelina lose control? A dangerous thought indeed.

“If I were to say aye, ’twould not be very chivalrous of me.”

“Which would not be characteristic of you. I’ve heard it said you are the most chivalrous of men.”

“Have you indeed?” Gareth asked as they continued to play.

“I know of Lord Stirling and Eamon’s—that is, Sir Thorne’s—trick. Bribing your opponent to claim you’d cheated simply to gauge your reaction? I will admit, even for the pair, ’twas quite a deed.”

“They told you of it?”

She did not respond.

“Or your father did so?”

Again, Lady Evelina remained silent. But she did peer up at him from beneath thick black lashes as she moved her knight.

“If I knew you better, my lady, I would say there is something amiss. But I confess to not knowing what it might be.”

That prompted a smile from her. “If by ‘amiss’ you mean that I acquired the information about your recruitment by means I could not possibly consider sharing with a stranger, then aye, you are correct, sir.”

Gareth perused the chess board, taking a sip of ale, and considered his next move. The lovely Lady Evelina was indeed a fine chess player.

“If I were not a stranger, would you tell me then?”

He made his move and sat back, watching her. Attempting not to allow his eyes to linger too long on the swell of breast at her gown’s neckline, Gareth focused instead on those full lips, which were now pressed together in concentration.

Seemingly giving up on her move, she looked up. “Likely not.”

Gareth suddenly had the inclination to be that person to her. The one Lady Evelina might share her secrets with.

“Who would you tell?”

“My maid,” she said automatically. “In fact, Amalia knows already.”

“Does she?” he asked as Lady Evelina made her move. A clever one at that.

Leaning forward, looking left and then right even though they were clearly outside of earshot from any of the servants that remained in the hall, she whispered, “Amalia was there.”

He resisted a smile, intent on taking the matter seriously even as Lady Evelina did just the opposite. She was near to bursting into laughter, making Gareth even more intent on remaining stoic.

“There,” he mused, “implies both you and your maid were in a location to learn of the unfortunate incident, though if not directly from your father or either of the instructors...” He pretended to think on it. “You could not possibly have been eavesdropping, my lady?”

Lady Evelina’s hand flew to her chest. “A lady would never do such a thing.” He was about to ask a follow-up question when she added, “Unless such a lady’s father was not inclined to share relevant information with her. In which case, she may be forced to such extreme measures.”

“If such a lady wishes to know more, I would be inclined to share any details she is interested in.”

Her hand froze before she could reach for her pawn. Instead, Lady Evelina wrapped her fingers around her wine goblet and lifted it to her lips, watching him. She seemed . . . suspicious.

“You would tell me,” she said, after taking a sip, “anything I wished to know?”

“I would.”

“Why?”

“Why would I not?”

Her eyes narrowed. They no longer played chess, but Gareth cared little for the game. He’d much prefer to speak to the enchanting woman across from him instead.

“I am a woman.”

“Very much so,” Gareth said before he could stop himself. Thankfully, she did not take offense. “I do not understand why that precludes a conversation between us.”

“I am accustomed to conversations about”—she nodded to the game between them—“chess. Or the weather. Or Cook’s preparation of the meal. Not of recruitment or politics, or any other topic of substance.”

Her words, coupled with the tone she used, made her meaning clear. Gareth knew of such men. Indeed, they were plentiful, and it seemed her father was such a man. But Gareth was not.

“My mother can, and has, outwitted my father on many occasions. She knows more of politics than he and my two brothers combined, courtesy of her father having raised her to take an interest in such things. I am glad to speak to you on such topics.”

That she seemed so surprised by his admission told Gareth all he needed to know of Lady Evelina’s relationship with her father, of her role here at Ashcroft Manor. And of her opinion of such a role.

“Did they truly bribe a man to accuse you of cheating?”

“Indeed,” he said, attempting not to be distracted by her beauty.

It was difficult, however. Lady Evelina did not seem to know of the effect she had on him.

“I’d just won the Grand Tournament of Henham Moor when my opponent, a German knight, called me a cheater for all to hear.

’Twas nonsensical, not only because I’d not cheated but because he had no specific claims. Later, when Lord Stirling and Sir Eamon approached me, they confessed to having bribed the man to make such claims. The pair wished to learn how I would respond. ”

“And how did you respond?”

“When the host dismissed his claims, he offered recompense, but I declined it. The earnings from my victory, and knowledge of a clean joust, were enough for me.”

“Which is why Lord Stirling claimed you were as chivalrous as your reputation preceded you?”

“I assume so.”

“Why did you come to Blackwood?”

If Gareth had once been embarrassed about his family’s situation, that was in his past. He’d gone from angry to ashamed and then, these last few years, determined to right the wrong.

“My parents supported Empress Matilda from the start. Doing so saw my family’s lands and titles stripped from them. As a third son, I had little recourse but to find a way to restore the family name.”

Lady Evelina smiled. “You did so by becoming the greatest tourney player in England.”

He neither confirmed nor denied it. “And now have the opportunity to more directly impact the outcome of a conflict that has drawn on too long.”

Unfortunately, that would be the end of their conversation. Lady Evelina’s father and his companions strode toward them, confirming his disappointment.

“Your game is stalled,” her father said, his tone almost accusatory. A clearer picture of their relationship formed, and Gareth could admit it did not please him.

He considered saying nothing, asking no questions, but after he’d been forced to bid adieu to the lady, and once back inside the gates of Castle Blackwood, he found himself alone with Sir Eamon.

“Lady Evelina’s father,” he began as they walked away from the stables toward the keep. “He seems a hard man.”

Sir Eamon stopped. Looked at him. For so long Gareth’s brows drew together, but he’d not look away.

“I will give you three facts, my son. Do with them as you will. First, your assessment is correct. Lord Ashcroft has not a tender bone in his body, not even for his own daughter. To him, she is a pawn. He plans to betroth her to the empress’s son once she is restored.”

Gareth’s eyes widened. Lord Ashcroft had high aims, indeed.

“The second fact is, as you may have ascertained, I’ve a fondness for Lady Evelina. She is a kind, intelligent woman who has done much for the people of Ashcroft. I care very much for her happiness.”

Gareth knew little of Sir Eamon beyond that he was a master swordsman, but him being fond of anyone, given his perpetual scowl, spoke to Lady Evelina’s character.

“And the third?”

Again he stared at Gareth for so long that he nearly interrupted the silence.

“The third is that, as the men will likely tell you now that you’ve seen her, most of them had a similar response to her as you. Do not allow any of those facts to be a deterrent.”

With that, the man turned and walked away. What could he possibly have meant?

The answer would have to wait. Something was happening near the entrance of the keep, and Gareth sped up his pace to learn what that something might be.