He understood the gentle reproach—even if he wasn’t sure he agreed with her. “Yourself.”

She nodded, pleased that he’d guessed.

They had just passed over the second wooden drawbridge and through the final gate before entering the castle when he said, “You and I got off on a bad foot.”

She looked up at him, and the feel of those velvety dark blue eyes on his gave him a little jolt. “Don’t you mean bad ankle?”

He laughed. “Aye, well maybe you are right, but I should like to change it.”

She peered up at him from under her lashes almost shyly. “I should like that, too.”

“Good—”

The rest of what he’d been about to say was cut off by a man who’d emerged from a crowd in the yard.

“There you are,” the man boomed, walking toward them.

Alex stiffened. Bloody hell, Despenser was back.

“I was about to come looking for you,” he added. Despenser’s eyes had been fixed on Joan, but now they slid to Lady Alice. “Your maid said you’d been gone some time.”

“There was no cause for concern,” Lady Margaret interjected, turning to Alex with an appreciative smile. “Sir Alex was generous enough to escort us.”

“I can see that,” Sir Hugh said through a very narrowed gaze directed at Alex.

His displeasure was obvious. Alex didn’t give a shite, but Lady Joan hastened to explain. “The fair was more crowded than we expected. When we ran into Sir Alex he insisted on accompanying us.”

Alex gritted his teeth. It was clear what she was trying to do. She didn’t want there to be any misunderstandings about their relationship.

The explanation seemed to serve its intent in mollifying the young lord.

It didn’t, however, have the same effect on Alex. He was getting that possessive, protective feeling again racing through his veins, and he knew he better remove himself before he did or said something to ruin the tentative truce he and Lady Joan had just forged. Like maybe smashing his fist through Despenser’s pretty teeth.

With a short bow to the ladies, Alex excused himself and walked away. While he still could.

Chapter 10

10

THIS WAS A mistake. Joan’s instincts were screaming again, but she’d put Sir Hugh off for as long as she could.

It should be safe enough, she thought with an uneasy glance around as they entered the quiet stables. But the soldiers were still practicing in the yard nearby, and even if quiet now, the stables would not be for long.

Anticipating Sir Hugh’s movements, she spun away from him—and his embrace—as soon as they entered. “Now where is this great hero?” she asked playfully, hands on her hips. “You swore on your honor as a knight that the greatest hero in the castle slept in the barn. I hope it was not a trick.”