The Knight and the Dove by Lori Wick Page A

about him.
    “Were you ever a blonde?”
    The question, so innocently put, caused Megan’s entire frame to stiffen and her face to grow rigid. Bracken was amazed at the change in her.
    “You mistake me for my sister, Marigold.”
    “Is she older or younger?” Bracken asked, causing Megan to believe he was truly interested.
    “She is older.” Megan turned her gaze from him now, and her voice became flat. “Marigold’s aspirations go far beyond the title of earl, so I fear you are stuck with me.”
    Megan never did turn her head, or she would have seen the amusement in Bracken’s eyes. He didn’t want Marigold, not after meeting Megan, but he found a bit of jealousy between sisters to be an entertaining thing. It would be some time before he learned that for Megan, Marigold was no laughing matter.

     
    Bracken lay in bed for nearly an hour that night thinking on the day’s events. He knew that Megan had returned to the bedchamber she’d bathed in and wondered if she was comfortable. He mentallyshrugged. As soon as Aunt Louisa arrived, she would live in the tower apartments with her. After living in an abbey, Megan would certainly forgive him one night in a stark chamber. Bracken fell asleep then, but it seemed only moments instead of hours before Lyndon spoke his name in the dark.
    “Bracken.”
    “What is it?” A trained warrior, Bracken was instantly awake.
    “I think you should come to the hall.”
    Bracken rose without question, and after he had joined Lyndon on the stairs, both men stood in awe of the scene below.
    Megan sat in a chair by the fire looking into the flames. She wore a borrowed night garment, coarse and many sizes too large for her. Beyond her chair, standing and still fully dressed, was Arik. As Bracken and Lyndon watched, Megan stood and started for the door, but Arik was there ahead of her, preventing her from reaching for the handle.
    “No, my lady,” his deep, gravely voice could be heard.
    Megan tried to come around him, but he moved to block her. After a moment she returned to the chair, and Bracken walked down the stairs. He stared at Megan as he passed, but went directly to Arik. Before he could question him, Megan was on her feet again. She came to the door. This time Bracken heard her speak.
    “I have to go home.”
    “No, my lady,” Arik said, holding his body between her and the door. Megan’s hands came out as if to push Arik off but no one had moved to touch her.
    “Mother sent me away before my clothes were ready. I have to see Father. I have no brush for my hair.”
    Megan tried to get to the door again, but Arik sidestepped and prevented it. At the same time, Bracken reached gently for her hand, enfolding it in his large one. Megan woke with a start. She stared up at Bracken and then at Arik before reclaiming her hand and tightly folding her arms across her chest.
    “Did I say anything?” she asked, her voice so vulnerable that Bracken’s heart constricted.
    “No,” he lied to her without conscience, knowing that if he told her she would feel shamed.
    “Let me see you to your room, Megan,” Bracken offered. The small redhead nodded and preceded him across the hall and up the stairs.They didn’t speak, and Bracken was glad that Lyndon had made himself scarce. At the same time, another thought occurred to him: The tower apartments were not an option. His intended walked in her sleep. He had never known anyone who did, but a fall down the tower steps could mean her death. Bracken would never take that risk.

Seven
    M EGAN HAD NOT YET MADE an appearance downstairs when Bracken cornered Arik in the great room the next morning.
    “Whether or not you’re in the mood to speak, my great friend, I need to know more about Lady Megan’s actions last night. Did she walk while sleeping in the smithy’s shop?”
    “Every night.”
    Bracken had not been prepared for that answer. It gave him pause, and he stared at the giant knight without really seeing him. He’d been