Page 22 of To Honor

“Perhaps, but I would ensure you’ve safely made it back to your maid.”

“You saw Amalia when you arrived?”

“I did. She seemed to be picking herbs.”

“She knows more about them than even the village healer. Amalia wishes to open an herb shop one day, though her parents are farmers and have not the coin for such a thing. She has saved some, and someday, I wish to help her achieve her dream.”

“I am certain you will. Evie, will you return tomorrow?”

She should not, of course. But there was naught Evelina wished to do more in this world than see Gareth again.

“Aye,” she said, not even considering otherwise.

Stepping toward her, Gareth took her hand, lifted it to his lips and kissed it ever so gently. “Until tomorrow.”

“Until tomorrow.”

Between his lips on the back of her hand and the knowledge she would see him again, Evelina fairly floated back down the path. Spying Amalia, Evelina ran to her, tossed her arms around her friend, and hugged her tight.

11

“It has come to my attention that you’ve met Lord Ashcroft’s daughter for the past week.”

When Sir Eamon had asked to speak to him after the training in arms, though Gareth could not guess what the instructor would say, it certainly was not this.

“My lord,” he began, each of his meetings with Evie running through his mind, “I mean no offense.” Except, that meeting an unmarried woman alone was an offense, and both men knew it. “How did you . . .” He thought back, certain he’d never been followed to the village.

“I am complicit in keeping an order of the best knights in England secret from the king. Surely knowing one of my charges is meeting a woman in secret is not a surprise?”

Gareth watched as the leaves’ shadows danced in the field behind his instructor. He’d learned so much already in the short time he’d been here, the thought of leaving . . . of never seeing Evie again . . .

“I will gather my belongings,” he said, knowing there was no hope for it. He’d broken one of the most sacred codes of chivalric conduct.

Evie. She would be as devastated as he. Yesterday, she’d leaned toward him, and he wanted to kiss her. Wanted to touch every single part of her, wanted to make her his. He’d held back, yet should not have. Now he would leave not knowing her touch.

“Why?” Sir Eamon seemed genuinely confused.

“Why?” he repeated, not understanding.

“Why are you gathering your belongings?”

The answer was obvious to him. “Because I’ve dishonored Lady Evelina, the school, you.” He could go on.

Sir Eamon laughed. “Has she met you willingly?”

“Of course.”

“Have you taken her virginity?”

His answer was automatic. “I have not.”

“Then you’ve dishonored no one, my boy.”

Though not true, he appreciated the sentiment. “You are a friend of her father’s.”

“I am an acquaintance of her father. Our cause depends on coin from him, and others like him. I care for Evie as if she were the daughter I never had, which is why we’re having this discussion. Why I, and no others, know of your meetings.”

If the grizzly sword master wanted to berate Gareth for his clandestine meetings with Evie, he was doing a poor job of it. In fact, it almost seemed as if he were doing just the opposite. Wisely, Gareth said nothing and allowed Sir Eamon to take the lead.