Read Knight of My Dreams for Free Online

expectantly. Scowling and muttering under his breath, the young knight pulled out the scroll he had been given and handed it to his mother. Lady Fairley unfurled the parchment and looked the names over consideringly. “My, ’tis quite a selection, is it not? You are quite fortunate, Jonathan!”
    Alice’s uncle grunted, leaning over to peer at the list. “Half of them are snaggletoothed hags or harridans. But that still leaves quite a selection.”
    â€œAye.” Lady Fairley nodded. “Perhaps we could remove some right now. Shall we go through them?” When no one dissented, she settled more comfortably on the blanket and started to read off names.
    Alice sat quietly, listening to the roll of eligible women, but was a bit amazed when Lady Fairley followed each name with a favorable comment. Some of the girls were perfectly lovely, or acceptable in both personality and looks, but really, many of the women Lady Fairley was praising were . . . well . . . not praiseworthy. Either Lady Margaret had no clue of the women at court or she simply wanted her son to be married to anyone. While Alice found that a particularly awful concept, she forced herself to keep her thoughts to herself. This was none of her business, after all.
    She could stand it no longer, however, when Heloise of Brock’s name came up. When Lady Fairley commented that the woman was “such a friendly lass,” Alice could not restrain herself. She muttered under her breath, “ Friendly is right. The girl has been ‘friendly’ with almost every single one of the king’s guards.”
    Much to Alice’s chagrin, despite having simply breathed the comment, Jonathan overheard and gave a guffaw of laughter.
    Lady Fairley looked sharply at them. Alice sat up straight, trying to adopt an innocent expression. She suspected she failed miserably. Much to her surprise, it was her uncle who saved her. He nudged Lady Fairley curiously and asked, “Who else is on the list, Margaret?”
    Alice saw Jonathan stiffen at Lord Houghton’s familiar use of his mother’s first name. She sighed inwardly. This was all quite ridiculous.
    â€œLady Rowena,” Lord Jonathan’s mother read, then glanced up to smile at them all. “Oh, she is a delightful young girl—such a lovely personality. You really must consider her, Jonathan.”
    He waited until his mother turned back to the list, then raised an eyebrow in Alice’s direction. She hesitated, not wishing to be rude or say anything to draw Lady Fairley’s quiet ire again, but really, she decided, it would be too cruel not to give some warning regarding Lady Rowena of Wilcox. The woman was sweet as molasses, but her looks left much to be desired. Rowena weighed as much as Alice’s uncle’s prize cow, and unfortunately resembled it as well, with large, bovine eyes . . . which were crossed. Giving in to a devilish impulse, Alice nodded, then puffed out her cheeks and crossed her eyes in imitation.
    A startled laugh burst from Jonathan’s mouth, drawing another sharp glance from his mother. The older woman’s eyebrows drew down in definite displeasure. Alice lowered her head repentantly, grateful when Lady Fairley continued.
    She had gone through three more names, and was praising Lady Blanche for her gentle kindness, before Alice dared glance up. As she did, Jonathan raised his eyebrows questioningly.
    Alice shrugged. She had yet to meet Lady Blanche. Jonathan’s response to her signal was to waggle his eyebrows, then jerk his thumb toward himself and nod. Alice took that to mean he did know the woman, or at least knew of her. She presumed she was correct when he next sucked his bottom lip and the better part of his jaw back, leaving his top teeth naked and protruding outward, while squinting unattractively in an imitation of the lady in question.
    Alice couldn’t stop the laugh that spilled from her