Read Once a Knight for Free Online

my husband must noble. My wealth is considerable, so my husband must be wealthy. I am responsible and dedicated to maintaining my wealth and position, so my husband must be equally dutiful. I tested those men who were noble and wealthy to see if they could be molded into fit and responsible mates. Invariably, they fled, but Simon, earl of Goodney will show his nobility by his consistency. I thank you, my liege, for—”
    Running footsteps interrupted her. Before Alisoun could see him, she could hear him—Simon of Goodney, shouting in nasal tones, “Stop. My liege, stop! I refuse! I will not marry that woman.”

3
    The damned witless woman had left without him.
    David stood in the common room of the Crowing Cock Inn, cursing all women and Alisoun of George’s Cross in particular. He’d learned from his wife what idiots they were, but yesterday Alisoun had behaved like an average, rational person. Like a man .
    Now here he stood with her money in his pocket and no way to deliver his services.
    Well, if she didn’t want him, he wasn’t going to chase after her. True, she’d said dawn, and some might even say the sun was now approaching its zenith. But Lady Alisoun ought to realize that when a man drank as much as he had the day before, it would take time to sleep it off. Aye, how could he attend the silly woman with a head that ached and a stomach that rebelled? He’d been doing her a favor by hugging his pillow this morning. Furious, he swung his leg over the bench by a table and bellowed, “Bread!”
    A girl scurried to do his bidding while her innkeeper-father watched with approval. “Will ye be needing more than bread?” the man asked. “We have a hearty venison stew.”
    David looked around the Crowing Cock Inn. No dark, louse-ridden inn would do for Lady Alisoun. She stayed with the best and no doubt thought she deserved it. “Aye,” he snarled. “I’ll have a bowl, and some fine cheese as well.”
    â€œAt once, sir.” The innkeeper himself brought the cheese while the girl presented the bowl. The innkeeper examined David. “Godric, master of this house, at yer service. Ye’re Sir David of Radcliffe.”
    Ah, they still remembered him in the streets. David preened until Godric added, “Ye’re Lady Alisoun’s mercenary, are ye not?”
    David stopped his spoon just inches from his open lips. “Lady Alisoun’s mercenary?” He slammed the spoon onto the table and stood up. “Lady Alisoun’s mercenary? I’m my own man, and no woman owns me.” Glaring around him at the nearly empty common room, he saw the serving girl cower and Godric wring his hands.
    â€œOf course, sir. Foolish of me, sir.”
    â€œThat’s better.” David started to sit, discovered halfway down he’d knocked the bench over when he’d stood, and barely caught himself before his arse hit the ground.
    Godric raced up and settled the bench beneath David, all the while muttering, “Dreadful seat. Horribly unsturdy. Should have had it fixed.” He waited until David had inhaled several bites of the stew before he asked anxiously, “You won’t tell my lady Alisoun that I displeased ye, will ye?”
    David wanted to spit the concoction at the stupidman. Then he faced the truth, swallowed and sighed. He’d been thrown out of lesser inns than this with just one look at his clothing. Godric should have done the same, or at the least demanded to see his coin before he served him. So it had to be Lady Alisoun’s influence. “Why’d she leave so early?” David asked gruffly.
    Godric winced. “She didn’t show it, of course, but I believe my lady felt uncomfortable crossing the taproom yester evening. I tried to discourage the gossip, but the mortification must have been more than she could bear.” He nodded sagely. “What woman wouldn’t be