Read The Chase for Free Online Page B

years. They had failed at the task. She
     could not walk away from an injured animal or man, could not ignore cries of pain, and
     could not leave the Englishwoman to sob her heart out as she had been doing.
    “Yer Lady Helen. I'm Lady Seonaid,” she announced abruptly by way of a greeting.
    “Lady Seonaid? Aye, Sister Blanche mentioned you to me.” There was relief on her face as
     the woman got to her feet. The emotion turned to surprise as she took in Seonaid's height
     and realized she was a good foot taller than herself. “You have been here two weeks, have
     you not?”
    “Aye. I be attemptin' to avoid marryin' an English dog,” Seonaid announced with feigned
     boredom.
    Helen looked startled, then started to laugh. “And I am endeavoring to escape marriage to
     a Scottish pig.”
    “Nay. Really?” Seonaid grinned, then asked, “Well, why did ye no go to an English abbey
     then?” Helen grimaced. “'Twas in Scotland I escaped. I sought the closest haven I could
     find.” “Oh, aye.” Seonaid nodded. “Well, never fear, ye'll be safe here.” “Aye.” The word
     was one of agreement, but her expression was doubtful.
    When Aeldra shifted on her feet beside her, Seonaid suddenly recalled her cousin's
     presence and grimaced at her own bad show of manners. “ 'Tis rude I am. This is me cousin,
     Aeldra. She insisted on accompanyin' me here to keep me safe should I run into trouble.”
    When Helen stared at the woman in question, Seonaid turned to examine Aeldra, seeing her
     as the other woman must. Her blond cousin was her opposite in coloring and height, shorter
     even than Helen herself. Seonaid supposed her cousin's insisting on accompanying her to
     “keep her safe” would sound odd to anyone who had never seen her fight, but Aeldra was a
     wildcat in battle.
    “She's a fair bloodthirsty wench,” Seonaid felt she should explain. “An' nimble too. Show
     'er,” she suggested.
    Nodding, Aeldra turned as if to leave the chapel, took several steps away, then suddenly
     did three backflips in a row. She landed facing Helen on her last spin, a small knife
     drawn and at the Englishwoman's throat.
    “Oh, my,” Helen breathed faintly.
    Seonaid and Aeldra both laughed as the smaller woman stuck her blade back in her deerskin
     boot.
    “Can you teach me that?”
    Aeldra shrugged. “ 'Tis fair impressive to see, but no verra helpful in a real battle. An
     archer would ha' shot me down in mid-flip 'ere I ever got me dagger near yer neck.”
    “Oh. So you will not teach me.” Helen's shoulders drooped. Seonaid and Aeldra exchanged a
     glance. “But I could be teachin' ye something a bit more useful,” Aeldra said. Helen's
     attitude brightened at once. “Truly? Would you?” “Aye.”
    “Oh, my, that would be marvelous. Then should Cameron come for me, I could defend myself.”
    Seonaid's eyes widened. “Cameron? Lord Rollo?”
    Helen grimaced. “Aye”
    She considered. “I have heard nothing to say he be so bad. Now, the man I was to marry,
     he's a dog of the first order.”
    “Who were you to marry?” Lady Helen asked curiously. “Sherwell.” “Lord Blake Sherwell?”
     “Aye, do ye ken him?” Seonaid asked.
    “Aye. Well, nay, I have never met him, but I have heard of him. They call him the Angel.
     He is said to be fair handsome, and quite charming. 'Tis said he has the looks of an angel
     and the tongue of the devil, and betwixt the two could have lured even Saint Agnes to his
     bed.” Helen frowned. “Why would you not wish to marry him?”
    “He be English.” When the woman looked taken aback, Seonaid threw her an apologetic smile.
     “Well, 'tis no just that he be English. He's a cur as well.”
    “Oh.” Helen hesitated, then asked, “Have you met him?”
    “Nay, but me father kenned his father. They were once friends. 'Twas why the marriage was
     arranged, but then the earl showed hisel' to be the cur he is an'...” She