Reclaimed by the Knight by Nicole Locke

Author:Nicole Locke [Locke, Nicole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781488086939
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2018-09-01T15:23:11+00:00

Chapter Nine

Silently walking down the steps the next morning, Nicholas still couldn’t get Matilda’s words out of head. And staring at the linen tapestries in his room all night had given him no answers as to why he’d stayed in Holgar’s home as long as he had.

It had all started with a brief walk with Louve to show him more buildings. Then Rohesia’s shrieking. Nothing new. Nicholas could see that now. No other neighbour had reacted because it was a common occurrence.

Nonetheless, Louve had hurried there and, as a result, so had he. Then Louve had left, taken that little girl and hadn’t come back. He hadn’t been concerned. Yet one step into Rohesia’s home and Nicholas’s feet hadn’t moved again.

Rohesia had always been volatile and territorial. So he had been surprised to see Matilda and her father there with her. More than surprised to see the gentle, caring way Matilda had been trying to extract her father from the situation. The Matilda he knew would have said a few firm words to let her know where she stood.

This Matilda had been almost flustered, placating instead. Her behaviour had been incongruous in the woman he’d left behind. There had been strength there. She was no coward, but she acted as if she were timid.

The last time he’d seen Holgar the man had been almost double the weight he was now, and as proud as any king. Now he appeared diminished.

He knew Joan had died, but this kind of change seemed dramatic. It had wrenched something inside him to see the man reduced, because he was someone who had been there for him when his own father had died. Who had watched him grow and agreed he was a good match for his daughter.

Seeing him like that...

Nicholas shook his head and walked directly to the door leading out of the hall. He was grateful that the few people who were beginning their day weren’t asking him questions or enquiring about his health. He’d had all night, but he still needed to sort his thoughts.

He had stayed though he’d had no right being in that house. No excuse. With Holgar there, he had known he wouldn’t confront Matilda. He had stayed because for a moment Matilda had needed him to be there. To chop vegetables and listen to her father. To listen to her accusations and to Holgar and his words.

And that thought had driven a dagger right through his thoughts. Made his sleep restless and forced him up before dawn broke.

He had left all those years ago. They’d argued. He’d had to go because they’d needed coin. Because he had known his duty to his home, his vassals, his tenants. He had known his desire for her.

Yet, underneath it all, he did intend to leave again. How could he possibly stay here? Why would she and Louve want him to? They were doing an excellent job of running and improving Mei Solis. More than that, how had she guessed the truth?

He hated to think that she could still know him.

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