The Bride Of Spring. Catherine Archer

Edward’s leaving to heed her. She was shocked at her own lunacy. Even more confusing, why had the baron, a stranger, helped her? She could think of no ready answer and could only feel grateful that he had done so.

      Now more than ever she felt intrigued by the man named Benedict Ainsworth. Recalling the fathomless depths of his dark-lashed eyes, which seemed far too blue to be real, she felt just the slightest bit attracted to him, as well.

      Instantly Raine halted herself, feeling nothing but misgivings over such a thought. She was not interested in him or any other man in that way. She knew what she was looking for and why. Nothing else, no other consideration, must be allowed to interfere in her plans. To allow any other thought was to open herself to possible disaster. William’s welfare must come first and last with her. If there was a possibility that Benedict Ainsworth was the right man to protect William, then she must meet with him, speak with him.

      As she considered how best to try to come into contact with the man again, she felt a strange thrill ripple down her spine. There was no denying that he was the most fascinating man she had ever seen, not just because of his handsomely chiseled face or his obvious physical presence and vigor. The man exuded an air of quiet strength that drew her as a cricket is drawn to the scent of rain.

      Again she told herself she could not allow such a thing to sway her. That having been decided, Raine felt much easier in her interest in the man. She was doing this for William. With a sigh of resolution, she went directly to her assigned chamber. The very tiny room had no window and one large bed with threadbare velvet hangings that might once have been gold but had yellowed to an uninviting shade. It was not an attractive or even a comfortable room, with its well-worn stone floor and roughly made furnishings—a table and two hard benches pulled close to the narrow hearth, which smoked profusely each time it was lit.

      Raine could have been housed with some of the other ladies of the court, but she had not wished to be separated from her brother or Aida.

      They looked up the moment she opened the door. Taking a deep breath, Raine informed them, “Well, my loves, I have just seen our most promising prospect yet.”

      Predictably, Aida got to her feet and began to pace, wringing her hands. “Dear heavens, Lady Raine, are you sure that this is what you should do? ’Haps we should forget all of this talk of finding a husband and go home to Abbernathy Park, leave things as they are.”

      Raine felt herself stiffen. She above all people would like to go home and pretend that everything was well, that they would be fine. That option was not available to her, for Denley would certainly be there the moment she arrived.

      Someone had to see to the future, and she was the only one who could do so, no matter how difficult it might be. But they had been over all of this before. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Aida, please, let us not discuss it all again. I need you to help me now.”

      William, who had been reading a book, laid it gently on the table and fixed her with a thoughtful gaze. “Who is he, Raine? What is he like?”

      Being a newborn babe at the time, he had no memory of the terrible months after their mother’s death. Their father had been so deeply lost in his grief that Raine had been forced to act far beyond her eight years. But William did have some understanding of why she was so determined in this now. He had been at their father’s bedside the night he’d died, knew how serious he had been in his request for Raine to look after everything. None of them had ever expected the elder William to go when his son was so very young. Their father had been in the prime of his life, strong and seemingly invincible in Raine’s eyes. The illness that had taken his life had come on so rapidly that none of them could ever have been prepared for his death.

      And since that time Raine had not allowed herself to feel her own pain, had taken all her anguish and turned it into an unshakable determination to take care of William as her father wished. Her brother was not a robust boy, though he had a soundness of character and intellect that more than made up for it in her eyes. His physical vulnerability only made her all the more resolved to do what she must.

      Quickly Raine told them what had happened in the audience chamber.

      Now William seemed as concerned as Aida. “You hid behind a curtain and eavesdropped upon the king of England and this man? Raine, have you gone completely mad? What would have happened had you been caught? You could have been accused of spying or treason, or…”

      She went to him and laid a comforting hand upon his arm, her tone contrite. “I was not caught.” She suddenly realized how terrible it would have been for him if she had been arrested and accused of some wrongdoing. Who would have seen to William’s interests then?

      “But you could have been. And you say this man saw you? He might still decide to tell someone you had been there.” William’s green eyes revealed concern and a clear sense of his protectiveness toward her, giving her a hint of the fine man he would grow to be.

      Raine spoke with a conviction that came from some inner knowing she could not explain. “Ainsworth will tell no one.”

      Aida’s rejoinder was filled with fear. “How do you know this, Lady Raine? You just laid eyes upon the man.”

      Raine was unable to meet the maid’s searching gaze as she said, “He will say nothing.” That inner knowing seemed only to grow each time she considered the matter. Benedict Ainsworth would not betray her.

      Chapter Two

      Raine readied herself for the meal with even more care than she had shown on previous occasions since coming to court. She was determined to make herself known to Benedict Ainsworth, and prayed he would appear in the hall.

      That she must explain her presence behind the curtain in the audience chamber, she knew. Somehow she would think of something. Her real purpose, that of discovering whether or not Lord Ainsworth would be a suitable guardian for William, was foremost in her mind.

      Raine entered the splendor of the great hall with mixed feelings of dread and anticipation. She paid scant attention to the lush tapestries that lined the walls, the dark beamed ceiling overhead or the elegantly garbed courtiers, who crowded about the tables consuming roast meats, stews, fowl of various varieties, fine bread and copious amounts of wine and ale. She did note, though, that Edward was not in attendance at the high table, for his heavy, carved chair stood empty. Raine felt unaccountably relieved at this, though she was quite sure that Ainsworth had not told him of her presence in his chamber.

      Her mind was firmly fixed on the matter at hand. The thought that she might actually be nearer to accomplishing her goal of finding someone to give William the protection of his name—a husband—was both terrifying and strangely exciting. It was especially so when she recalled how tall and handsome the man under consideration was.

      Raine pushed this last thought away. She could not think about such things. To do so would be to risk allowing them to cloud her judgment about Benedict Ainsworth being the right man to protect William and his lands. And that was all he need do. She had no desire for a true marriage. She had Abbernathy and her brother to look to.

      She squared her shoulders beneath the heavy sapphire velvet of her gown and let her gaze sweep the room. When she did not immediately locate the baron among the throng, she took a deep breath and searched again, more slowly. There was no sign of those unmistakable broad shoulders, nor his raven hair.

      Disappointment made her own shoulders slump. Even though she had known there was no guarantee of his attendance, she had not actually believed Lord Ainsworth would be absent.

      Benedict had considered the notion of joining his men at the inn in which they were staying. There he could dine and drink in relaxed company. He disliked court life at the best of times.

      Yet something made him remain at Westminster. He could not stop thinking of the young woman whose presence in the king’s chamber he had concealed. The more he thought about her, the more he knew that he must discover what she had been doing there. Surely he had been quite mad to shield her as he had.

      His