A Knight to Remember by Maryse Dawson Page B

suffer, Jenny." Stephen manoeuvred his stallion alongside her small mare. "King Edward has a steady hand and the eyes of a hawk."
    "Oh, good. They are such handsome beasts and it seems a shame to slaughter them."
    "Aye, they make a worthy adversary but they also make a fine meal. We hath plenty of them on the land, and if we did not slaughter them, there would be too many to sustain. 'Tis a good thing we do." He rode away towards King Edward to watch the other knights whilst they prepared the stag for transport.
    "In my opinion, thou art weak," a voice hissed next to her.
    Jenny turned to find Marguerite no more than a few feet away, a derisive look upon her face. She'd obviously overheard their conversation.
    Jenny gave a wry smile. "Do you know what they say about opinions, Marguerite?"
    "Nay, enlighten me," she sneered.
    "Opinions are like assholes – everybody has one!"
    Marguerite gasped. "Thou art rude!"
    "No, just honest. You can keep your opinions to yourself in future. I'm not interested!" She kicked her mare into a walk and began to move off, but Marguerite immediately followed and rode by her side.
    "I will see thee ousted from Okehampton," she spat, "Thou must think me a fool to let thee stay under the same roof as Sir Stephen!"
    "What are you gibbering on about?"
    "I knowest thy plan. Thou intends to hath Sir Stephen for thy husband. Well, thee will not!"
    "You're a lunatic, do you know that? Out and out, one hundred percent insane!"
    Jenny shook her head and went to kick her horse into a canter, away from Marguerite and her spiteful words. But Marguerite quickly grabbed hold of Jenny's mare's reins and pulled them tight.
    The startled mare reared back, poking its head in confusion at the mixed signals. Jenny clung to the saddle with one hand whilst slapping at Marguerite's hand to make her release the reins.
    "Let go of my horse!" Jenny snapped angrily.
    "Nay! I will go ahead. Thee can stay at the back, away from Sir Stephen! I belong by his side!"
    "Oh, sod off!" Without thinking of the consequences, Jenny quickly shoved her hands against Marguerite's chest. Marguerite, caught off balance, shrieked aloud and after clutching wildly for the reins, fell off with a thud onto the hard ground.
    Jenny smiled wickedly and looked down at her as she lay sprawled on her back, muttering unladylike expletives. "Now you can follow me !" With a smug grin, she kicked her horse into motion towards the rest of the group.
    She hadn't gone far when a strange keening noise filled the air. She looked around quickly to see that Marguerite hadn't moved and was now clutching her chest, apparently pretending to be injured.
    She spun round in her saddle when she heard the thundering hooves of Stephen's horse pass her by. He came to a halt next to Marguerite and quickly jumped down.
    "Marguerite! Did thee fall?"
    Marguerite sobbed dramatically and clutched his arm. "'Twas Jenny, milord. She pushed me from my mount!"
    "Pushed thee?" Stephen frowned and looked over to Jenny, who swallowed hard and did her best to look innocent. Her eyes flicked to Marguerite just in time to see a smug expression that quickly vanished when Stephen looked back at the woman. "Why would she push thee?"
    "She dislikes me. I know not why. I merely offered to ride alongside her, but she refused, saying she would not ride with...well, I dislike saying such a word...but she said I was a whore!"
    "I did not! You liar!" Jenny exclaimed.
    Jenny watched Stephen's jaw clench with anger. Great, he wasn't going to believe her!
    "I speak the truth, milord." Marguerite continued, "Wouldst thou help me to rise? I fear the fall has made me a little fragile."
    "Fragile! Ha!" snorted Jenny.
    "Jenny! Enough!" Stephen barked at her. "We will settle this back at the castle. For now, thee will behave!"
    King Edward rode up just as Stephen was helping Marguerite into her saddle. "What ails thee, Marguerite?"
    Before she could answer, Stephen stalled her. "Lady Marguerite's horse