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“I think that can be arranged”

Chapter 10

A knock on the door early the nextpulled Reece from sleep He was reluctant to ainst his side fast asleep He probably should answer the door, but the last thing he wanted to do was disrupt the intimacy between his body and Lara’s A second knock pulled Lara abruptly fro at the door apprehensively

“Someone’s at the door,” she whispered

Her led around her beautiful face and he decided what he really wanted to do was pull the covers up over their heads and pretend no one was home

“Sir Reginald It’s Toby I’ve co man called outside the door

“Who’s Toby?” Lara asked

With her blue eyes wide and that bewildered look on her face, Reece couldn’t resist kissing her Just a gentle brush on the lips before he forced hi’s squire perhaps? We can only hope”

Reece crossed the cabin and peeked out the smallbeside the door A blond boy of about twelve years stood on the doorstep with a roll of parch creature in the yard was a sleek, black horse

Reece found his discarded pants and donned therinned at her disappointed pout Reece opened the door, not sure hoas supposed to greet Toby He was thankful that he’d volunteered his nas you here today?”

“A challenge has been issued,” he said excitedly and handed Reece the scroll

Reece accepted the paper and moved into the cabin Toby followed him inside and closed the door Reece unrolled the parchan to read

“G-good , Lady Eleanor,” Toby said

Reece glanced up to see the kid’s freckled face scarlet with e out of bed and trying to keep her nakedness concealed From Toby’s expression, Reece doubted if the lad had ever seen a lady in such a state of undress Lara pulled a blanket fro towards Reece

“Good , Master Toby,” Lara returned “What do you e has been issued?”

Toby pulled his gaze from Lara and looked at the parchment “Lord Abbot has issued a challen

ge A tournahts He says the winner shall claim you as his bride, milady”

“That’s ridiculous!” she said “I’m not a piece of property He can’t offer me as the prize of some competition”

“If we refuse, he will call the law and havewhat he’d read on the scroll “For kidnapping”

“Then we should run”

“Milady,” Toby chastised “A knight would never refuse a challenge How can you even think to ask Sir Reginald to run?”

“Toby, ue,” Reece warned

“You aren’t thinking of running are you?” Toby asked “I’ll fight him myself, just to watch the po his ar a sword

“I’,” Reece assured him But he doubted he had the skills necessary to joust a trained knight Even with Reg’s expertise aiding hi to survive “The joust is to take place toe more carefully Perhaps he and Lara would leap before he entered the arena “And there will be two other events, one chosen by each participant”

“No,” Toby said “This ritten yesterday The tournament is today”

“Today?”

Lara snatched the paper out of Reece’s hand “You have to refuse,” she said, glancing up at Reece Her concern was touching “There’s no way you can win” Okay, that was less than touching