A Knight With Grace: Book 1 of the Assassin Knights Series by Laurel O'Donnell Page A

into Bovey, to the warmth and safety she felt in his arms. But she had felt safe in Curtis’s arms, too. Her imagination could be getting the best of her. Still, Curtis had never kissed her. At the memory of William’s kiss, her lips tingled. She sucked in her lower lip. She replayed the kiss over in her mind. She had been shocked, of course, but then... Just as she realized what he was doing, just as she felt his lips on hers, felt the caress of his skin, he had pulled away. He had apologized and said he thought she was someone else. Someone else. She scowled and looked down at her hands entwined in her lap. Did he love someone else? She might have accepted that, except for one thing. Hadn’t he said her name right before he kissed her?
    Emily suddenly burst into the room, disrupting Grace’s thoughts. She rushed over to her like a little whirlwind and looked her over. “What a lovely blue!” Emily exclaimed about the dress she wore. “It accents your eyes!”
    “Thank you,” Grace answered.
    “Do her hair up,” Emily told the servant girl, Anna. Anna bobbed her head and began to unbraid Grace's hair. “Are you comfortable here? Have your needs been met?”
    “Oh yes!” Grace exclaimed. “Thank you for letting me stay. It’s very kind of you.”
    Emily shrugged. “It’s not my place to say. It’s William’s holding.”
    Grace nodded. “I shall thank him.”
    “What do you think of my cousin?”
    Grace glanced at Emily. “Think of him?” she echoed.
    “You are betrothed to him.”
    “Yes. Well... I think he is kind and strong and...”
    “Handsome?” Emily encouraged.
    Grace smiled at Emily’s aid. She thought of William’s strong jaw, his aquiline nose, and those eyes... Heat rose in her cheeks until she had to look away. “Yes. He is very handsome.”
    “He will make a fine husband, wouldn’t you say?”
    Guilt settled over Grace and a solemn mood descended. She had made him promise to help her escape the betrothal. “Yes. I would say that.” He would make a fine husband. A very fine husband. For someone.
    “How could any woman resist him?” Emily wondered.
    “He’s treated me with only respect.” He had acted the part of a chivalrous knight. Better than Curtis ever had. Except for the kiss. And that kiss... That kiss made her feel alive and then disappointed. He had thought she was someone else. An idea came to her. Perhaps Emily would know who the ‘other’ was that William had spoken of. She looked at Emily. “I think he loves another.”
    “William?” Emily laughed but then tried to stifle it. “There has been no one else. In all the years I have known him. No woman has caught his eye.” She moved up to Grace and knelt before her, taking her hands into her own. “Only you.”
    “Me?” Grace echoed, shocked. She shook her head. “You are mistaken.”
    “You don’t see it?” Emily asked. “The way he looks at you? It is as though the sun rises and sets with you.”
    Grace couldn’t believe it. She stared at her dumbfounded. Had she missed it? Or was Emily seeing something that wasn’t there? “It can’t be true.” Because somewhere inside her she wanted it to be true. And no man could ever find happiness with her. Not Curtis. Not her father. Not --
    “It is. And you. How do you feel about him?”
    Troubled by her questions, Grace stared into Emily’s eyes. She didn’t know how to answer. She’d never felt this way about anyone. Definitely not Curtis. He was more like a brother to her. She and Curtis were only friends. This was different. Every time she looked at William, or thought about his strong physique, his dazzling eyes, she felt a warmth blossom in her heart. A tenderness she had never felt for anyone. She was afraid to voice it. Afraid she would be wrong. Afraid he would reject her.
    Emily patted her hand. “You’ll have time, dearest.” She rose and circled her, looking her over. “Perfect.”
    Grace stood and thanked Anna. “Shall we get