The Knight by Monica Mccarty Page B

hear it from the young sister who’d always looked up to him as if he were the greatest knight in Christendom.
    “I thought…” He dragged his fingers through his hair again. Christ, there was no excuse. He’d just thought she understood.
    But he would make it up to her—as soon as he found her. He turned and started out of the room.
    “Where are you going?” Elizabeth said.
    “To Hazelside to speak to her father. He’ll know where she has gone.”
    “And you think he will tell you?” Elizabeth laughed, though it was without humor. “Her parents might not know all the details, but they know something terrible happened and that you are to blame. They will not tell you anything. Nor should they. She left Douglas so she wouldn’t be reminded of you and what she lost. If you go after her, you will only bring it all back.”
    “I have to find her. Christ, Beth, I love her.”
    He had to explain—to apologize. He hadn’t been there for her when she needed him, and he would never forgive himself for that. But Jo would. She was the sweetest, kindest, most wonderful woman he’d ever met, and her heart was as big as the sun.
    His young sister looked at him with wisdom far beyond her years. “She is trying to make a new start for herself, Jamie. If you truly love her, you will leave her in peace.”
    He did love her, but he couldn’t do that. For he knew that without her, he would never have a moment‘s happiness. They belonged together. Never did he doubt that for a minute.

CHAPTER EIGHT
     
     
    Jo felt her mouth twitch. The twitch became impossible to control and all at once she burst into laughter. Real, honest-to-goodness laughter. It had been so long, she had begun to wonder whether she’d ever feel the urge to laugh again.
    But it seemed she would and maybe that was all right.
    The loss of her baby would be with her always, but Joanna had survived. Although at the time she hadn’t understood why. She’d blamed herself. All she could remember was wishing that James hadn’t gotten her with child right before falling, and the horrible fear that God had listened to her prayer.
    But she hadn’t meant it, and God would know that. It had been an accident. A horrible, painful accident. But it had made her stronger—and it had chased the last few stars from her eyes. Tragedy had a way of forcing reality upon you, and she could see now all the mistakes she’d made and vowed to never make again.
    It was with a far clearer vision of the harsh realities of the world that Joanna glanced up at the man beside her. It was hard to picture him chasing after a tiny piglet only to be knocked in the backside into the mud by the irritated sow, but his telling of yesterday’s misadventure had pulled the laughter from her chest and put a little joy back in her heart. She thanked him for it. She had much to thank him for.
    “Ah, it is good to hear you laugh like that, lass.” His dark eyes sparkled with mischief. “Though I do wish it hadn’t been at my expense.”
    He was an easy man to like, Sir David Lindsay. Handsome, kind, and with the kind of solid strength that made her feel safe.
    She smiled back at him. “I would apologize, but as I suspect the story had exactly the result you intended, I won’t.” His deepening grin told her she was right. Her expression changed as gratitude swelled in her chest. “You have been a good friend to me these past few months, David, and I thank you for it.”
    He took her hand in his. It was warm and firm, as pleasant and solid as the man himself. The mischief was gone from his eyes, replaced by a deep earnestness. “I won’t press you, but when you are ready, I hope that I can be more than your friend. If I could, I would change everything about that day except for the fact that I met you. You deserve to be happy, Joanna, and I want to be the one to make it so.”
    His declaration wasn’t a surprise. When he’d learned of her intention to leave Douglas, the invitation for her