Part 32 (1/2)

If she didn't know better, even she would think he spoke honestly.

But unlike Ewan, she knew the heart of this treacherous adder.

”How can you say that, Nora?” Ryan asked, feigning hurt as he clutched his heart. ”Our parents have planned for our marriage since we were children. I love you. I have always loved you. I want no other bride.”

Ewan winced as if he'd been struck.

His eyes were bleak as he met her gaze. ”You lied to me, Nora.”

Panic welled up inside her. She had to make Ewan see the truth. She couldn't let him think that she had lied to him when she hadn't.

d.a.m.n Ryan and his lies.

”Nay, I did not.” She turned on Ryan with a glower. ”Tell him the truth, Ryan, or I'll beat you myself.”

”It is the truth,” Ryan said sincerely. ”Ineed you for my bride. May the Lord Almighty strike me dead if I lie.”

Ewan took a deep breath as he tried to stave off the bitter agony he felt. Something inside him had shriveled with Ryan's words.

So Ryan did love her.

d.a.m.n you, Fate, for replaying this.

It was just as before.

Only this time Ewan would make sure the woman went where she belonged. Nora would go home with Ryan, and he would go back to...

Unable to finish the thought, Ewan turned around and left the pub. The soundless crowd parted, letting him pa.s.s.

Bavel, Lysander, Pagan and Viktor exchanged awkward looks before they followed after him.

Nora started to go after Ewan as well, but her anger with Ryan was too great.

First she had a score to settle.

The crowd surrounding them slowly began to resume their own business and speculate on hers.

”Why did you do that?” she demanded.

”Because Ihave to marry you.”

”Why? You don't love me. You can't even stand me. All you've ever done is berate and mock every part of my person.”

Ryan looked away sheepishly as if the truth were almost too hard for him to face. ”Because I need your dowry. If I don't have it, I will die in less than two months.”

Her shock at his words overrode her anger. That was the last thing she expected, but then given his odd behavior, she shouldn't be surprised by anything he said or did at this point. ”Why?”

Ryan sighed wearily and moved away from the crowd that was still mostly focused on them.

He lowered his voice so that only she could hear his words. ”Remember last spring when I went to the continent?”

”Aye.”

”I went trying to find myself another bride. My mother was pressing me to ask your father for your hand.

She told me that it was past time I settle down and take you for my wife. I was horrified by the very idea of spending my life tied to you. I thought if I could go to the tourney circuit and build a solid reputation and fortune for myself, I would have my pick of brides.”

Nora shook her head at him. ”Oh Ryan.I can best you at swordsmans.h.i.+p.”

His eyes blazed at her. ”I'm notthat incompetent, Nora. I'm just not excellent. Believe me, I need no reminders from you of just how painfully average I am.”

She almost felt sorry for him.

Almost.

But after what he'd done to Ewan, she wasn't anywhere near ready to forgive him for his actions.

”What happened?” she asked.

He rubbed his face with his hand and looked weary and tired. Aged, in fact. ”Every time I lost, I signed vouchers for the value of my horse and armor. I kept thinking that if I could just win one tournament, I would have enough to pay everyone back.”

He let out a long-suffering breath. His eyes appeared haunted and were tinged by humiliation. Now she did feel sorry for him and his foolish quest.

”But I lost time and again,” he continued. ”When the season came to an end, everyone started demanding I make good on my vouchers. I didn't know what to do so I borrowed enough money from Stryder of Blackmoor so that I could come home, marry you, and repay what I owe.”

Nora couldn't believe what she was hearing. ”Stryder of Blackmoor? Are you mad? They say he is the devil incarnate.”

”Aye, but I had no choice. Oddly enough, he alone hasn't pursued me for the money I owe him. But everyone else has hounded me to ground. I have to marry you, Nora. There's no other way.”

Nora pressed her hand to her temple to fight the ache that was starting there as she thought of everything Ryan had put her through.

The fright she'd had reaching Ewan. The worry and fretting. Now he was completely unrepentant for his actions.

She could strangle him!

”I can't believe this,” she said. ”Debt is the only reason you asked for my hand?”

”Well, I do care for you in a pesky little sister sort of way. And you're not bad-looking when you're silent. Unfortunately that is almost never, but-”

”Ryan! I knew you were vile, but this... How could you borrow money and then rely on me as your banker?”

He sighed again. ”I know what I did was wrong. The only way I was able to continue on the tourney circuit was by telling everyone that I was betrothed to King Henry's niece.”

He gave her a pleading, sheepish stare. ”So you see, I do need you, Nora. I really, truly will die without you because if I fail to repay some of the men I owe, they will kill me as an example to others.”

”You don't need me, Ryan,” she said testily. ”What you need is a banker.”