“’Tis indeed. Foudre was a gift from my patron, who granted my spurs, my sword and my steed unto me when he knighted me.”
She met his gaze, as if she did not dare to believe him.
Ramsay smiled. “The Baron of Rainfirth.”
She shook her head, apparently marveling. “But how could you know such a man?”
“When my mother returned to Scotland to claim me from my father’s care, she took me to Normandy.”
“When you were a boy,” Evangeline said, proving that she recalled his confession.
“Aye, and I was sent by my uncle, who had no use for me, to the Baron of Rainfirth, an ally whose son was training for his spurs. It was decided that I would be a good foil to that son, who rides yet as my companion, Talbot.”
“The fair man with the beard,” Evangeline said. Ramsay noted how her hand turned within his own and she gripped his fingers.
“The very same. We were knighted together by his father, but then I heard that my mother had fallen ill. On her deathbed, she wished to return to Scotland and begged me to make it so. There was no coin for the journey, so I sold all I possessed to fulfill her demand.”
“Ramsay!”
“And she died nigh as soon as we reached Scotland. I saw her buried and continued to my father’s abode to grant him the tidings.” He grimaced. “And my half-brothers embroiled me in their scheme to reclaim Inverfyre.”
“You thought you might find a family,” Evangeline guessed quietly.
Ramsay shrugged at her insight. “We had little in common, to be sure. I soon realized there was no future in the land of my birth.”
She studied him. “And so you strode into Inverfyre and lied to my father, saying that you had captured Nigel’s betrothed, Aiofe.”
He smiled. “And was cast into the Hole for my audacity.”
She turned to him, his expression so concerned that he was encouraged. “Why did you do as much?”
“I had naught to lose. I thought I might glean some advantage from a union with the Hawk of Inverfyre. Alas, he had no interest in such a venture.” Ramsay shook his head. “I cannot say I blame him for such a choice.” He lifted her hand and kissed its back. “I might have died there, save for your intervention, and I was determined not to waste the opportunity you had granted me.”
“Where have you been these past five years?”
“When I left Inverfyre, I returned to Normandy and found Talbot. I had not asked him for aid when my mother fell ill, but he had learned of my circumstance all the same. He had bought Foudre, as well as my sword and spurs, and held them in trust for me.”
“A true friend,” Evangeline said with approval.
“Aye, and a man raised in such wealth that he did not see the deed with the same import as me. I was determined to repay him, so rode to tournament with him. To my own surprise, I won sufficient coin that first season to repay that debt and more besides. I have returned every spring to tournament with considerable success.” He smiled at her expression of wonder. “I regret to inform you, my lady, that I am not a penniless brigand, but a knight successful at the joust who has earned a fortune in so doing.”
Evangeline was so astonished that he almost laughed aloud. “But if that is true, why are you here?”
“I heard of your nuptials and when I learned the name of your betrothed, I had to warn you. Talbot, Otto and I rode to Scotland with all haste that I might do as much.” He winced. “In truth, they might never forgive me, for Talbot is missing the lists at Tours even now.”
“Ahearn said that Rufus had been in Normandy,” she whispered.
Ramsay nodded, lifting her hand to his lips. He pressed a kiss into her palm, inhaling deeply of the scent of her skin. “That is how I know his deceitful nature. I could not let you wed him without warning you of his truth.”
“Ramsay!” she whispered with awe, then cast herself into his embrace. He was only too glad to catch her close and capture her lips in a triumphant kiss—for all, truly, now went aright.
Save, of course, for Rufus.
Chapter 10
Ramsay was yet a knight—and he was one of affluence. Another might have doubted his assertion but not Evangeline. She was too relieved. She did not have to reform him, for his apparent life was a mere disguise.
That his life should be thus even after his upbringing, after a solitude that had taught him to rely only upon himself, was yet more evidence of the honor of his character. Aye, she had seen the truth of him that first night and was fiercely glad that she had aided him to escape the Hole.
