breath rushed from her lips as she tilted her wrists to the stone and sawed back and forth.
Sweat beaded on Leona’s brow. She pressed harder into the stroke and flinched as stone scraped her flesh.
Back. Forth.
Oh, God. Hurry!
Over the rasp of the rope, she strained to hear sounds of Aldwin returning. If he saw what she was doing, he’d be furious. However, she might not get another chance to escape.
She could only imagine what Veronique was asking her father to do now. A memory flashed through Leona’s mind, of Veronique strolling across Pryerston’s bailey when she and the baron first arrived. She’d glanced over the looming keep and its outbuildings with an almost greedy interest. When Leona’s father had greeted her, Veronique had fluttered her lashes in a coy smile and dipped into a curtsy that had displayed a scandalous amount of her cleavage.
Leona’s father hadn’t even appeared shocked.
An angry sob burned Leona’s throat. She rammed her wrists against the stone.
The rope gave.
***
His crossbow at the ready, Aldwin waited for Rom to finish drinking. The river lay like black stone chiseled in small waves by the wind. Reeds stirred close by along the bank, the rustling sound akin to a hidden assailant creeping nearer.
Adjusting his hold on his weapon, Aldwin assessed the patch of reeds. No reason for concern. The noise was caused by the wind, not a human opponent—or a Roman ghost. Those sightings of warrior spirits were mere stories, to keep children from venturing into the dangerous forest.
Shoving a hand through his mussed hair, he thought of Lady L standing alone in the eerie ruins, awaiting the fire and the fare he’d promised. He’d see to those the moment he returned. Caring for Rom had taken priority, for the horse had borne the weight of two riders over a fair distance. Rom deserved a drink and a rest, especially when they’d be traveling on the morrow.
Aldwin trailed his hand down his horse’s silky neck. The destrier had cost him almost his entire savings, but he and Rom would be together for many years. Every knight had a good steed; soon, hopefully, Aldwin would also have those coveted spurs of knighthood.
He thought again of his captive and the way she’d challenged him when he’d told her she was a courtesan. Her eyes lit with golden fire, her expression gut-wrenchingly beautiful, she’d roused in him a wave of desire and fury he could scarcely contain. I am, indeed, of noble blood , she’d said in that throaty way of hers. If you believe you will go unpunished for kidnapping, mistreating, and binding me, you are mad. I will have your wretched arse .
Astonishing, that he could remember what she’d said, for all he could think of while she’d railed at him was hurling aside the rope, clamping his hands on her bottom, and yanking her flush against him for a plundering kiss.
Somehow, he’d managed to rein in that rash impulse. Confronting her point by point—her freckles, work-worn hands, and the like—had been his only way to focus on something other than his need to kiss her.
And, also, from admitting her replies made perfect sense.
If Lady L was a woman of esteemed birth, he’d treated her badly. Many would consider his actions foolish and reckless—just like his firing a crossbow bolt into de Lanceau’s chest—and deserving of punishment.
Rom raised his head, his coat rippling under Aldwin’s palm. As Aldwin took hold of the horse’s dangling reins, he wondered if he’d had any other recourse but to seize Lady L and whisk her off into the night? Nay. His actions had kept de Lanceau’s pendant safe, and if she had any information on Veronique and the baron’s whereabouts, Aldwin’s duty required that he deliver her to de Lanceau for questioning.
“Whoever she is, though,” Aldwin murmured, “we will find out.”
Rom’s hooves scraped on the riverbank as Aldwin turned toward the forest. After tethering Rom in a sheltered spot, he’d start the fire
Sweat beaded on Leona’s brow. She pressed harder into the stroke and flinched as stone scraped her flesh.
Back. Forth.
Oh, God. Hurry!
Over the rasp of the rope, she strained to hear sounds of Aldwin returning. If he saw what she was doing, he’d be furious. However, she might not get another chance to escape.
She could only imagine what Veronique was asking her father to do now. A memory flashed through Leona’s mind, of Veronique strolling across Pryerston’s bailey when she and the baron first arrived. She’d glanced over the looming keep and its outbuildings with an almost greedy interest. When Leona’s father had greeted her, Veronique had fluttered her lashes in a coy smile and dipped into a curtsy that had displayed a scandalous amount of her cleavage.
Leona’s father hadn’t even appeared shocked.
An angry sob burned Leona’s throat. She rammed her wrists against the stone.
The rope gave.
***
His crossbow at the ready, Aldwin waited for Rom to finish drinking. The river lay like black stone chiseled in small waves by the wind. Reeds stirred close by along the bank, the rustling sound akin to a hidden assailant creeping nearer.
Adjusting his hold on his weapon, Aldwin assessed the patch of reeds. No reason for concern. The noise was caused by the wind, not a human opponent—or a Roman ghost. Those sightings of warrior spirits were mere stories, to keep children from venturing into the dangerous forest.
Shoving a hand through his mussed hair, he thought of Lady L standing alone in the eerie ruins, awaiting the fire and the fare he’d promised. He’d see to those the moment he returned. Caring for Rom had taken priority, for the horse had borne the weight of two riders over a fair distance. Rom deserved a drink and a rest, especially when they’d be traveling on the morrow.
Aldwin trailed his hand down his horse’s silky neck. The destrier had cost him almost his entire savings, but he and Rom would be together for many years. Every knight had a good steed; soon, hopefully, Aldwin would also have those coveted spurs of knighthood.
He thought again of his captive and the way she’d challenged him when he’d told her she was a courtesan. Her eyes lit with golden fire, her expression gut-wrenchingly beautiful, she’d roused in him a wave of desire and fury he could scarcely contain. I am, indeed, of noble blood , she’d said in that throaty way of hers. If you believe you will go unpunished for kidnapping, mistreating, and binding me, you are mad. I will have your wretched arse .
Astonishing, that he could remember what she’d said, for all he could think of while she’d railed at him was hurling aside the rope, clamping his hands on her bottom, and yanking her flush against him for a plundering kiss.
Somehow, he’d managed to rein in that rash impulse. Confronting her point by point—her freckles, work-worn hands, and the like—had been his only way to focus on something other than his need to kiss her.
And, also, from admitting her replies made perfect sense.
If Lady L was a woman of esteemed birth, he’d treated her badly. Many would consider his actions foolish and reckless—just like his firing a crossbow bolt into de Lanceau’s chest—and deserving of punishment.
Rom raised his head, his coat rippling under Aldwin’s palm. As Aldwin took hold of the horse’s dangling reins, he wondered if he’d had any other recourse but to seize Lady L and whisk her off into the night? Nay. His actions had kept de Lanceau’s pendant safe, and if she had any information on Veronique and the baron’s whereabouts, Aldwin’s duty required that he deliver her to de Lanceau for questioning.
“Whoever she is, though,” Aldwin murmured, “we will find out.”
Rom’s hooves scraped on the riverbank as Aldwin turned toward the forest. After tethering Rom in a sheltered spot, he’d start the fire
Similar Books
