Beauty's Curse by Traci E. Hall Page A

healer.” He heard the mad whish of her chained girdle as she paced. “You could die, and then where would we all be? Prince John will probably send another knight to take your place, and at least you are handso—” She stumbled over her word, and Rourke swore he could hear her grind her teeth. “Here. You are already here. This is ridiculous, and you risk too much.”
    Aye, she was quick of wit. He’d not told her that other men were on their way for her hand. But at least she understood that Prince John was serious in his quest to bind her family’s loyalty to him.
    â€œGreat victory takes great risk.” Jamie jumped to Rourke’s defense. “Every knight knows that.”
    â€œDo I look like a warrior to you?”
    Jamie choked. “Nay, lass, ye don’t.”
    Rather than dwell on what Galiana did look like, Rourke emphasized, “The men won’t know that I can’t see—not if we stay with the plan. My sight will return. This is nothing more than an obstacle. If a tree falls in your path, you don’t turn back, do you? No!” Rourke rubbed his hands together, remembering the queen’s teachings with relish. “You cut the tree from the road and make firewood.”
    â€œNot only vanquishing the enemy, but gaining power from his demise,” Jamie finished the lesson while Rourke chuckled.
    â€œYou both are demented,” Galiana pronounced. “Tell me again why I’m aiding your cause?”
    â€œYour rascal of a brother,” Jamie said.
    â€œNed,” Rourke agreed.
    â€œNay, you told me if I married you, he wouldn’t have to go to the tower.”
    Rourke, knowing he was adding fuel to her fury, paused before explaining. “It’s true. You agreed to marry me, and I agreed not to send your brother to the tower for treason—the defamatory letter he was writing, in exchange for the royal dispensation.”
    â€œThen my brother is in no danger,” she said clearly. Rourke was impressed by the tight control she held over her voice, which was sensual and filled with promise even as she kept herself a hair’s breadth away from yelling.
    â€œNot exactly. You see, he’ll still be coming to court with us, and possibly to the tower, depending on your behavior.”
    He heard her gasp of outrage but continued, “So that you do what you’re told to do.”
    â€œOn what grounds would he be admitted, if not for treason?”
    She was smart, Rourke conceded, and single-minded. From his seat before the fire, he pronounced the death knell. “Theft. He pilfered my sack—gave my, well, your ring to the priest.” He patted the spot beneath his tunic where the ring rested, safe on a leather thong.
    â€œSaint Vitus help us, for you’re insane.” Galiana’s voice finally rose, and he imagined that losing her decorum really pissed her off. He didn’t bother hiding his grin.
    â€œI’ll go get the men,” Jamie said before wisely leaving the room, the door slamming closed behind him.
    It was no hardship to keep his grin in place as the delicate clicks of Galiana’s footsteps stalked toward him. He wished he could see her, but everything was a grayish black. Since it wasn’t complete darkness, he didn’t complain.
    Galiana stopped abruptly, then leaned over so her face was in front of his. Mint-scented words bathed his flesh as she spoke with enough charm to rival the queen. “You hold all the power. For now. Be warned, my lord, that if I see a chance to thwart you without harming myself or my kin, I will take it.”
    Amazed, amused, and aroused by her audacity, Rourke reached up, trapping her face between his hands. He brushed her cheekbones with the pads of his thumbs, then lowered her face down, as if for a kiss. But instead of pressing his mouth to hers, he brought her cheek to his. She sighed softly at the contact and didn’t move away when he