Dauntless (Valiant Hearts Book #1) by Dina L. Sleiman Page A
Authors: Dina L. Sleiman
Tags: Adventure and adventurers -- Fiction, Middle Ages—Fiction, Robbers and outlaws—Fiction, JUV026000, Great Britain—History—13th century—Fiction, Nobility—Fiction, Orphans—Fiction, Conduct of life—Fiction, JUV033140, JUV016070
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liability, a part of her longed to dress in fine velvet once again. No doubt that same traitorous portion that longed for love.
She gave one last look to the door. A sturdy door, indeed worthy of a prison, with guards just beyond. She brushed the back of her hand over her belt, but found her dagger—her last hope of escape—missing.
In that moment she decided, if she must face her fate, why not do so with dignity and style? This woman seemed to holdno ill will against her. Perhaps Merry’s future had not yet been determined.
Before the sun traveled far across the sky, Merry stood bedecked in her noble finery. Her tight-laced blue gown swept to the floor with its long elegant sleeves hanging past her knees. As her hair was too short to pull into a braid or twist as befitted a maiden, it had been tucked beneath the scarves of a flowing ivory wimple and secured with a circlet of gold atop her head.
Although her rather benevolent captor had not spared a costly mirror for her tower prison, she could picture herself well enough. The old Lady Merry Ellison had risen from the dead—like a ghost, indeed. She waited at the window, although she could not see the tower entrance, which lay to the back, only the courtyard and market below. No doubt a strategic maneuver on the part of the castle designers.
Even if her men could ascertain her position, the circuitous route from the courtyard near her window to the entrance near the forest would complicate matters.
A scuffle upon the stairs outside her door alerted her that it would not be long now. Men exchanged low, gruff greetings. Then a key turned in the latch.
She braced herself for her first meeting with the famed Earl of Wyndemere.
The door opened, and a figure emerged from the shadows.
Not the broad figure topped with a balding head and greying beard that she expected. Rather, a more slender figure with pale hair and light eyes.
For the second time that day, Merry’s world swirled and grew hazy.
Love, hope, fear, and confusion all battled to the forefrontof her mind. Then in a moment of great clarity, the swirling sensations solidified and formed into a singular emotion. Her world seeped to red in a hot blaze of anger.
How dare he? The treachery! The betrayal! She balled her fists at her sides, as a desire to punch him in the jaw overtook her.
Two armed soldiers entered at his heels.
His eyes met hers, soft at first, then the look upon his face turned to stone. So it seemed he would side with the king against her after all.
“You!” she cried.
It had been Timothy Grey all along.
Chapter 10
They strode toward each other and stopped a mere yard apart. Though Timothy had stood eye to eye with her throughout much of their childhood, he now towered over her.
If for only one moment he had spotted love, even the warmth of friendship upon her determined features, Timothy might have surrendered and swept her into his arms. Instead Merry stood ready to pounce, anger ablaze in her eyes. Hard eyes, despite the soft gown that clung to her feminine curves. A part of him had wished to face her alone, in the woods, with no one the wiser. But she might have fought back, or escaped, or worse yet, talked him into one of her insane schemes.
They took slow steps, circling around each another like two animals poised to attack. Merry Ellison. Indeed a ghost from his past. Though his heart thrilled at the sight of her, she appeared to consider him an adversary. And a worthy adversary she was, a force to be reckoned with.
Merry managed to peer down her delightful slim nose at him.It seemed an eternity passed before she spoke. “I should have known. You shall make your fortune from me yet.”
Her comment struck his heart like a poleax. Surely she knew him better than that. But years had passed. What did they really know about each other anymore? He must convince her that he meant no harm, that his greatest hope was to protect her while still finding a way to administer justice to
She gave one last look to the door. A sturdy door, indeed worthy of a prison, with guards just beyond. She brushed the back of her hand over her belt, but found her dagger—her last hope of escape—missing.
In that moment she decided, if she must face her fate, why not do so with dignity and style? This woman seemed to holdno ill will against her. Perhaps Merry’s future had not yet been determined.
Before the sun traveled far across the sky, Merry stood bedecked in her noble finery. Her tight-laced blue gown swept to the floor with its long elegant sleeves hanging past her knees. As her hair was too short to pull into a braid or twist as befitted a maiden, it had been tucked beneath the scarves of a flowing ivory wimple and secured with a circlet of gold atop her head.
Although her rather benevolent captor had not spared a costly mirror for her tower prison, she could picture herself well enough. The old Lady Merry Ellison had risen from the dead—like a ghost, indeed. She waited at the window, although she could not see the tower entrance, which lay to the back, only the courtyard and market below. No doubt a strategic maneuver on the part of the castle designers.
Even if her men could ascertain her position, the circuitous route from the courtyard near her window to the entrance near the forest would complicate matters.
A scuffle upon the stairs outside her door alerted her that it would not be long now. Men exchanged low, gruff greetings. Then a key turned in the latch.
She braced herself for her first meeting with the famed Earl of Wyndemere.
The door opened, and a figure emerged from the shadows.
Not the broad figure topped with a balding head and greying beard that she expected. Rather, a more slender figure with pale hair and light eyes.
For the second time that day, Merry’s world swirled and grew hazy.
Love, hope, fear, and confusion all battled to the forefrontof her mind. Then in a moment of great clarity, the swirling sensations solidified and formed into a singular emotion. Her world seeped to red in a hot blaze of anger.
How dare he? The treachery! The betrayal! She balled her fists at her sides, as a desire to punch him in the jaw overtook her.
Two armed soldiers entered at his heels.
His eyes met hers, soft at first, then the look upon his face turned to stone. So it seemed he would side with the king against her after all.
“You!” she cried.
It had been Timothy Grey all along.
Chapter 10
They strode toward each other and stopped a mere yard apart. Though Timothy had stood eye to eye with her throughout much of their childhood, he now towered over her.
If for only one moment he had spotted love, even the warmth of friendship upon her determined features, Timothy might have surrendered and swept her into his arms. Instead Merry stood ready to pounce, anger ablaze in her eyes. Hard eyes, despite the soft gown that clung to her feminine curves. A part of him had wished to face her alone, in the woods, with no one the wiser. But she might have fought back, or escaped, or worse yet, talked him into one of her insane schemes.
They took slow steps, circling around each another like two animals poised to attack. Merry Ellison. Indeed a ghost from his past. Though his heart thrilled at the sight of her, she appeared to consider him an adversary. And a worthy adversary she was, a force to be reckoned with.
Merry managed to peer down her delightful slim nose at him.It seemed an eternity passed before she spoke. “I should have known. You shall make your fortune from me yet.”
Her comment struck his heart like a poleax. Surely she knew him better than that. But years had passed. What did they really know about each other anymore? He must convince her that he meant no harm, that his greatest hope was to protect her while still finding a way to administer justice to
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