Forever Knight: Thornton Brothers Time Travel (A Thornton Brothers Time Travel Romance Book 2) by Cynthia Luhrs

smiled sweetly. “By your face.”
    He blinked, unsure if she was insulting him or not.
    “I heard voices last night outside my door. Maybe you should rename the place Highworth Prison.”
    He gave her sharp look. “One of my men.”
    “No. This wasn’t an English voice. He sounded Scottish.”
    Robert took a step closer to her, sucking all the oxygen out of the room. While he was rude and arrogant, she had to admit he certainly had the movie star looks down pat. The man could easily grace a Sexiest Man Alive magazine cover. With sun-kissed blond hair and piercing blue eyes, his outer shell was enough to make her swoon. But the fact that he was such a pig kept her upright and immune to the megawatt smile.
    “You are mistaken, mistress. You are the only guest who plagues me so. Besides, we are at war with Scotland. Any Scot found in the castle would be put to death. While I would likely be charged with treason.” He looked down, fiddling with the sword at his hip.
    She looked at the belt he was wearing. The amount of jewels on the belt would provide lunch for a great many low-income children for a year or two. Who was this guy?
    “There are rats in the castle. I’m sure ’tis what you heard last night. Best stay in your chamber so you aren’t bitten.”
    “Like the mythical monster rats in the dungeon?” She gave him her best fake yawn. “Whatever helps you sleep at night.” Elizabeth spotted a smudge of dirt on her forearm. She’d tried to wash the best she could with the rag and basin but must have missed a few spots. The thought of a hot shower made her close her eyes, imagining the heat easing sore muscles. “Any chance I could have a bath? I didn’t see a tub in the bathroom…er…garderobe.”
    “There is no time. Come along. I must win the final two wagers to keep you here at Highworth. Though in truth, I should forfeit and be done with you, troublesome lass.”
    “These stupid wagers are all your fault. I’m done with you and England. Where I come from, you cannot wager a person. Let me leave so I can go home.”
    “’Tis not possible. And you are not in your country; you are in mine. Here you are worth as much to me as a cow. Lord Radford has taken an interest in you. He is a powerful noble with the ear of the king.”
    “Did you call me a cow?” Before she exploded, Elizabeth consciously unclenched her fists and took several deep breaths. She’d learned during the years of protesting how to pick her battles. This wasn’t the time or the place to fight with him. She would wait and find another time. Because one thing she knew…no matter what, she was getting back to her own time and leaving this awful place. Wait until she told Sunshine and Darla what had happened to her. Never again would Sunshine ooh and ahh over a knight from another time. It wasn’t romantic and nice in the past; it was filthy, unsafe, and horrible. But it could be nice. Especially if a certain pig decided to be kind.
    Shut up , she told the voice in her head.
    He opened the door. “Cows do not speak.” The man in the corridor stood to attention as Robert looked her over, tapping his lip. “Nay, I would say you are like a fisherman’s wife, always vexing me.”
    “And you are a slimy slug that crawls around the outside of a trash can.” She took his arm. “I’m famished. Since I can’t have a bath, tell me you at least provide breakfast for the prisoners.”
    He turned that million-dollar smile on her. “I would never starve such a beauty. I am not a barbarian.”
    “Could have fooled me.”
    In the hall, he led her to a seat in the middle of one of the tables. The bowl in front of her looked and smelled like oatmeal. One of the men saw her sniffing.
    “’Tis porridge.”
    “Smells good.”
    He grunted and dug in. There was dried fruit, butter, and cream provided to add to the food. She ate, hungry and grateful for the filling meal. There was wine or ale, so she went with the wine. At least it would warm