Her Rebel Heart by Alison Stuart

dreading what was to come.
    “They slit their throats. Every man. They threw the bodies into the ditch.”
    Dropping the cloth she held, Penitence's hands flew to her mouth and she gave a stifled cry.
    “Charles Farrington,” Deliverance said in a low voice. A man who would kick a puppy to death would have no end to his cruelty.
    “A man who does not respect the rules of war,” Luke responded. “And the castle?”
    Her chin quivered. “They blew it up. My brother...” she sobbed burying her head in her hands.
    Luke squatted down and took the girl's hands in his own. This was war and he knew the atrocities women could suffer at the hands of a triumphant enemy. “And you, lass? Did they...? Did he...?”
    She looked at him and shook her head as she gleaned his meaning. “No...Not that.” She touched her face. “Farrington, he hit me a few times, just to teach me some manners, he said. Then he flung me over the saddle of one of his men with the message I've just given to you.”
    “So we're next?” Luke sounded grim.
    “That's what he said,” the girl replied.
    “Enough,” Deliverance snapped. “Pen, take Lovedie to our room and Meg, organise a pallet to be made up for her.”
    Penitence put her arm around the girl and led her from the room. Meg followed, carrying the basin.
    Luke crossed to stand by the window, looking out over the darkened castle, his shoulders tense and his back ramrod-straight. Ned sat down at the table and began tapping his fingers on the table.
    Deliverance addressed Luke's rigid back.
    “What are you going to do?”
    “The first thing I am going to do,” he said slowly. “Is verify the girl's story for myself.”
    “Don't be a fool, Luke.” Ned rose to his feet. “Byton is an hour's ride away and Farrington could be anywhere between us and Byton.”
    “Farrington will be back in Ludlow,” Luke said.
    “How do you know?” Deliverance asked.
    Luke turned to face the room and shrugged. “I'm guessing that Farrington's returned to Ludlow to report to his father, celebrate his success and gather reinforcements before he marches on us. Ned, send out a scout to report if he's left a guard on the castle. If he's just marched away we will go and see for ourselves at first light.”
    Ned rose to his feet and left the room.
    “It could be a trap,” Deliverance said.
    A thousand thoughts crossed her mind. If he were to be captured on this escapade, what would become of the castle? Of her? She could not imagine how she could sustain a siege without Luke Collyer. He had taught her to depend on him and that thought caused a rush of anger. Before Luke she had managed quite well. She had never been dependent on anyone else in her life and the thought frightened her more than the threat of Farrington.
    “Don't argue with me, Deliverance,” Luke said. “I'm not in the mood.”
    “No, you're feeling guilty,” Deliverance said. “You're thinking that you should have gone to Byton's aid.”
    She could see from the anguished twist of his mouth that she was correct.
    “You wouldn't have achieved anything,” she said. “You said yourself Farrington's men outnumbered anything we have to throw at him and you were right. We had no choice but to stay here. Stay safe.”
    He scowled. “Safe? Deliverance we have less than a hundred men to hold this castle.”
    “Yes, but we have something Byton didn't have and that is ample supplies and a clean water supply and we're well prepared. We can hold out until help comes. If you're riding out into a trap we are losing the only other thing we need...you.”
    To her surprise he laughed. “I thought you would be pleased to see the back of me?”
    She sniffed. “You are quite good at what you do and I've grown rather accustomed to having you around.”
    He crossed over to where she stood and placed a hand on her shoulder. Beneath its warmth and weight, the gesture gave her a curious comfort.
    “You've read all the books, Deliverance. There is no