fear kept hidden deep but sensed Rolf knew of it. Many years ago, his father had brought him to Blackthorn while he sought the help of her grandda, old Laird Douglas. That noon, Meghan escaped her nursemaid and hid in the storage area at Blackthorn Castle to play with a kitten.
When he went there to drink from a small cask of wine stolen from the laird’s table, the blacksmith’s cruel son found her. Afraid she would tell, he lifted her high and shook her till she spewed her porridge over his head. After he slapped her hard and she cried out, he clamped a hand over her mouth and
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Sophia Johnson
crept through the shadows of the castle to carry her to the dungeons below. After tossing her in a slimy cell, he slammed the door shut.
It was darker than the deepest night and she couldna see.
She found her way to the door, but she was too small to budge it. Sure that Lucifer lurked, waiting to pull her into a deep pit, she huddled against a wall and cried the night through.
The next day, Rolf, with a frantic Connor following close behind, found her. She never revealed how she came to be there.
’Twas after that that she determined to learn the skills to defend herself.
Once Ede combed the last tangle from Meghan’s hair, Meghan stood and looked about the room. She shuddered.
This was Rolf ’s lair. She had tried hard to ignore that fact. His chain mail hung on the stand, his helmet perched atop it. A black robe hung on a wall peg, with a clothing chest sitting below it.
Earlier when he had dropped her on the bed like he couldna abide her touch against his body, the soft sheets of the bedding had enveloped her in a sensual cloud of his scent.
As if he joined her there. She couldna rest in that bed.
“If he doesna chain me in the dungeon, where am I to sleep this night?”
“Why, with me, Meghan. Now that I no longer have my Angus to share it, I have space aplenty on my bed.” Ede’s hands caressed a soft wool cloak she had folded and placed atop the table. “ ’Tis his clothing you wear. He was not comely or big like Rolf, but he was the only man in the world I would share myself with.”
“Oh, Ede.” Meghan put a hand on the woman’s shoulder.
“Are ye sure ye would have me wearin’ his clothin’? I know not why, but Rolf treats me as his greatest enemy. I would think ye would feel the same.”
“Nay. Never think it.” Ede frowned and would have spoken further, but the armed guard posted outside their door rapped his sword against it and then threw it open.
RISK EVERYTHING
83
“Lord Rolf orders the Lady Meghan to come below.” He scowled and jerked his hand, motioning for her to hurry.
“I ken ’tis time I be carted to the dungeon.” Meghan swallowed her fear and forced her body to stand tall and proud.
She wouldna give Rolf the pleasure of seeing her cowed.
Chapter 9
“Unhand me,” Meghan ordered. Though the guard’s harsh fingers dug into her bruised upper arm, she ignored the pain.
“Do ye think I can escape ye with my feet bandaged and no boots to cover them?”
“I heard tales of how ye can disappear at will. I will take no chances and have me back flayed like he is about to do another’s,” he muttered as he shoved her ahead of him.
Meghan gulped. So, Rolf would tie her to a post and whip her? Why did he bother having Ede tend her wounds if he was about to create more? It didna make sense.
“Hold, guard.” Ede deftly slipped in front of him. “Lord Rolf can wait but a few moments more for you to allow our legs to keep up with yours.”
Meghan knew Ede slowed her steps to make it easier for her to walk with dignity, instead of stumbling about like a drunk varlet. Saints help her. She must look a fright with her bruised face and salves and bandages from head to toes. Thankfully, much of it was hidden beneath her borrowed clothing.
As the guard led her out into the bailey, she feared her heart drummed so loud a toothless old man sitting on the ground could hear it.
When he went there to drink from a small cask of wine stolen from the laird’s table, the blacksmith’s cruel son found her. Afraid she would tell, he lifted her high and shook her till she spewed her porridge over his head. After he slapped her hard and she cried out, he clamped a hand over her mouth and
82
Sophia Johnson
crept through the shadows of the castle to carry her to the dungeons below. After tossing her in a slimy cell, he slammed the door shut.
It was darker than the deepest night and she couldna see.
She found her way to the door, but she was too small to budge it. Sure that Lucifer lurked, waiting to pull her into a deep pit, she huddled against a wall and cried the night through.
The next day, Rolf, with a frantic Connor following close behind, found her. She never revealed how she came to be there.
’Twas after that that she determined to learn the skills to defend herself.
Once Ede combed the last tangle from Meghan’s hair, Meghan stood and looked about the room. She shuddered.
This was Rolf ’s lair. She had tried hard to ignore that fact. His chain mail hung on the stand, his helmet perched atop it. A black robe hung on a wall peg, with a clothing chest sitting below it.
Earlier when he had dropped her on the bed like he couldna abide her touch against his body, the soft sheets of the bedding had enveloped her in a sensual cloud of his scent.
As if he joined her there. She couldna rest in that bed.
“If he doesna chain me in the dungeon, where am I to sleep this night?”
“Why, with me, Meghan. Now that I no longer have my Angus to share it, I have space aplenty on my bed.” Ede’s hands caressed a soft wool cloak she had folded and placed atop the table. “ ’Tis his clothing you wear. He was not comely or big like Rolf, but he was the only man in the world I would share myself with.”
“Oh, Ede.” Meghan put a hand on the woman’s shoulder.
“Are ye sure ye would have me wearin’ his clothin’? I know not why, but Rolf treats me as his greatest enemy. I would think ye would feel the same.”
“Nay. Never think it.” Ede frowned and would have spoken further, but the armed guard posted outside their door rapped his sword against it and then threw it open.
RISK EVERYTHING
83
“Lord Rolf orders the Lady Meghan to come below.” He scowled and jerked his hand, motioning for her to hurry.
“I ken ’tis time I be carted to the dungeon.” Meghan swallowed her fear and forced her body to stand tall and proud.
She wouldna give Rolf the pleasure of seeing her cowed.
Chapter 9
“Unhand me,” Meghan ordered. Though the guard’s harsh fingers dug into her bruised upper arm, she ignored the pain.
“Do ye think I can escape ye with my feet bandaged and no boots to cover them?”
“I heard tales of how ye can disappear at will. I will take no chances and have me back flayed like he is about to do another’s,” he muttered as he shoved her ahead of him.
Meghan gulped. So, Rolf would tie her to a post and whip her? Why did he bother having Ede tend her wounds if he was about to create more? It didna make sense.
“Hold, guard.” Ede deftly slipped in front of him. “Lord Rolf can wait but a few moments more for you to allow our legs to keep up with yours.”
Meghan knew Ede slowed her steps to make it easier for her to walk with dignity, instead of stumbling about like a drunk varlet. Saints help her. She must look a fright with her bruised face and salves and bandages from head to toes. Thankfully, much of it was hidden beneath her borrowed clothing.
As the guard led her out into the bailey, she feared her heart drummed so loud a toothless old man sitting on the ground could hear it.
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