A Knight's Vow by Gayle Callen Read Free Book Online

her face.
    "Do you have injuries I cannot see?" he demanded. "Does it hurt?"
    "I am fine," she said, trying to pull away.
    "Isabel, do not lie to me! Let me help."
    "He did not harm me." She turned away from him and went to the arrow loop. Leaning against the damp rock, she buried her head in her arms. She heard William approach.
    "I don't understand," he said softly. "What happened? Why did you scream?"
    "He kissed me," she murmured wearily.
    "What did you say?"
    Isabel whirled and faced him, anger rising to flood her mind. "He kissed me!"
    William's mouth dropped open. "That's it?"
    "Do you not see? He did it deliberately, knowing you'd misinterpret."
    The blood drained from his face. "You mean I—I revealed your secret for no reason? I put you in harm's way?"
    "William, it was not your fault. He would have discovered eventually. And I—I was not much help. I reacted badly."
    "My lady, of course you reacted, having a man like that kiss you," he said, and put his hand on her shoulder. "Forgive me."
    Still looking out the window, she patted his hand. She hoped he wouldn't ask what had happened, because she could barely admit it to herself. She had allowed the kiss of her family's worst enemy—and she had enjoyed it. She wanted to groan her mortification, but the boy was upset enough.
    What was wrong with her, that she could find the kiss of a man she hated so wildly exciting? Her body still throbbed from the heat of him, and she felt achingly incomplete. He was a monster, he had raped his betrothed—and would she have allowed him to take her as well? Was she that weak-minded, to be swept away by a sexual desire she had never felt before?
    No, she angrily thought, I would have killed him first.
    "My lady," William said hesitantly, "there might be something to be said about a man who does not wish to use physical violence unless necessary."
    Isabel turned to face him. "What are you saying?"
    "Maybe.. .he is not all bad. He has not harmed
    us."
    "Yet," she added. Her voice rose. "William, he enjoyed forcing me! This is what he does! Do you not realize that this has harmed me, to be made to do something against my will, something so vile?"
    Liar, she told herself.
    William's eyes widened. "Do you think he'll... continue?"
    "Only if he wants to see my blade part his ribs."
    James wasn't about to trust himself near Isabel Atherstone. He sent good food, a basin of water, and a change of garments into the dungeon and left her and her partner alone. He would discover the boy's identity eventually. He reasoned that the Angel must have someplace to sleep nearby, so he sent out soldiers to search for anything unusual, like recent cooking fires, or shelters.
    Within three days they discovered a hut not quite deserted, with a large hidden supply of black
    ribbons. James arrived just as they'd begun to dig up the floor. The dowry money was there, complete and untouched. He promptly sent a missive to King Henry, asking him to take his captive off his hands.
    Two evenings later, James was whistling as he came down for supper. He wore his finest garments to let all his people know that his world had righted itself, that he was once again the very eligible Earl of Bolton. But a muddy messenger waited tiredly beside one of the large fireplaces. James halted on the lowest step, feeling unease lance his stomach. He put on a false smile and went to greet him.
    "Lord Bolton," the man said, rubbing his red beard nervously. He held out a sealed letter. "His Majesty sent me with a message for you."
    James almost wanted to refuse it. Why did he have such a bad feeling about this? He was about to be rid of a thief.
    He took the parchment. "Bring your men in to take supper with us."
    "I've no men, my lord."
    James's mouth went dry. "But surely you need more than yourself to guard two captives."
    The messenger dropped his gaze. "I am traveling back to London alone, my lord. Perhaps you should read the message."
    James grimly opened the parchment and