A Rough Wooing by Virginia Henley Read Free Book Online

Firebrand.”
    Douglas was lying in such a delicious, warm
cocoon, she didn’t want to awaken. She opened her eyes and saw that
she was lying in Greystoke’s arms. She stretched languidly, and her
bed partner sat up. “It’s dawn. I hate to leave you sweetheart, but
I have to return to Carlisle Castle. I don’t want anyone to know I
left last night.” He dropped a kiss on her vivid curls and threw
back the covers.
    She gave him a tremulous smile and drew the
covers up to her chin.
    “You can spend the day in my library, reading
to your heart’s content. When I return tonight, I’ll take you home
to Castle Elliot.” He tenderly brushed back the tendrils from her
forehead. “You must know I’m reluctant to part with you, but
Beaumont Hall is too close to Carlisle Castle for your safety.”
    Douglas watched him dress, then he kissed her
goodbye, and departed.
    The minute Greystoke left, a picture of Gavin
and Rob rose up in her mind. “Poor Robbie, I hope they don’t hurt
you.” She felt bereft that Greystoke hadn’t offered to release her
brothers. She thought it was the least he could have done in return
for the loving they’d shared. Gavin is a man, but Rob is just a
boy. Douglas was racked with worry.
    She flung off the covers, and used last
night’s bathwater to wash herself. Then she put on the linen shirt
Lance had offered her, and drew on her leather breeches and boots.
She made her plans swiftly, picked up her leather doublet and went
downstairs.
    The servant she had seen the night before
bade her good morning. “Lord Greystoke asked me to prepare
breakfast for you, my lady. Would you like me to serve it in the
library?”
    Douglas gave him a disarming smile “That
would be very kind of you.”
    When she entered the library, she gazed at
all the books, but the large polished desk drew her like a magnet.
She ran her fingers over the intricate vine leaves that decorated
the mirrored pendant, and saw her reflection. Her hair was a
dishevelled mass of red curls, and she immediately tried to smooth
it, then plaited it. Her hairpins lay scattered somewhere in his
bedchamber, and she knew she wouldn’t go back up to retrieve
them.
    She glanced guiltily at the window she had
smashed and saw it had already been repaired with a new pane of
glass. She also noticed a map of the Borders lying on the desk, and
she studied it intently, tracing her finger along the route she
intended to take, and committing it to memory.
    When the servant entered the library with a
breakfast tray, she crossed the room and took it from him. “It
smells good. Thank you so much.” She was glad he had included a mug
of ale and wondered if Greystoke had ordered it for her.
    “Is there anything else I can get you, my
lady.”
    “No, this is perfect. Thank you.”
    When he left, she took it to the desk, sat
down in a chair, and devoured the food as quickly as she could. She
drank the ale and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Then
she picked up the priceless mirrored pendant, fastened it securely
to her linen shirt, lifted its silver chain over her head, then
donned her leather doublet.
    Douglas went to the library window, unlocked
it, raised the sash, and climbed out. She silently lowered the
window, and headed toward the stables. Last night she had seen that
Greystoke’s prize thoroughbreds were safely in their stalls, and
she knew they would still be there. But with any luck some of his
less valuable horses would be out in the pasture behind the
stables.
    As unobtrusively as possible, she made her
way to the field, and heaved a sigh of relief when she saw three or
four horses cropping the spring grass. There was a small mare close
to a barred gate in the stone wall. As she moved around the wall it
blocked anyone from seeing her. The difficult part would be opening
the gate and getting the animal through it.
    It had a bridle, but no bit or saddle of
course, and she was glad she knew how to ride bareback. She moved
quickly,