Borderland Betrayal by Samantha Holt Read Free Book Online Page A

arm instead. He rolled his shoulder and grimaced as it twinged.
    That had been Ellise’s fault. He’d spotted her watching them from a distance, her dark lovely looks making her stand out, and the soldier had used it to his advantage. On his bare arm, the wooden waster had hit hard. Damn the woman. First he’d been preoccupied because of her disappearance and now her reappearance had addled his mind.
    He suspected he had an apology to make. He hadn’t handled seeing her again well. But how could he treat her as a casual acquaintance after what had occurred between them? And she had been so calm and indifferent, using that quick tongue of hers to put him in his place. If felt as if that eve had meant nothing to her.
    Did it mean something to him?
    Ack, well, even if it did there was little that could come from it. Even as a noble woman— a noblewoman —he couldn’t very well marry her. A captain like himself needed a woman with a strong highborn family and preferably some riches to her name. And bedding her again was out of the question. It was bad enough he had once. Aye, Ellise was no innocent, but he still should never have taken her in such a manner. It was against everything he stood for. The code of chivalry was meant to protect the weaker members of society. He should not have taken what she offered so easily.
    Aye, he would apologise. After supper. After his meeting with Lord Dominic.
    Taking one last gulp of ale, he swiped a hand across his mouth and took the wooden stairs up to the solar two at a time.
    Lord Dominic awaited him at his desk, a quill in hand. The solar took full advantage of the afternoon sun and it streamed through the green-tinged glass, spilling upon the wooden floorboards in distorted patterns. James strode forward and waited as Dominic finished his missive.
    The Lord laid down his quill and ran a hand through his long dark hair before coming to his feet. “How goes it, James?”
    “Aye, well enough, my lord.”
    “Ack, you need not address me so in private, you know that.”
    James laughed. “Aye, as you will.” The formality came naturally to him but Dominic hated it. As boyhood friends, the distinction between their roles never existed.
    “I hear you took a beating. From a whelp, no less.”
    James touched a hand to his arm, then fisted it at his side. “Not a beating, Dominic. A mere tickle. What did you want with me?”
    “We are to expect a visitor. The Earl of Wighthurst—Lord Edmund Wighthurst.”
    “We’ve not heard from the Earl in many years.”
    “Aye. I extended an invitation to him last Christmas, but he declined. He has had little occasion to visit with us in spite of the proximity of our lands. I will admit to being unsure as to the reason of his visit.”
    James ran a hand across his rough jaw. Whatever the visit meant, it couldn’t be good. Wighthurst was a notoriously ruthless man with great ambitions. “Think you he wishes to involve you in some plot?”
    “Nay, he speaks…” Dominic frowned and shook his head. “He speaks of the reiver threat and extending the hand of friendship.”
    “And you believe this to be true?”
    “I have no reason to believe otherwise, but the reivers have caused little trouble of late. If he wishes for an alliance between us, I can only imagine it is so I will join him in some cause. And I have no wish to be part of any plot involving him.”
    James snorted. “Aye, well we all know you’ll not be easily convinced of any political cause, but does he?”
     “I know not, but this visit makes me uneasy. Why this sudden interest? If it is to do with the troubles in the south, then I want naught to do with it. The crown cares little for our problems, so I do not see why I should care for theirs. Mark my words, James, we shall always be on the outside the law, no matter who sits on the throne.”
    Nodding, James strolled over to the window and surveyed the courtyard. He understood Dominic’s bitterness. The king had helped