Delight by Jillian Hunter Read Free Book Online

princess he lured here drank herself into oblivion. Or, more plausibly, perhaps his lordship has his distillery in the dungeon like Uncle Carl."
    "Spirits do not concern me, " Hildegarde admitted. "However, one does not expect a wild creature to become tame simply because he is put in a cage. " She gathered her cloak around her ample figure. " Or castle. "
    Before Rowena could respond, Douglas returned to her side. His even white teeth glinted in a disarming smile that banished Hildegarde's warning from Rowena ' s mind. He offered her the support of his arm again.
    " Let me show you to the solar." He was the essence of solicitous charm. " The servants will bring up your bread and chocolate in a few minutes. Unfortunately, a minor problem has arisen that will require my absence."
    " May I be of any help, my lord? " Rowena asked.
    "You? " he said in astonishment. " Good heavens, Your Highness, I should not dream of your lifting a finger. In fact, I am merely going to drive a village boy to his home—the same boy who delivered that dreadful peat to the castle. The lad was injured in an unfortunate accident on his way here. "
    " How kind of you, my lord, to pay that much personal attention to a child. Few men of your rank would care. "
    The flickering glow of the torches told her nothing of his thoughts. His black eyes absorbed the light. He said, " I want your stay at Dunmoral to be as pleasant as possible. "
    Dragons in their pleasant palaces. The Biblical verse flashed through Rowena ' s mind, but she could not remember what words followed as she laid her hand on his arm again. She seemed to recall something about wickedness and the day of destruction being at hand, and women being ravished—
    I am as foolish as old Hildegarde, she scolded herself, restraining the urge to laugh. Would this man hurt me when he frets over the crumbs on his table? Or is that a masquerade?
    Certainly when she felt his muscles flex beneath her fingers, strength contained in the subtle movement, she did not envision a man obsessed with domestic standards.
    His aura of power aroused powerful feelings inside the princess. Perhaps Hildegarde had good reason to be afraid.
    Pirates were by nature unpredictable. They stole, murdered, and destroyed as did the barons who threatened her father ' s life.
    Matthew was an effective warrior, but he did not think like a barbarian.
    She needed this man.
    Dangerous shivers danced over her skin as he moved his hand to her shoulder, guiding her up the unlit stairwell, into the very heart of his lair.
    " Forgive me for being so bold. " His voice enveloped her like velvet in the darkness. The richness of it raised gooseflesh on her arms. " But the torches have gone out, and I would not want you to slip. The castle poses many hidden hazards. It has a violent history. Some have said it should be destroyed. "
    She felt her heart accelerate. Should she read a warning in his words? "Perhaps its history adds character, " she said quickly.
    " Perhaps," he said at last. "But I would still advise you to be on guard. I would never forgive myself if you were harmed. "
    The air seemed to thicken, to sweeten like the fumes of an exotic incense. Was this desire? she wondered distantly. His heavy-lidded gaze drifted over her. It marked her like a brand. Heat seeped into her skin. His fingers tighten ed imperceptibly around her arm.
    Rowena scarcely dared to breathe. No male except her brothers, who thought nothing of rendering her black and blue, had ever laid a hand on her royal person. Sensations unfurled deep within her, disturbing yet oddly pleasant. Before the rebellion, her papa had been in the process of arranging a marriage for her.
    Rowena frowned at her reaction to this man.
    She had been in the presence of big burly soldiers all her life, her father, her brothers, the hardened mercena ries Papa paid to defend Hartz burg, the intimidating palace guards.
    But none of these men had affected her as did the earl. None of them