Joanna Davis - Knights In Shining Armor by Haven; Taken By The Soldier Read Free Book Online

exquisitely made. She had a fine hand for needlework and the eye of an artist. It must have taken her years to create it.
                  He frowned, running his hand over the heavy fabric. Had she destroyed it because of him? Because of what he'd said at the table? He felt hope erupt inside him, all the way down to his bones. No matter how suddenly she had abandoned their secret courtship, it seemed she had cared for him after all.
                  "I'll show ye where she is, if you promise not to harm her."
                  He turned to see Magda, the servant, standing in the entrance to the room.
                  "Why would you do that?"
                  "Because if you don't find her until tomorrow, ye'll be angrier."
                  "That's true."
                  "Swear it."
                  He might have laughed. A Lord bargaining with a serving woman. But he had to find her. If this wench held the key, he'd promise her anything.
                  "I won't harm her."
                  "Very well."
                  She turned and walked to the stairwell. He followed her, straining to hear her words.
                  "She started hiding here after the first time she ran away. When he'd call for her at night."
                  Rowan felt as if a rock dropped in his gut.
                  "She ran away?"
                  The crone laughed.
                  "Aye, and more than once! She didn't much care for the way the master treated her."
                  He frowned. He couldn't tell if the old woman was implying that Emeline was a spoiled girl or if her husband had been cruel to her. He had been a hard man by reputation. Hard and incredibly wealthy, dying without an heir.
                  "He was cruel?"
                  The old woman said nothing, just glanced at him over her shoulder with a look of incredulity. She led him out onto the unused parapet. Halfway across the castle there was a small room built to protect the guards on watch during inclement weather. It wouldn't do much for the cold, but it would keep out the rain and the snow.
                  Magda pointed to it and he brushed past her.
                  "Remember your promise!"
                  He ignored her, an urgency to reach Emeline overtaking him. He pushed the door open and saw her immediately. She was curled up in the corner, huddled into a ball. Her eyes widened when she saw him. He didn't hesitate. He simply lifted her up into his arms and carried her back to the stairwell and down.
                  "Put me down."
                  "No."
                  "Please-"
                  "Shhhhh… we will talk inside."
                  He glanced down at her as they reached the storage room and saw her panicked expression. He squeezed her reassuringly but it only served to make her more fearful. He decided to wait to deal with her fears once they were alone in his room.
                  He stalked down the hallway and kicked open the door to his chamber. Once inside he lowered her to her feet and closed the door firmly, sliding the lock into place. Then he turned and stared at her.
                  "Why did you hide from me Emeline?"
                  "I- was afraid."
                  He took a step forward and she immediately took a step back.
                  "Afraid that I would hurt you?"
                  "I don't know. Yes."
                  He continued walking toward her with steely determination. She continued walking away.
                  "Stop running Emeline."
                  She shook her head violently.
                  "Come