Knight's Captive by Samantha Holt Read Free Book Online Page B

cover.”
    She took a few moments to gain her bearings. To
see him nimbly climb onto the horse set a fluttering sensation low in her
belly. And now his strong legs clung to the animal while long black boots
emphasised the sheer size of him. When she turned to her own horse, her limbs
felt shaky. It could be from fatigue. It had to be, surely? It took her several
attempts to mount the large horse—it being a few hands bigger than the ones she
was used to. When she was finally on, Henry did not wait. Instead, he kicked
his horse and set off at a blistering pace.
    She tried to keep pace with him while they made
their way down the winding paths. Long grass swished in the breeze, carrying
with it speckles of pollen and sand.
    Had she been looking for other motivation, she
wondered. And if so, why? Did she hope he might
actually care for the welfare of his prisoners? He had, in some ways, cared for
her. He’d offered her drink, food, warmth and a safe place to stay for the
remainder of her captivity. However, that was what almost any man would do with
his honour on the line. He could not be seen to be treating a female prisoner
with anything other than respect. Behind closed doors, however, he could do as
he wished.
    And Henry had not.
    Not yet at least.
    He rode some way ahead of her before pausing and
waiting for her to catch up. She found herself a little breathless from the
ride but invigorated and determined. She would find her father. He had to be
alive. If he was not, she wasn’t sure what would become of her. They would
return to Spain soon now that the invasion had failed. Their original hope had
been to settle in England but their confidence in their forces had been for
naught.
    But if he wasn’t alive, what
then? She had no home, no wealth. Her husband’s wealth had been
returned to the crown because she had never borne sons and her father’s would
do the same. Her dowry would afford her a meagre living indeed.
    Soft sand kicked up around her as they made
their way onto the beach. The harbour they had been brought into could be seen
in the distance and a few men milled around. Several small boats she assumed
were fishing boats were out near the horizon. With the exception of the few
bits of driftwood on the beach, there was no sign that a beautiful ship had
sunk only the day before. Indeed, it seemed as though the invasion had never
happened. After so long trapped in the hull of a creaking, damp ship with scant
rations, the fresh air and good food should have been a welcome relief.
    And they were in some ways. But living as a
prisoner—a prisoner to this man no less—had her stomach bunched in knots.
    Antonia scanned the beach as it curved around
the headland. Great rocks sat at the base of the cliffs and several deep, dark
caverns were carved into it. Would her father be hiding mayhap? He wouldn’t
wish to abandon her, but if he thought he could reach her and escape, she
suspected he would do as much. What if he was taking shelter in one of those?
    Or else he could be dead. Her heart squeezed at
the thought but she couldn’t let herself dwell on it. If she did, the tiredness
and confusion would overwhelm her and that would not do. She had been trying
hard to be brave ever since Lorenzo’s death. If she was to regain her
confidence, it would not do to give into despair.
    Henry slowed again, allowing her to catch up.
    “You really think he could be so far along?”
    “The current had driven the wreckage this far.
It’s possible your father could have been too.”
    Possible but not probable if his grim expression
was anything to go by.
    “My father is strong. He could have swum against
the current.”
    “He is strong, aye, but with a broken leg?” He
shook his head slowly. “You should prepare yourself for the worst.”
    The worst. Had
she not already been through the worst? A mother lost to illness, a vicious
husband, his death and the turmoil it brought, capture by her enemy...Now she
was to lose her