Knight's Caress by Lynette Vinet Read Free Book Online Page B

woman beneath the wild moon?
    She groaned aloud. She had to stop these sinful thoughts. Only God knew the reason for them. As soon as she was returned to Woodrose, she’d seek out Father Ambrose and confess—somehow she’d rid herself of the wanton images of Tedric the Barbarian or go mad in the attempt.
    Out of the corner of her eye, Amberlie watched Tedric until she felt certain he wasn’t going to accost her. A hedge offered cover while she removed her mantle, bliaut, shoes, and stockings. As she entered the water, she wore only her chemise.
    The water felt wonderful and refreshing. She washed away the grime from her night spent upon the dirty rushes and wondered who had kindly covered her with the sheepskin. Perhaps it had been Wick. She’d thank him at a later time. She knew it hadn’t been Tedric—the conceited bully!
    Dipping beneath the slow-moving stream, Amberlie suddenly realized that this must be the same stream that bypassed Woodrose Keep, the very same stream in which the serving women washed the clothes, the same one from which Tedric had snatched her the day before. All she had to do was follow the stream’s current and find her way home, an easy enough feat.
    But how to escape without Tedric seeing her?
    Casting another look in his direction, she saw that he appeared to be dozing. Such a silly trick, she decided. Tedric wasn’t dim-witted enough to actually be sleeping while his prized prisoner bathed. He’d taken a great risk in kidnapping her, but he wouldn’t regain the keep because of it. The reason behind her kidnapping was unimportant to her. All she wanted was to return home and bring down this renegade Saxon with her own knights. But how?
    Wading toward the opposite shore and attempting to run would be a wasted effort. She doubted that she’d get very far before Tedric caught up to her, for apparently he was quite familiar with the woods. Pretending to be involved in her washing, she kept a wary eye upon her captor while her mind revolved like a cart’s wheel until she found the answer.
    She’d simply have to drown.
     

Chapter 6
     

     
    Amberlie noticed a wild tangle of vines to her left, a perfect hiding spot from Tedric. All she had to do was casually wade in that direction, quickly bend down, and never surface again. At least, she wouldn’t surface there . She’d swim back to where she’d entered the stream while Tedric looked for her. Then while he continued searching for her, she’d swim in the opposite direction until she reached Woodrose Keep. As a child, she’d learned to swim in the treacherous Channel that separated France from England. She was certain she was up to swimming against this lackadaisical current.
    Yes, the plan would work. It had to work, but she mustn’t seem too eager to escape. She must put him off guard and not allow him to believe that she had a plan in mind. He must think that she was a silly female without a thought in her head. She ceased bathing and called out to him, “You’re peeping at me!”
    Tedric fully opened his eyes. “Aye, but I wasn’t staring at you. There is a difference.”
    “How smug you are! I see no difference, and I don’t like it. I wish for some privacy.” The whole time she spoke, she moved towards her left while Tedric remained seated, apparently not realizing what she was doing. Perhaps he was truly dense. She found herself strangely disappointed at the knowledge.
    The vines grew thicker. Her figure disappeared behind the wild cluster. Now was her chance!
    Amberlie let out a false scream and dove beneath the water. Tedric had already risen to his feet. By the time he’d splashed into the stream, she was already swimming past him underwater like a slippery eel and heading in the opposite direction. For a second, she surfaced below where she’d entered earlier and caught a breath. She knew she mustn’t let Tedric see her, but she had to see what he was doing. Just as she’d thought, he dove near the vines,