Lords of Desire by Virginia Henley, Victoria Dahl, Sally Mackenzie, Kristi Astor Read Free Book Online Page A

chamber with a polished stone floor and dozens of elaborate brackets holding scores of unlit candles. There was a dais at one end and gaming tables at the other. She knew she’d seen this room before and glanced up at the minstrels’ gallery. “This is where he entertains.”
    Burke nodded and led her through an archway and down a narrow stone passage. “This leads to the oldest section of the castle. It originally housed soldiers garrisoned at Bodiam to defend the coast from French attack. Now it houses the crew of theSeacock. ”
    She sighed inwardly.They’re all off on an adventure.
    There was a round tower at the next corner, but its heavy oaken door was padlocked. A few yards farther along, however, were open steps that led down. “Does Bodiam have dungeons?” Tory asked.
    “Nay, those are water stairs. In times past, boats from the Rother were rowed right under the castle.”
    “Oh, just like the Tower of London. Prisoners were taken through the Traitors’ Gate that way.” She shuddered, imagining haunted spirits from a lot further back than a mere hundred years.
    A half hour later, as they entered one of the square towers, Victoria gasped with delight as she found herself surrounded by books. “Falcon has a library! You may leave me here Mr. Burke, these books will keep me amused for a month or more.”
    “Very good, milady, though I’m amazed you can read.”
    It was brought home to her how blessed she was to have had a modern education. She found a book about Sir Francis Drake.A seaman like Hawkhurst would be drawn to Drake, but I love the parts about Queen Elizabeth. She found a few volumes of Shakespeare and choseOthello; her father had a copy ofMacbeth that she’d read in secret.
    Tory picked out a book that chronicled diary excerpts by Samuel Pepys, written in the time of Charles II. It described the plague and the Great Fire of London in vivid detail.
    She gathered up the books and took them to her chamber. Reading would make the evenings go faster while Falcon was away.
    Something awoke Victoria from a dream. Her chamber was shrouded in darkness and she could see nothing, but her ears were alert for sounds.There it is again—I didn’t imagine it. The heavy thudding came from a distant part of the castle. She sat up in bed and when she swung her feet to the floor it almost felt like she could feel vibrations. She doubted that the thick stone walls of a castle could tremble and realized it was an echo that reverberated on the still night air. She went to the north window and looked out into the darkness. There was no moon and she sensed that it was long past midnight. She crossed to the south window and drew in a swift breath.There’s a light in the tower!
    That’s the one I passed yesterday that had a padlock on the door.
    She stood at the window for the better part of an hour hearing the echo of low thuds and when the tower went dark she remained where she was. She saw nothing but blackness, but soon she heard the sound of waves lapping against stone. She looked down into the moat and knew something unseen moved through the water.
    When all was silent, her imagination began to paint vivid, dramatic pictures in her head.I wager when dawn lights the sky, I’ll see that the Seacockis back. She crossed to the door and listened. Only silence met her ears, but somehow she sensed the moment when Falcon Hawkhurst stole past to his chamber above.
    “Will you stay abed all day, wench?”
    Tory looked up into bold black eyes. “Ah, the Master of Bodiam has returned. Perhaps I should have fled while I had my chance.”
    He cocked a dark, mocking brow. “And miss my entertainment tonight? Not bloody likely. Wild horses couldn’t drag you away.”
    You look remarkably well rested for a man who was stowing contraband all night.“You’re right, of course. I’m looking forward to tonight’s affair.”
    “Good. Chastity is its own punishment,” he teased.
    Her cheeks bloomed rosy. “I didn’t