Quick, Amanda by Desire Read Free Book Online

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    The well-dressed lady on the wall had a very personal interest in the knights who were invading her
    domain.
    Gareth knew that he had taken a calculated risk when he had decided to ride over to the wall to confront
    her. He had been a little concerned that she would slip back into the convent garden. But she had done
    no such thing. As he suspected, she possessed far too much feminine arrogance to retreat.
    He had noticed the dirt on her gown as he rode toward her, and told himself it was a good omen. The
    lady of Desire was not above getting her hands dirty.
    Gareth shook off the memories. He tossed aside the herb-scented linen drying cloth and reached for a
    fresh gray tunic.
    As he dressed, he glanced at one of the large tapestries that wanned the stone walls of the chamber.
    Flowers and herbs, the source of Desire's profits, appeared to be a common theme everywhere on the
    isle, he noted. Even the beautifully woven hangings depicted garden scenes.
    This was a land of scented blooms and lush greenery. Who would have guessed that the Hellhound of
    Wyckmere would come to such a pretty, sweet-smelling place to claim his own hearth? Gareth thought.
    But he was well satisfied with the Isle of Desire. He sensed that it held that which he sought.
    He fastened his long leather belt around his hips and then he padded barefooted past one of the narrow
    windows cut into the stone wall. The warm, perfumed breeze made him think of Clare's hair.
    Gareth had been obliged to inhale the scent of her dark tresses as he had carried her before him through
    the village and along the road to the hall.
    The smell of flowers had blended with but had not disguised the sweet, intriguing scent that was hers and
    hers alone. The fragrance had captivated Gareth. She smelled like no other woman he had ever known.
    The subtle, heady perfume combined with the feel of her softly rounded hips pressed against his leg had
    done something to Gareth's insides. A deep, powerful hunger had stirred to life within him.
    His brows drew together and his jaw tightened as he recalled the raw force of that hunger. He would
    have to make certain it stayed within bounds. He had not survived this long by allowing his emotions to
    rule him.
    Ulrich caught his eye at that moment. "So you knew the lady of Desire on sight?" He shook his bare,
    gleaming skull with wry admiration. "I congratulate you, Gareth. As usual, you were quick to add the
    facts together and determine the correct sum."
    "It was not very difficult." Gareth sat down on a stool to pull on soft leather boots. "Enough of that
    discussion. I'm interested to hear whatever you learned about the kidnapping incident."
    "There is not much to tell. As you know, I downed a few mugs of ale with the crowd at the local tavern in
    Seabern last night. The most interesting thing I learned is that all parties concerned, including Sir
    Nicholas, his entire lousehold, and the lady herself, insist that there was no kidnapping."
    Gareth shrugged. "Only to be expected. A lady's reputation is involved."
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    "Aye. The tale is that she made an unexpected visit to sir Nicholas which lasted four days."
    "After which he offered marriage?"
    "Aye. The lady refused." Ulrich chuckled. "You must admit that took courage under the circumstances."
    "That it did. Most women would have yielded to the nevitable." Satisfaction flowed through Gareth.
    His future bride was not one to collapse in the face of blatant ntimidation. He approved of that sort of
    courage.
    Up to a point.
    "By way of excuse she told him that her guardian, Thurston of Landry, had agreed to allow her to
    choose her own husband."
    "That must have been when she decided to write to my father and request a selection of candidates
    for the position."
    "No doubt."
    "It also explains why my father instructed me to waste no time claiming my