She Owns the Knight by Diane Darcy Read Free Book Online Page B

stopped halfway down to wrestle her skirt free of her shoes and, as she jerked the caught material, she stopped long enough to point a finger again.
    “You despicable, loathsome, creep!”
    She was torn between letting him have it and fetching a police officer or two to let him have it. She’d relish seeing the big jerk handcuffed, and face down in the dirt . . . er . . . was that straw? on the floor.
    But her heart pounded and her hands fisted to keep them from shaking. She wasn’t sure she could wait long enough to find an officer, and so, finally freeing the hem of her skirt, she headed toward him, the material of her sleeves fluttering, and her shoes slapping against stone.
    She’d let him have it, and then an officer could let him have it.
    She no longer had any doubt that she was wide awake. This wasn’t a dream, and she wasn’t in a coma. There was nothing like a good gynecological exam to snap a girl out of a delusion. She still wasn’t sure where she was. In fact, the day was starting to blur together.
    How did she get here? No idea. Someone along the way had probably drugged her somehow. Why did they give her an exam? Why was she wearing a medieval dress? Again, no idea.
    Apparently, just because Americans and English people spoke the same language, it did not mean they understood each other’s cultures. She was definitely joining up with a tour group for the rest of her trip. One run by Americans. No more touring foreign countries on her own. What had she been thinking?
    As Gillian finally came to a stop in front of the knight she’d trusted her throat constricted, and tears burned her eyes. Yes, he was big. Yes, he was fearsome. And yes, he was still mind-numbingly gorgeous even with the confused look on his face.
    But she hated him like poison now and wouldn’t be sidetracked. Righteous indignation was on her side. He was going to get it and she was going to be the one to give it to him.
    Gillian lifted her arm and slapped his face as hard as she could, stinging her fingers.
    His mouth dropped and he lifted a hand to his cheek.
    The other men, and the servants in the cavernous room, gasped.
    “Just who,” she poked the knight’s chest hard enough that it hurt her finger which ramped her anger even higher, “do you,” poke, “think you are?”
    The guy captured her hand with his and she jerked away, angry that the big, warm, calloused hand engulfing hers had reminded her of the ride to the castle and the security she’d felt.
    She sucked in a breath. “At your request, I’ve been violated by a group of women. Violated! By women!” Her face burned with remembered humiliation and she swallowed. “Granted, it’s been a very strange day, but who could have expected I’d be given an exam against my will?”
    Gillian’s hand flew wildly in the air and the guy jerked back a step, caution and watchfulness in his expression.
    “And by a woman with extremely dubious sanitary practices, I might add.” Gillian’s entire body flushed again at the memory. “And not only that, but except for my athletic shoes, my clothes have been stolen, and I’ve been stuffed into a hot, heavy, itchy gown.” Beautiful, too, though she’d never admit it now.
    “I want out of this loony bin. I’m going to sue every person here. My trip to England, and probably my next vacation, and maybe even my next house, is going to be paid for, gratis, by you. And by those women, too. How dare they . . . they . . . they . . . well how dare they!”
    The guy continued to look wary and confused, but that was all. She didn’t see a smidgeon of repentance and he didn’t look intimidated in the least. And darnit, she was still attracted to the guy! Tears sprang to her eyes. When he was down on his knees in the dirt, he wouldn’t be quite so attractive, would he?
    Unable to help herself, Gillian gave him a hard shove. He didn’t move, and just continued to stare down at her, that slightly baffled expression on his