Stealing a Lady's Heart: A Regency Fairytale (Fairfield Fairytales Book 1) by Tammy Andresen Read Free Book Online Page A

was safe and happy.
    Nick raced into the room, grabbing his brother by the arm. “Graham, you don’t have a boat.”  Nick raised his eyebrows to emphasize his point.
    “I’ll get one.” He walked out of the room and headed back down the stairs.
    Will caught up to him. “This is suicide. You can’t storm a castle by yourself.”
    Graham paused for a second in the entryway. “I can’t leave her with him. She was under our protection, and we are men who do right.”  Graham straightened his shoulders. “I am going after her.”
    Graham’s father approached his three sons. “You’re right Graham. We can’t leave her with that man, but I am afraid of losing you to the Marquess of Huntly. We could wait for the Royal Guard. You would have more strength with numbers. I fear dark forces are at work.” His father’s face crumpled in front of him.
    “We can’t wait that long; it will be too late. I’ll find a way, Father.” Graham started to leave again, but Nick stopped him. He looked into his brother’s eyes.
    “Father, I’m going with him. He’ll never reach the island without help sailing.” Nick clapped Graham on the shoulder.
    “I’m going too,” Tom called as he joined the group. “You can’t storm a castle on your own.”
    “Aw bloody hell, I’m in! I’m sorry, Father, but I can’t leave my brothers to do this alone,” Will said.
    Their father nodded. “It is right and good that you do this together. Now hurry, she doesn’t have much time.” His words held promise, but his face held the anguish of a man who might lose all four of his sons.
    “We’ll bring her back.” Graham grabbed his father’s hand and gave it a squeeze.
    Baron Fairfield nodded as Graham walked through the doors of the manor to finish preparations.
     
    Twenty minutes later the Fairfield brothers set out from the manor on horseback. They were heading for the coastal town of Workington. They knew the roads well and even traveling at night; they would arrive in an hour. The four men rode like the wind down the dark paths.
    Graham tried to focus on this leg of the journey instead of worrying about the mission as a whole. Getting to the castle was only the first hurdle. He had heard stories about the giant monstrosity that was guarded by soldiers. How would he find Charlotte?
    He cast these doubts aside. He would have to find a way.
    Dawn was just breaking when the brothers arrived in Workington. They housed their horses at a familiar barn before making their way to the docks. 
    Nick had a friend who owned a small vessel. His brother had collected all the coin they had between them. He left the bag of money and a note for his friend who would arrive at the docks with no vessel to fish. Graham hoped the money was enough.
    The brothers quickly loaded the supplies from the wagon onto the boat and then Tom took the last horse to the stable while Will stretched out in the bow. “I’m going to get some sleep,” he called, then placed his hat over his face.
    Tom quickly returned and the brothers set sail. The wind was aiding their ocean journey. Nick tapped him on the shoulder. “We’re making good time, you should rest.”
    “I can’t sleep,” he said.
    “Try, it will only help Lady Beaumont’s rescue.” Nick patted his brother again.
    Graham closed his eyes. All he could see was Charlotte’s face as she was hurtling down that rope. He prayed Charlotte was still alive. Fear gripped at his belly. Not even in the Napoleonic Wars had he been this afraid.
     
    By mid-day, the brothers reached the castle. It loomed in the distance, seeming to rise out of the ocean. Nick sailed their vessel around the shore giving the castle a wide birth. As he moved around the east side, Graham could see puffs of smoke rising from the east tower of the monstrous castle. “She’s there.”
    “How do you know?” Tom’s eyebrows drew together.
    “It’s the only tower with a lit fire. He’s a classic villain. Locking the damsel in