The Magnificent Rogue by Iris Johansen Read Free Book Online Page B

do.” Landfield fixed him with a stern glance. “I’ve been trying to be patient, but I find your interference intolerable, my lord.”
    “How unfortunate,” Robert said dryly. “But if you’ve read Her Majesty’s letter, you’ll realize you no longer have any right to object. The girl is mine.”
    “No!” Landfield took a deep breath and then said with less violence, “I’m sure Her Majesty does not realize what a mistake it would be to take her from my care at this delicate time. She is not ready to be left without supervision.”
    “As her husband, I’ll provide any supervision necessary.”
    “You’ll not be able to provide the guidance she needs. You don’t understand her. If she leaves me now, you’ll undo all I’ve worked to accomplish.”
    “I believe I’m capable of controlling one frail girl.” He smiled grimly. “And, if I have difficulties, I can always drag her behind my horse for a mile or two.”
    “You think me cruel?” Landfield asked harshly. “You know
nothing
. The punishment would scarcely affect her. She has a strength you would find unbelievable.”
    Robert had a fleeting memory of the pitiful fragility of the girl he had just left. Od’s bodkin, the man was crazed. “The matter is closed. Tell your wife to take the water upstairs.”
    “The matter is not closed.” Landfield’s pale eyes blazed with fury. “You will listen to me. I will not seeher sent out into the world to wreak destruction as her mother has done. The queen must have told you whose child she is when she arranged this marriage. Do you know what evil lies waiting within her? Every day she changes and grows more like that Catholic whore at Fotheringhay. You cannot marry her. She must wed no one. She is a Lilith.”
    “Who the devil is Lilith?”
    “The first wife of Adam in Eden, the temptress, the mother of wickedness. Once she has you in her clutches, she will tempt and lure until you are helpless before her. She will mold you like wet clay.”
    Robert heard a sound like a smothered snort from Gavin, standing in the doorway behind him. Gavin’s reaction mirrored his own. The idea of that mud-soaked urchin upstairs being a Lilith and able to turn strong men weak was totally ludicrous. He had had enough of this nonsense.
    “Gavin, go to the kitchen and help Madam take that hot water upstairs.” Robert turned back to Landfield as Gavin left the room and said coldly, “I appreciate your concern, but I assure you I’m in no danger from a fledgling lass.”
    “You think you can master her when I still have not conquered her after all these years?” His lips thinned. “But I
will
conquer her, body and soul. Her Majesty must give me the opportunity. She must not be taken away.”
    He was tired of talking to this vicious old man. “As I said, the matter is closed. We will leave at dawn if the girl is well enough.”
    Two bright spots appeared in Landfield’s cheeks. “You cannot let her—”
    “Robert?”
    They both turned to see Gavin in the doorway, an uneasy expression on his face.
    “She’s gone,” he said.
    Robert stiffened. “What?”
    “She’s gone. The window was open. And …” He waved a hand. “Gone.”
    “How could she be gone? Her chamber is on the second floor, and she could barely lift her head—”
    “I told you.” Landfield smiled triumphantly. “A will of iron. Can’t you see what trouble she will bring you? She needs a firm hand to keep her in—”
    “Come on, Gavin.” Robert cut off the vicar in midsentence as he strode toward the door. “She can’t have gone far, and she’ll be easy to track in all this mud.”
    “Shall I get the horses?”
    “No time. We’ll go on foot.”
    She was being followed!
    Sebastian?
    Kate paused a moment on the trail and caught a glimpse of dark hair and the shimmer of the gold necklace about her pursuer’s neck. Not Sebastian. Robert MacDarren.
    The wild surge of disappointment she felt at the realization was completely