The Taming by Jude Deveraux Read Free Book Online Page A

go somewhere and think, for she had the decision of her life to make. Should she marry a man who smirked at her, who made her wash his clothes?
    â€œI’m sure Liana would love to go with you. Wouldn’t you, Liana?” Helen asked.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œSir Robert has agreed to accompany you on your ride. He will protect you from any harm as well as your own father would, won’t you, Sir Robert?”
    Liana hated the way Helen smiled at the man. Was she actually sleeping with men besides her husband? “And who will protect me from him?” Liana said sweetly, looking at Helen. “But then I wear no jewels, so perhaps I’ll be safe.”
    Helen gave Liana a quelling look. “My stepdaughter is indeed amusing.” She glared at Liana. “But not too amusing, I hope.” She pushed Liana forward. “Go with him,” she hissed.
    Hesitantly, Liana walked through to the outer courtyard, where her horse was stabled.
    â€œI had hoped to win your hand because of your father’s lands,” Sir Robert said in a pleasant voice, “but now that I have seen you, you are a prize in yourself.”
    â€œOh?” She stopped and turned to face him. “Are my eyes like emeralds or sapphires?”
    His eyes widened in surprise. “I would say sapphires.”
    â€œMy skin is like ivory or the finest satin?”
    He gave her a little smile. “I would say the petals of the whitest rose.”
    Her eyes hardened. “And my hair?”
    His smile widened. “Your hair is hidden.”
    She jerked off her headdress. “Gold?” she asked angrily.
    â€œSunlight on gold.”
    She turned away from him angrily and missed seeing Sir Robert’s repressed laughter.
    â€œWould you allow me to escort you on a ride?” he asked politely. “I swear on my mother’s soul that I will not compliment one part of your lovely form. I will call you a hag if you so wish.”
    She didn’t look back at him as she went toward her horse, which the stableboy was already saddling. She didn’t find anything humorous in what he was saying. Of course he’d tell her she was a hag. He’d say anything she wanted him to.
    She ignored him as she rode through the outer gate, across the drawbridge, and toward the nearby forest. She didn’t think about where she was going, but she headed for the pond. Behind her, she knew Sir Robert was having a difficult time keeping up with her, but she didn’t slow down for him.
    When she halted near the edge of the pond, she sat still on her horse for a moment, remembering yesterday, when she’d seen Rogan lying there. She smiled in memory of the look on his face when she’d slammed the muddy clothes into his chest.
    â€œMy lady is as good a rider as she is beautiful,” Sir Robert said as he reined his horse near hers. When Liana started to dismount, he protested that he must help her.
    She spent two hours with him at the pond and found him to be an utterly perfect man. He was kind, considerate, pleasant, and learned, and he treated her as if she were a fragile flower that might break at any second. He talked to her about love songs and fashions and assumed she’d be wildly interested in what was going on at King Henry’s court. Three times Liana tried to direct the talk to land management and the price of wool, but Sir Robert would hear none of it.
    All the time she was with him she kept thinking about the time she’d spent with Lord Rogan. He was a dreadful man, of course. He was dirty, demanding, and arrogant. He’d ordered her about as if she were his slave. Of course she had been dressed as a peasant and he had known he was an earl—or if what Helen had said was true, then perhaps he was actually a duke. But there was something about him, something strong and magnetic that made her able to think of little else except him.
    â€œPerhaps I can teach you the new dance. Lady