A Rough Wooing Read Online Free PDF Page B

There’s no need for bravado,
there’s no one here to deceive other than myself.
    ~~~
    Douglas Elliot’s eyes flew open, but she saw
nothing in the pitch black darkness. She had thought herself too
tense to sleep, and yet she realized a noise had awakened her. Then
she heard the door creak open and her heart began to pound. She
shrank back against the wall and tried to stop herself from
trembling. Who is it? What do they want with me?
    “Come.” The voice was low and compelling.
    Douglas knew who it was immediately. She sat
absolutely still for the count of ten heartbeats, then she got to
her feet and walked slowly toward the voice. She raised her hands
before her until they were touching a leather-clad chest.
“What—?”
    “Hush!” Greystoke took her hand and led her
from the storeroom into a dimly lit passage.
    Douglas had no idea where he was taking her,
but they seemed to be going away from the kitchens, deeper into the
bowels of the ancient castle. He moved silently, like a wary
predator in the forest, and she followed him quietly, hardly daring
to breathe. She noticed a faint glimmer of light and as they moved
toward it she saw it was coming from a wall bracket beside a
heavily studded door.
    She heard Greystoke speak low to the guard
who unlocked the door with a huge iron key, and suddenly they were
outside the castle. Douglas glanced up, saw the stars, and
reassured herself that she wasn’t dreaming. In unison they made
their way across the flagstone yard toward the vast stables.
    “Wait here.” Greystoke’s tone expected her to
obey him. He dropped her hand and strode into the stables.
    Douglas wanted to run. Here was a chance to
escape, and yet she hesitated. She was conflicted. Part of her
wanted to put her trust in the English noble, in spite of an inner
voice that reminded her that she had been arrested on Greystoke’s
orders. How can I flee without a horse? Finally, she decided to
have faith in her instincts.

    She could hear the thudding of her heart in
her ears, as the dark rider approached and reached down his arm.
She put her hand in his and he hoisted her up before him.
    “Your hands are freezing.” He turned her
toward him. “Put them inside my doublet.”
    Douglas did as he bade her, and was amazed at
his body heat.
    It did not take long for Greystoke’s powerful
horse to cover the four miles to Beaumont Hall. With the enchanting
female between his thighs, the ride wasn’t nearly long enough, if
he were being truthful. He rode into the stable, dismounted and
lifted his captive down. Usually he tended his own mount, but when
a stableman roused and came forward, he handed him the reins. He
knew his companion was shivering and he wanted to get her inside,
where the heat from the fires would warm her. When he saw the
stableman’s questioning gaze slide over the redhead, he was
annoyed. Keep your eyes to yourself, man.
    He opened the door and motioned for her to go
before him. She glanced up at the tall case clock in the entrance
hall and saw that it was only a few minutes past midnight. Time
felt like it had stood still while she was imprisoned in the
storeroom. He led her to the large stone hearth, and though the
fire had burned low, it still gave off some welcome heat.
    As Douglas held her hands out to the warmth,
she watched Greystoke throw off his leather jack, then reach out to
take hers. When he removed it, she began to shiver.
    “I know what you need.” Greystoke moved
across the room, poured something into a glass and brought it to
her. “Brandy. Drink up.” His dark eyes watched her closely as she
sipped the fiery liquor.
    Her thoughts darted like quicksilver. I’m
still his prisoner. Can I persuade him to release me? Douglas
counted the things she could use as a bribe. The list was a short
one. She had her body and she had her wits. One thing she knew
instinctively: if a female took the defensive role, a male would
keep her there. She summoned her bravado, and decided to act