My Rebellious Heart Read Online Free PDF Page B

before her, tall and commanding, as formidable as a fortress of iron.
    Only now no mockery dwel ed in his countenance. There was only a silent probe of eyes that cut sharp as a blade.
    "This man, milady. Who is he?"
    "His name is Davies," she lied. "He is kin to one of my housemaids, a freeman who has proved his loyalty to my family countless times over the years." A stab of guilt sheared through her, even as she spoke—a part of her was appal ed at how easily the lie came to pass. But she had only to remember how she had held her father's body, all bloodied and dirty, limp and prone and lifeless ... and once again, bitterness sealed her heart. "And how does he know the Dragon?"
     
    "The Dragon sought him out for his skil in bow-making. He is to meet Davies several days hence."
    "Where?"
    She shook her head. "I do not know. Davies thought it best not to tel me."
    Thorne's eyes narrowed. "Why didn't he come to me with this information?"
    "He is Welsh, milord, though he married an Englishwoman. He does not wish to have his identity known for fear of being branded a traitor by his people. And he dare not come to Langley for fear of being branded a liar. He wil meet with you at a clearing in the woods. But he bade me tel you it must be this very night, otherwise it may be too late."
    She held her breath and waited. Her story was wel thought out—indeed, her mind was fil ed with little else on the long ride here.
    Thorne stared at her in silent speculation. Did he dare believe her, considering the outrageous stories he'd heard these past few days? He found himself admitting he could find no fault with her explanation, and yet .,.
    "Your motives. Lady Shana, elude me. Indeed, I must ask myself why you should so trouble yourself."
    Lord, but he was a crafty one! She assumed an outrage that was not entirely feigned. "You forget 'tis I who oblige you, milord!"
    "And I say again, there must be some reward for you."
    Shana tried not to panic, for he stared at her with scorching intensity; those devil's eyes never once strayed from her race. He unnerved her, she realized, as no one had ever done.
    And for all that he was but a man, it was as if he were a wal of stone. She sensed no softness in him, none at al .
    "You are right," she said, her voice very low.
     
    "My reasons for coming to you are not without
    selfishness."
    Ah, so now the tale would finally be told. Thorne arched a brow and waited.
    Her lashes lowered, shielding her expression. "I ... I recently lost someone very dear to me, milord ..."
    "Who?"
    "My husband." She wet her lips nervously and uttered a silent prayer that the Lord would not strike her dead for such blasphemy. "The Dragon himself was responsible for his death."
    The earl's silence was never ending. Shana's nerves were scraped raw. She dared not look at him, for fear she would give herself away and he would discover her deceit. At length he spoke, and there was neither pity nor condemnation in his tone, only a curious whimsy.
    "Somehow you do not strike me as a grieving
    widow."
    Shana thought wrenchingly of her father. "I spend my grief in vengeance,"—she spoke with quiet fervor, for God above knew it was the truth—"a vengeance only you can satisfy, milord." At last she looked at him, and it was al there in her eyes, the bitter ache of her loss.
    Something ... a tingle of warning ... prickled up his spine. It whispered that all was not as it should be. For al that she chanced to meet his . gaze with earnest regard, she was cloaked in mystery ... veiled in secret al ure.
    But her distress was genuine; the pain that shadowed her face was real. And so Thorne dismissed the flicker of disquiet within him, for she was but a woman. Of a certainty she could do him no
    harm.
    He turned and swept her cloak from the chair, then held it out for her with an arrogant arch of jet-black brows.
     
    Shana could hardly believe her good fortune. "You'l come with me to meet Davies?" Even now, her steps carried her blindly