The Magnificent Rogue Read Online Free PDF Page B

fear. She had all the weapons in this encounter, and yet she still experienced a moment of uncertainty and regret. There were so few interesting men in the world, and she would probably never see him again. It was a pity she was being forced to sacrifice him to the girl. “Someone must win in every battle.”
    “You have not won yet, Your Majesty.”
    “I have your word.”
    A flicker of indefinable emotion crossed his face. “Yes, you have my word.”
    “Then I have won.” Her lips thinned. “And upon my oath, if I hear of you mistreating her, I’ll send an armada of my own to Craighdhu to punish you.” She crossed the room and shouted, “Percy! Let me out of here. I’m done with him.”
    “That’s not quite true, Your Majesty,” MacDarren said softly. “You’re not done with me yet.”
    “What do you—” She glanced over her shoulder and saw in his expression not only anger but implacable resolution. MacDarren clearly had no intention of permitting her to walk away a complete victor. Perhaps she had been wrong, and she might indeed see him again. It was not a totally unpleasant thought.
    She smiled at him. “Good evening, my lord.” As the door opened, she swept out of the cell.
    •    •    •
    “A bridegroom,” Gavin murmured. “What a felicitous thought. You staying close to the hearth while your meek young wife hovers over her loom sewing a fine—”
    “I’m glad you find this so amusing,” Robert said grimly. “I should have let Her Majesty chop you to pieces.”
    Gavin winced. “The idea is obscene. I choose not to dwell on it. Besides, it’s time you wed. I’ve grown weary of all this traveling about.”
    “Then
you
wed and go sit by the fire.”
    “But no one has arranged such a fine marriage for me.” He quickly changed the subject as Robert shot him a lethal glance. “We go direct to Sheffield?”
    “The queen was most explicit. It appears she’s in a great hurry.”
    “Why?”
    Robert was silent a moment, thinking about it. “Mary. She’s going to let it happen.”
    “You think she’s going to sign the order to execute Mary? But she’s been avoiding it for weeks.”
    And Elizabeth had said twice to him that she did not want to execute Mary of Scotland, Robert remembered. Yet he was well aware that desire and necessity did not always go hand in hand. God knows, some of the decisions he was forced to make as chief of his clan were not to his liking. The urgency with which she had insisted that the removal of Mary’s daughter from England take place at once did not make sense unless she had decided to take that final, deadly step in her dealings with Mary. He said slowly, “I believe she will either sign the order or find a way to have Mary executed that will shift some of the blame from her own shoulders.”
    “So she’s feeling a twinge of guilt and wants the lass away from the uproar before she kills her mother. What a gentle lady.” Gavin shook his head. “You think the girl will bring trouble to Craighdhu?”
    “I won’t let her.”
    “Trouble follows royalty like bees do flowers.”
    “I won’t let her,” Robert repeated, enunciating each word with precision.
    “You’re angry.”
    “Oh, yes.”
    “But you’re going to obey the queen?”
    “I gave my word.” He paused. “But the way I keep it may not be in the fashion she wishes.”
    Gavin gave a low whistle. “We may have some interesting times ahead.” He moved restlessly on his cot. “It’s cold in here.”
    Robert turned his head. “You were hot before. Do you have the fever again?”
    “I don’t think so,” he said.
    Muttering a curse, Robert got up from his cot and threw his own blanket over Gavin. “Don’t lie to me. I’m going to have enough trouble hauling a woman over those mountains in wintertime. Do you think I want to carry your corpse all the way back to Craighdhu too?”
    “May the saints forbid I cause you such trouble.” Gavin settled himself more comfortably