Vengeance 03 - Believe In Me

Vengeance 03 - Believe In Me Read Online Free PDF Page B

Book: Vengeance 03 - Believe In Me Read Online Free PDF
Author: Lana Williams
voices behind her. Sister Mawde was cooperating nicely with her plan.
    Cristiana dared a look back. No one yet looked for her. Bolder now, she worked her way farther into the woods. Once she escaped, she planned to walk parallel to the road they followed. With luck, William would assume she’d return to the convent when in actuality she planned to continue northeast—far enough away from Longsbury to be safe, yet close enough to begin her search.
    She hurried now , her heart thundering as she walked as fast as she dared. The underbrush caught her skirts, slowing her progress. Again, she glanced over her shoulder but saw nothing nor could she hear voices.
    Though too soon to declare victory, she couldn’t help but smile at her success. Her dark cloak would help hide her and protect her from the branches she passed. The setting sun cast long shadows through the woods and would help conceal her as well. They wouldn’t be able to search for her for long, not with darkness falling.
    A pounding echoed in her head, then in her chest. She put a hand to her heart, but realized the sensation came not from within her, but from without.
    She looked back to see Sir William’s horse bearing down on her. Panicked, she ran. She couldn’t be caught already. Crashing through bushes, past branches that clawed at her cloak, her feet found no purchase on the uneven ground. Still she flew, her muscles protesting with the effort.
    The hammering hooves drew closer. Though she knew she was no match for the horse, she tore through the forest as fast as her legs could carry her. She would not give up.
    “Hold!”
    But she couldn’t stop.
    “Lady Cristiana, hold.”
    “Nay!” she cried out. “Leave me be!”
    “Halt ! Or I’ll do it for you.”
    She glimpsed the horse out of the corner of her eye and at last slowed her pace, her breath coming in gasps from her frantic flight.
    The knight slid off his steed and caught her in his arms. “Are you daft?” He gave her a shake and didn’t let go. “I feared you crazed before, but this proves it true.”
    “If you’d let me —”
    “Have you no idea of the dangers that await you in the woods? Both man and beast would do you harm. You’d never make it through the night unscathed.”
    Her chin went up a notch. “I’m not ignorant of the dangers that lurk here, but I’m willing to take my chances.”
    His gaze burned into hers. “Then you’ ll soon follow your mother to the grave.”
    Pain stole what little breath she had. Tears threatened. Her throat burned with the effort to hold them back. “Do not speak of my mother again,” she whispered.
    The quiet words with all their pent -up emotion struck William. Cristiana’s large brown eyes glistened with tears and remorse filled him. He hadn’t meant to hurt her, only to frighten her into cooperating for her safety and his sanity.
    “My lady, it is my duty to see you safely to Bishop Duval.”
    “I’ve told you I have no desire to go. What I want should matter.”
    Sympathy for her and her predicament pulled at him. “I fear it doesn’t. Not at this moment.”
    “I am a woman grown, not a child.”
    Those simple words turned his awareness to the shapely form in his arms. A woman indeed and a beautiful one at that. His mouth went dry as he looked at her anew. His hands gentled on her arms. A strand of her hair escaped her braid, and he tucked it behind her ear. “A woman for certain, but I cannot grant you what you wish.”
    Those eyes of hers looked up at him, full of emotions and secrets he couldn’t begin to fathom. Her lips parted, her breath still coming fast from her flight through the woods. He hoped his overwhelming desire for her was only because it had been so long since he’d last been with a woman. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have twisted him up like this.
    “William, if you’d please listen to me.” Her husky voice resonated deep within him. Her hands rose to his shoulders as though to force him to heed her
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