Read Online Defiant Surrender by Tamara Gill - Free Book Online

him. His eyes darkened with an unknown emotion as if he fought some inner battle she neither understood nor wanted to.
    “We leave two days hence for Aimecourt. Only a day’s ride from here, we should make the journey safely in daylight. I’ve taken the liberty of informing your maid to pack. We shall be gone some weeks.”
    Maddie’s annoyance instantly disappeared. They were going home. Well, her apparent home in medieval England, in any case. Would the ring be there, by any chance? She could only look and hope for the best. The thought of removing herself from th is time, sent a burst of energized happiness throughout her body. She smiled up at him with the thought that the twenty-first century may be only days away. It was enough to extinguish all irritation at her husband.
    William grunted. “I see this pleases the Lady Madeline.”
    If possible, Maddie felt her smile widen. “It does, my lord, very much so.” As silence ensued, Maddie looked at William only to see his gaze taking in her form. She cleared her throat to gain his attention and inwardly laughed as he masked his features to one of cool indifference.
    “It is only fair your people have the opportunity to see you and your new husband. I will, of course, be bringing Lady Veronica. She will act as your companion.”
    Maddie lost all enthusiasm for the trip. She narrowed her eyes and bit back a horde of curses she longed to fling at him. How dare he.
    “I do not think so, my lord.” Her voice was hard, unmovable. “I will not allow that woman to enter my house. Unless you want to sleep with her outside the castle walls? She’d be more comfortable left here.”
    “Do not presume to tell me what to do, Lady Madeline. I am your husband and what I say is law.”
    Maddie held her ground and refused to give in. As the silence stretched, William shifted his stance and placed a hand upon his sword belt.
    “She is not welcome in my home, nor will you be, shall you think to bring her,” Maddie said unsympathetically. “You may be baron and lord of the manor here, but Aimecourt is my home. You may get away with such activities under this roof, but I will die before I lower myself to allow such under my own.”
    Her words snapped his temper. Grabbing her arm, William dragged her toward a woodshed beside the gatehouse. He ignored her shocked gasp and attempts to dislodge his grip as he led her inside, away from inquisitive eyes. Away from help.
    “I could have you whipped for speaking to me in such a way. Cease this jealousy over Lady Veronica and accept the situation.”
    Maddie puffed out a breath of temper. How dare he think her envious of him and that slut? She couldn’t hate him more than she did at this moment. “I accept it here, my lord. But do not think to bring her with us. Don’t—” she squeaked as his mouth came down, demanding and intent against her own. It quelled her outburst and she stilled. What the hell was he doing? As reality asserted itself, she bit his lip—hard.
    He wrenched away, his hand against his mouth, his eyes astonished. A tiny spot of blood marked his lip. Maddie flicked her hair behind her shoulder and turned to leave. At the door, she paused to look back at him. Still and watchful, his eyes burned with fury at her rebuff. She took in all his form, and then allowed her distaste of him to settle on her features.
    “Don’t think to control me, Lord William. I may be your wife and I may be a woman, but I’d die before I would allow my people to see your degrading treatment of me. They will never see their Lady allow her husband’s whore to sleep with him under her own roof. Now if you don’t mind, I’m going to pack. And if I see you at the carriage in two days, then that is fine. But if you think you cannot spend a month at least without Lady Veronica, I suggest you stay exactly where you are.”
    She walked out and hurried to the security of the castle. She looked toward the smithy and noticed Sir Alex watching her.