Read Online Forever Knight: Thornton Brothers Time Travel (A Thornton Brothers Time Travel Romance Book 2) by Cynthia Luhrs - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Cynthia Luhrs
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narrowed her eyes and curled her lip. “I despise you. You are rude and arrogant. Nothing more than a misogynistic, hideous man.”
While he might not have understood the meaning of all of her words, he certainly understood the tone. She was furious with him, and for the first time in a long time, ever since that dreadful night two years ago, Robert felt the weight of his choices lighten just the smallest bit.
“We will see if you feel the same after you spend a night in my dungeons.” He left her bellowing at him, cursing like a hardened sailor from the docks.
Chapter Twelve
“Robert, you cannot leave her in the dungeon or treat her thus. You know whence she comes.”
Not wanting any to overhear, he motioned Thomas into the solar. Robert paced in front of the fire.
“You and I both know future girls cause nothing but trouble. ’Tis a wonder my brothers survived. With Connor in the chamber above, ’tis not safe for any at Highworth. If he is found…I will be in the tower, my brothers stripped of land, title, and gold. And Mistress Elizabeth will find herself tied to a stake. You know how future women speak. The king’s men will call her witch.” He paced back and forth across the room, plotting.
“That is why you have treated her harshly. I knew you would not ill-use a woman. Will you send her to one of your brothers? Perhaps Edward?”
Robert stopped pacing. “Nay. Edward is putting down skirmishes and Henry and John have children.”
“Christian would hide her.”
He banged the cup down. “He would woo her.”
“I thought you did not care for her shrewish tongue.”
Robert heard the smile in Thomas’ voice.
“She is not for Christian. I would not have him saddled with such a wench.” Clenching his fists, he stomped across the room. “Radford. She will be safe with him.”
Thomas looked horrified. “Saints, you cannot.”
“He is in favor with the king. The man cannot resist a pretty face. I have heard tell he believes in faeries. He will think her one and hide her away. If I treat her harshly, he will believe it is because in truth I want her or I am afeared of her. He will do anything to have her, so I will wager on her and I will lose. He’s always wanted to best me. Then he will take her and she will be safe with him. He is a lord, and honor bound to treat her kindly, as he would a prized horse.”
Thomas snorted, hand on the sword at his hip. “I do not believe him to be an honorable man. But he would be a wise choice.” He scratched his beard. “You cannot leave her with him overlong. There is something about the man I do not care for.”
Robert resisted the urge to rub his hands together. “He will be so eager to best me, he will not wonder why I let a faerie go. Once Connor has healed and we have helped him escape England, then I will bring her back. She has a sharp tongue; by then he will be happy to be rid of our Elizabeth.”
“Will you help her go back to her time? Send a messenger. Have one of your brother’s wives come. They could talk to her, tell her what needs be done.”
Robert snarled. “You know I cannot. What happened because of my carelessness.”
Thomas shifted from foot to foot. “’Twas not your fault. You could not have known someone would take the information to the king. You could not have known they would kill those they found in the woods.”
His captain put a hand on Robert’s shoulder. “You must let go of the guilt. Tell John what happened. There is nothing to forgive, but he will forgive you. Your brothers must wonder why you have been absent of late.”
Robert grimaced. “I cannot. Not while Connor is here. The risk is too great.” He looked down, remembering when he’d found out what his careless words had wrought. “Mistress Elizabeth is a fine woman, but ’tis not safe for her at Highworth. For if any find out I am aiding Connor, I will be tried for treason and hanged. She would be all alone in this world with no family to
While he might not have understood the meaning of all of her words, he certainly understood the tone. She was furious with him, and for the first time in a long time, ever since that dreadful night two years ago, Robert felt the weight of his choices lighten just the smallest bit.
“We will see if you feel the same after you spend a night in my dungeons.” He left her bellowing at him, cursing like a hardened sailor from the docks.
Chapter Twelve
“Robert, you cannot leave her in the dungeon or treat her thus. You know whence she comes.”
Not wanting any to overhear, he motioned Thomas into the solar. Robert paced in front of the fire.
“You and I both know future girls cause nothing but trouble. ’Tis a wonder my brothers survived. With Connor in the chamber above, ’tis not safe for any at Highworth. If he is found…I will be in the tower, my brothers stripped of land, title, and gold. And Mistress Elizabeth will find herself tied to a stake. You know how future women speak. The king’s men will call her witch.” He paced back and forth across the room, plotting.
“That is why you have treated her harshly. I knew you would not ill-use a woman. Will you send her to one of your brothers? Perhaps Edward?”
Robert stopped pacing. “Nay. Edward is putting down skirmishes and Henry and John have children.”
“Christian would hide her.”
He banged the cup down. “He would woo her.”
“I thought you did not care for her shrewish tongue.”
Robert heard the smile in Thomas’ voice.
“She is not for Christian. I would not have him saddled with such a wench.” Clenching his fists, he stomped across the room. “Radford. She will be safe with him.”
Thomas looked horrified. “Saints, you cannot.”
“He is in favor with the king. The man cannot resist a pretty face. I have heard tell he believes in faeries. He will think her one and hide her away. If I treat her harshly, he will believe it is because in truth I want her or I am afeared of her. He will do anything to have her, so I will wager on her and I will lose. He’s always wanted to best me. Then he will take her and she will be safe with him. He is a lord, and honor bound to treat her kindly, as he would a prized horse.”
Thomas snorted, hand on the sword at his hip. “I do not believe him to be an honorable man. But he would be a wise choice.” He scratched his beard. “You cannot leave her with him overlong. There is something about the man I do not care for.”
Robert resisted the urge to rub his hands together. “He will be so eager to best me, he will not wonder why I let a faerie go. Once Connor has healed and we have helped him escape England, then I will bring her back. She has a sharp tongue; by then he will be happy to be rid of our Elizabeth.”
“Will you help her go back to her time? Send a messenger. Have one of your brother’s wives come. They could talk to her, tell her what needs be done.”
Robert snarled. “You know I cannot. What happened because of my carelessness.”
Thomas shifted from foot to foot. “’Twas not your fault. You could not have known someone would take the information to the king. You could not have known they would kill those they found in the woods.”
His captain put a hand on Robert’s shoulder. “You must let go of the guilt. Tell John what happened. There is nothing to forgive, but he will forgive you. Your brothers must wonder why you have been absent of late.”
Robert grimaced. “I cannot. Not while Connor is here. The risk is too great.” He looked down, remembering when he’d found out what his careless words had wrought. “Mistress Elizabeth is a fine woman, but ’tis not safe for her at Highworth. For if any find out I am aiding Connor, I will be tried for treason and hanged. She would be all alone in this world with no family to
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