defied convention and time. They were tied to each other in ways the average person wouldn’t understand and while he hated it, he also knew it was necessary. If he had known of this abnormal connection all those years ago, would he have agreed to become what he was?
He strode to the windows to stare out at a darkened Milwaukee. Behind him, he could practically feel Giselle’s bottled fury, the burning hatred for Madelaine she carried with her. It hadn’t been a pretty scene when he told Giselle to hire Madelaine, but he’d won in the end.
He pushed thoughts of Giselle out of his mind and concentrated on the plan he’d devised after seeing Madelaine Alexander’s picture in her hometown newspaper. The article describing the girl who fought off the government and lost had intrigued him. But the accompanying photo of the Countess of Flandres come back to life had possessed him. Immediately he knew she would be a powerful lure Chevalier wouldn’t be able to resist. As Giselle was to him, Madelaine would be to Christien.
She would be his downfall.
She hurt all over, especially between her legs where her husband abused her the worst. But the pain didn’t stop her from making her way to the keep the next morning to watch the knight and his men prepare to ride out. She kept close to the shadows of the castle, away from her husband’s men and the prying eyes of the meddlesome servants.
The knight was in deep discussion with his squire. His face was earnest, touched with the rays of the sun. Her heart twisted at the thought of him leaving. Such a strange reaction considering they met only once and only for a few moments. Especially strange considering the horrible punishment she’d endured for speaking with him. She shouldn’t want him to stay. He was a temptation she could ill afford, but a temptation nonetheless. He was comely to look at it but ’twas more than that. ’Twas the quiet strength beneath the enigmatic eyes. A strength she sensed he used for good rather than evil like her husband.
He laughed at something one of the men said and it startled her. ’Twas very rare to hear laughter inside these walls, and if her husband were around he would surely reprimand the knight. Nonetheless, he had a beautiful laugh, rich and full. She wished she could laugh with him, to share in the tale and feel happy.
As if sensing her perusal, he lifted his head, searching the area until their gazes locked. Instinctively she cringed against the rough stone of the castle wall, praying he wouldn’t approach. It was all well and good for her to look at him, but to speak to him would heap more punishment upon her and she wasn’t sure her body could endure more.
He made his way toward her, side-stepping the activity of the keep without looking away from her. Lord help her, she couldn’t look away either.
He stood before her and she was gazing up at him, his tall frame blocking everything. Everything but him. The words whispered through her head. Everything but him.
Guilt dug its cruel fingers into her consciousness. A married woman should not look at another man, especially the way she knew she was looking at him.
He touched her hair and she realized she had forgotten her veil. Another indiscretion she would be punished for. Curiously, she didn’t care. When he was near it was almost worth the retribution.
“How are you this fine evening, madame?”
“I am well, Sir Knight, and yourself?” Had her husband ever asked in such a way that indicated he cared what she felt?
A small smile touched his beautiful mouth and she found herself raising her hand to those lips. Luckily, she checked herself and folded her fingers in the pleats of her gown instead.
“We leave tonight.”
Was there regret in his voice or was she hearing her own regret? “I know.”
He touched her hair again, as if he couldn’t stop himself. “I would have your name, Countess. So I may remember and think of you on the
He strode to the windows to stare out at a darkened Milwaukee. Behind him, he could practically feel Giselle’s bottled fury, the burning hatred for Madelaine she carried with her. It hadn’t been a pretty scene when he told Giselle to hire Madelaine, but he’d won in the end.
He pushed thoughts of Giselle out of his mind and concentrated on the plan he’d devised after seeing Madelaine Alexander’s picture in her hometown newspaper. The article describing the girl who fought off the government and lost had intrigued him. But the accompanying photo of the Countess of Flandres come back to life had possessed him. Immediately he knew she would be a powerful lure Chevalier wouldn’t be able to resist. As Giselle was to him, Madelaine would be to Christien.
She would be his downfall.
She hurt all over, especially between her legs where her husband abused her the worst. But the pain didn’t stop her from making her way to the keep the next morning to watch the knight and his men prepare to ride out. She kept close to the shadows of the castle, away from her husband’s men and the prying eyes of the meddlesome servants.
The knight was in deep discussion with his squire. His face was earnest, touched with the rays of the sun. Her heart twisted at the thought of him leaving. Such a strange reaction considering they met only once and only for a few moments. Especially strange considering the horrible punishment she’d endured for speaking with him. She shouldn’t want him to stay. He was a temptation she could ill afford, but a temptation nonetheless. He was comely to look at it but ’twas more than that. ’Twas the quiet strength beneath the enigmatic eyes. A strength she sensed he used for good rather than evil like her husband.
He laughed at something one of the men said and it startled her. ’Twas very rare to hear laughter inside these walls, and if her husband were around he would surely reprimand the knight. Nonetheless, he had a beautiful laugh, rich and full. She wished she could laugh with him, to share in the tale and feel happy.
As if sensing her perusal, he lifted his head, searching the area until their gazes locked. Instinctively she cringed against the rough stone of the castle wall, praying he wouldn’t approach. It was all well and good for her to look at him, but to speak to him would heap more punishment upon her and she wasn’t sure her body could endure more.
He made his way toward her, side-stepping the activity of the keep without looking away from her. Lord help her, she couldn’t look away either.
He stood before her and she was gazing up at him, his tall frame blocking everything. Everything but him. The words whispered through her head. Everything but him.
Guilt dug its cruel fingers into her consciousness. A married woman should not look at another man, especially the way she knew she was looking at him.
He touched her hair and she realized she had forgotten her veil. Another indiscretion she would be punished for. Curiously, she didn’t care. When he was near it was almost worth the retribution.
“How are you this fine evening, madame?”
“I am well, Sir Knight, and yourself?” Had her husband ever asked in such a way that indicated he cared what she felt?
A small smile touched his beautiful mouth and she found herself raising her hand to those lips. Luckily, she checked herself and folded her fingers in the pleats of her gown instead.
“We leave tonight.”
Was there regret in his voice or was she hearing her own regret? “I know.”
He touched her hair again, as if he couldn’t stop himself. “I would have your name, Countess. So I may remember and think of you on the
Similar Books
