Read Online Her Rebel Heart by Alison Stuart - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Alison Stuart
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cannot expect Father to come running at our beck and call, Pen.” As Penitence bit her lip, a habit when she was worried, Deliverance added, “We are well prepared and I'm sure he will come as soon as he is able.” She patted her sister's hand and hoped she sounded reassuring. Privately her heart sank. If Gloucester were truly besieged, they could not count on any help from that quarter.
Penitence lowered her head. “Luke said you encountered Jack and Charles yesterday.”
Deliverance nodded.
Penitence bit her lip again and looked out of the window to the soft summer day beyond. “Did Jack ask about me?”
“It was hardly the occasion for social discourse,” Deliverance said, her tone softening when she saw the naked yearning on her sister's face. “Yes, he did ask after you and I think he misses you as much as you do him.”
“Do you suppose Jack will be with his father and brother when they come here?”
Deliverance didn't reply. She didn't need to. Of course he would and it would be agony for Penitence knowing Jack was outside the castle walls. She recalled something of a conversation with Luke Collyer from the previous day when loss of blood and shock had loosened her tongue.
“Do you really still love him, Pen?” she asked.
Her sister looked up, her blue eyes misted with tears. “With all my heart.”
“Pen, if you want to leave and go to Father in Gloucester or Aunt Jane...”
Her sister shook her head. “I won't leave you, Liv, and maybe Jack can bring some sense to the situation if he knows I am within the castle walls.” She sighed heavily and her blue eyes misted with tears that she dashed away with the back of her hand. “Pay me no heed, I am just being foolish.”
Deliverance studied her sister. “Pen, how do you know if you're in love?”
Penitence looked at her sister, all tears forgotten.
“Oh, Liv, how can I explain it? It's the most delicious pain you can ever know. Your heart beats and the breath stops in your throat and you just want to be near the person—” Penitence stopped, frowning. “Why do you ask?” Her eyes widened. “You're not in love with Captain Collyer, are you?”
Deliverance’s mouth fell open. “Captain Collyer! That insufferable...arrogant...good gracious, Pen, how could you even think that?”
Penitence rose to her feet and looked down at her sister. “There are far more worthy men to fall in love with than penniless soldiers of fortune.” She placed a hand on her sister's brow. “I think you might be a little feverish. You are not to stir from that bed today. Meg will bring up some broth for your lunch and you are to rest.”
Deliverance sank back against the bolsters as her sister and her maid closed the door behind them.
In love with Luke Collyer ? What a preposterous suggestion, she thought and closed her eyes.
There must be another explanation for her racing heart and shortness of breath when she had seen him looking down at her. Not to mention the alarming heat flashes when she thought of his arms around her. Loss of blood—that was it.
It occurred to Luke, as he went about his business the following day that he should have considered the efficacy of a pistol ball in Deliverance's arm earlier in their relationship. For the first time since he had arrived at Kinton Lacey, he enjoyed undisputed command over the entire garrison.
He had paid her another visit after breakfast, and found her up and dressed but still looking pale and wan, and apparently content to pass the day in the parlour, looking for the entire world like a demure goodwife and not at all like the bossy, determined little person who made his life difficult.
And yet part of him missed their sparring. He had, he admitted to himself, become accustomed to her presence as a comrade and as an equal. He missed seeing her slight form everywhere he looked, supervising ditches, ordering provisions to be stored, countermanding his orders, confusing the men...
He left Ned
Penitence lowered her head. “Luke said you encountered Jack and Charles yesterday.”
Deliverance nodded.
Penitence bit her lip again and looked out of the window to the soft summer day beyond. “Did Jack ask about me?”
“It was hardly the occasion for social discourse,” Deliverance said, her tone softening when she saw the naked yearning on her sister's face. “Yes, he did ask after you and I think he misses you as much as you do him.”
“Do you suppose Jack will be with his father and brother when they come here?”
Deliverance didn't reply. She didn't need to. Of course he would and it would be agony for Penitence knowing Jack was outside the castle walls. She recalled something of a conversation with Luke Collyer from the previous day when loss of blood and shock had loosened her tongue.
“Do you really still love him, Pen?” she asked.
Her sister looked up, her blue eyes misted with tears. “With all my heart.”
“Pen, if you want to leave and go to Father in Gloucester or Aunt Jane...”
Her sister shook her head. “I won't leave you, Liv, and maybe Jack can bring some sense to the situation if he knows I am within the castle walls.” She sighed heavily and her blue eyes misted with tears that she dashed away with the back of her hand. “Pay me no heed, I am just being foolish.”
Deliverance studied her sister. “Pen, how do you know if you're in love?”
Penitence looked at her sister, all tears forgotten.
“Oh, Liv, how can I explain it? It's the most delicious pain you can ever know. Your heart beats and the breath stops in your throat and you just want to be near the person—” Penitence stopped, frowning. “Why do you ask?” Her eyes widened. “You're not in love with Captain Collyer, are you?”
Deliverance’s mouth fell open. “Captain Collyer! That insufferable...arrogant...good gracious, Pen, how could you even think that?”
Penitence rose to her feet and looked down at her sister. “There are far more worthy men to fall in love with than penniless soldiers of fortune.” She placed a hand on her sister's brow. “I think you might be a little feverish. You are not to stir from that bed today. Meg will bring up some broth for your lunch and you are to rest.”
Deliverance sank back against the bolsters as her sister and her maid closed the door behind them.
In love with Luke Collyer ? What a preposterous suggestion, she thought and closed her eyes.
There must be another explanation for her racing heart and shortness of breath when she had seen him looking down at her. Not to mention the alarming heat flashes when she thought of his arms around her. Loss of blood—that was it.
It occurred to Luke, as he went about his business the following day that he should have considered the efficacy of a pistol ball in Deliverance's arm earlier in their relationship. For the first time since he had arrived at Kinton Lacey, he enjoyed undisputed command over the entire garrison.
He had paid her another visit after breakfast, and found her up and dressed but still looking pale and wan, and apparently content to pass the day in the parlour, looking for the entire world like a demure goodwife and not at all like the bossy, determined little person who made his life difficult.
And yet part of him missed their sparring. He had, he admitted to himself, become accustomed to her presence as a comrade and as an equal. He missed seeing her slight form everywhere he looked, supervising ditches, ordering provisions to be stored, countermanding his orders, confusing the men...
He left Ned
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