whatever treasure they found and managed to become rich by establishing banking in Europe. How’s that?”
The corner of his mouth quirked up. “In a nutshell, pretty good. And you’re
aware of the Inquisition that nearly destroyed them?”
Sara nodded. “The French king, Philippe, owed them a lot of money. To pay his debt would have weakened France and put his kingship in jeopardy. But the Templars owed allegiance to no one except the pope. Fortunately for Philippe, Clement V was weak and easily convinced that the knights were really heretics trying to bring down the Church. There were mass arrests made on October 13, 1307. A Friday. That’s why we’re superstitious about Friday the thirteenth.”
Lucas tilted his head. “I’m impressed. What else do you know?”
She tried to ignore his hooded look. “I hope my little history lesson has
something to do with what you just read?”
“It does. Please continue.”
“Their treasure, Solomon’s treasure, was never found. The banks had been
emptied prior to the raid. Supposedly they had been tipped off and had ships waiting at La Rochelle and Le Harve. But the ships were never found either. An interesting story.”
She became aware that he was watching her mouth as she talked and her breath caught.
“What does it have to do with the manuscript?”
“Do you know anything else about the Templars?”
She was getting exasperated. How could the man be so sexy and stay so focused?
SEARCH FOR THE SPEAR Cynthia Breeding 32
And why couldn’t she? Stay focused, that is. Sara took a deep breath. “Only that some of the Templars supposedly made it to England and Scotland and were given refuge.”
“ ‘Tis true. ‘Twas a secret squadron of them that helped the Bruce take
Bannockburn. It was on the orders of the Bruce himself that Commander Randolph hold back his contingent until Edward’s men felt sure the victory was theirs and let down their guard. Aye, it was grand, the Brits tripping over themselves to flee in the face of the red crosses. The fact was, the Bruce’s spearmen could fair walk across the Burn without getting their feet wet, thanks to Edward’s dead men.”
Sara narrowed her eyes. “You make it sound like you were there. How do you
know all of this?”
His golden eyes widened and then he grinned. “I’m a Scot. ‘Twas the fodder of childhood stories, when Scotland had its own king.”
“Would you please get to the point?” Her patience was beginning to wear thin.
He stood and stretched and Sara tried not to notice that the polo shirt he was wearing this morning stretched tight across his chest and revealed bulging biceps. She noticed a fine gold chain around his neck that dipped into the vee of his shirt and wondered what hung at the end of it. It was enticing looking at it and her hand itched to reach inside his shirt and pull it free.
He came around the desk to sit next to her on the couch, one khaki covered thigh brushing hers slightly. Damn, there was that heat again, sizzling its way to her very core.
A slow pulsing began between her thighs and her breathing became shallow.
His amber eyes fixed on her mouth and for a crazy moment she thought he was
going to kiss her. Wanted him to. No, she didn’t. She needed some space. She shifted away from him slightly. If he noticed, he didn’t say.
“Will you please go on?” Goddess, even her voice was raspy. “What does
Bannockburn have to do with the document?”
“It’s Commander Sinclair, actually,” Lucas said. “Henri Sinclair inherited the Earl of Orkney title and it was in those northern islands that the Templar ships landed.”
“Along with their treasure?”
“So it’s told in Gaelic lore. In 1398, Henri sailed a well-armed ship across the Atlantic to a place he called New Scotland … Nova Scotia. The legends say it carried Solomon’s treasure with it.”
“But wait. That would have been nearly a hundred years before America was
even
The corner of his mouth quirked up. “In a nutshell, pretty good. And you’re
aware of the Inquisition that nearly destroyed them?”
Sara nodded. “The French king, Philippe, owed them a lot of money. To pay his debt would have weakened France and put his kingship in jeopardy. But the Templars owed allegiance to no one except the pope. Fortunately for Philippe, Clement V was weak and easily convinced that the knights were really heretics trying to bring down the Church. There were mass arrests made on October 13, 1307. A Friday. That’s why we’re superstitious about Friday the thirteenth.”
Lucas tilted his head. “I’m impressed. What else do you know?”
She tried to ignore his hooded look. “I hope my little history lesson has
something to do with what you just read?”
“It does. Please continue.”
“Their treasure, Solomon’s treasure, was never found. The banks had been
emptied prior to the raid. Supposedly they had been tipped off and had ships waiting at La Rochelle and Le Harve. But the ships were never found either. An interesting story.”
She became aware that he was watching her mouth as she talked and her breath caught.
“What does it have to do with the manuscript?”
“Do you know anything else about the Templars?”
She was getting exasperated. How could the man be so sexy and stay so focused?
SEARCH FOR THE SPEAR Cynthia Breeding 32
And why couldn’t she? Stay focused, that is. Sara took a deep breath. “Only that some of the Templars supposedly made it to England and Scotland and were given refuge.”
“ ‘Tis true. ‘Twas a secret squadron of them that helped the Bruce take
Bannockburn. It was on the orders of the Bruce himself that Commander Randolph hold back his contingent until Edward’s men felt sure the victory was theirs and let down their guard. Aye, it was grand, the Brits tripping over themselves to flee in the face of the red crosses. The fact was, the Bruce’s spearmen could fair walk across the Burn without getting their feet wet, thanks to Edward’s dead men.”
Sara narrowed her eyes. “You make it sound like you were there. How do you
know all of this?”
His golden eyes widened and then he grinned. “I’m a Scot. ‘Twas the fodder of childhood stories, when Scotland had its own king.”
“Would you please get to the point?” Her patience was beginning to wear thin.
He stood and stretched and Sara tried not to notice that the polo shirt he was wearing this morning stretched tight across his chest and revealed bulging biceps. She noticed a fine gold chain around his neck that dipped into the vee of his shirt and wondered what hung at the end of it. It was enticing looking at it and her hand itched to reach inside his shirt and pull it free.
He came around the desk to sit next to her on the couch, one khaki covered thigh brushing hers slightly. Damn, there was that heat again, sizzling its way to her very core.
A slow pulsing began between her thighs and her breathing became shallow.
His amber eyes fixed on her mouth and for a crazy moment she thought he was
going to kiss her. Wanted him to. No, she didn’t. She needed some space. She shifted away from him slightly. If he noticed, he didn’t say.
“Will you please go on?” Goddess, even her voice was raspy. “What does
Bannockburn have to do with the document?”
“It’s Commander Sinclair, actually,” Lucas said. “Henri Sinclair inherited the Earl of Orkney title and it was in those northern islands that the Templar ships landed.”
“Along with their treasure?”
“So it’s told in Gaelic lore. In 1398, Henri sailed a well-armed ship across the Atlantic to a place he called New Scotland … Nova Scotia. The legends say it carried Solomon’s treasure with it.”
“But wait. That would have been nearly a hundred years before America was
even
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