Read Online Lords of Desire by Virginia Henley, Victoria Dahl, Sally Mackenzie, Kristi Astor - Free Book Online

animal.”
    “You think me vain!” He flashed white teeth. “I don’t deny it, but I put expedience before vanity. Bess has endurance and speed; your pony is sure-footed.”
    The moment they emerged from the stable, Pandora loped off toward the forest. The leopard spotted a hare and disappeared into the trees. Falcon did not follow her; he trotted beneath the thick green canopy for more than a mile until he came to a well-hidden path.
    “Do you think you could ride through here in the dark, my love?”
    He’s testing me for a smuggling run!“I know I could.”
    He winked at her. “Try to keep up with me.” He took off without warning, taking the twists and turns with practiced ease. Tory gripped the reins and touched her heels to the pony’s flanks. In truth all she had to do was keep her seat and keep her head low; her mount knew the way.
    When she caught up, he asked, “Which way is the castle?”
    She hesitated, unsure.
    “Then how would you get to the safety of Bodiam?”
    “If I were lost, I’d give the pony its head.”
    His grin was a leer. “Beauty and brains, a heady combination.”
    Tory heard the distant cry of an animal, quickly cut off. She guessed what it was and went pale. “I don’t enjoy blood sport.”
    “Make no mistake, smuggling is a blood sport.”
    “Men’s blood I can stomach.”
    “Spoken with bravado.”
    Falcon gave a trilling whistle and shortly Pandora joined them. They returned to Bodiam at a leisurely pace and as they climbed the stairs of the tower, he asked, “Did your mount suit you?”
    “Yes. I wish he were mine.”
    “Wish granted. Keep those clothes handy if you want to come on the run tonight.”
    “Tonight?”Her pulse began to race.
    “It has to be at the dark of the moon. Are you game?”
    Tory nodded eagerly.
    “Good, I’ll get you a slouch hat. Have a rest this afternoon.”
    Everything was different at night. Black shadows loomed everywhere in the darkness, exaggerating the size and distorting the shape of trees and dwellings. As she trotted beside Falcon, she was thankful her pony did not shy. The very air felt eerie and charged with peril. She became aware that, one by one, other riders fell in behind them. She copied Falcon and did not turn to look.I wonder if he has his pistols with him? Of course he does—everyone will be armed. Tory shivered.
    They rode in silence at a slow, steady pace, the muffled hooves of their mounts making little sound. Tory sensed they rode west and she knew by the sound and the smell when they reached the sea. A mile or so farther brought them to a vast marsh. Without hesitation their mounts trotted into the reedy saltwater and were soon up to their hocks.
    When Falcon dismounted, she followed suit, and, as she turned, she was amazed to see scores of dark figures that numbered about eighty. The men searched the marsh for barrels and wooden crates, hoisted them onto their animals’ backs, secured the cargo with ropes, and left as silently as they had arrived.
    Falcon picked up two wooden crates and secured them to Bess, then he slung a brace of small barrels across the pony’s back and signaled Tory with his thumb to mount. Back in the saddle, they fell into line behind the other riders.
    This must be Romney Marsh. This cargo has been dropped off a merchant vessel from a foreign port. Will we take it to Bodiam?They rode for more than an hour. Cold and wet, Tory found the journey tedious. Only the danger made it exciting.
    They skirted a cemetery, which some of the riders entered. She followed Falcon into a stand of trees and realized they were in Ashdown Forest. Soon they were on a path and rode in single file for miles. When they reached the northern edge, the riders dismounted and dropped their cargo amid the cover of the trees. Falcon lifted the barrels from her pony and bent to whisper in Tory’s ear. “Home.”
    Tory gave her pony its head, sensing it would find the shortest way through vast Ashdown Forest to its