Read Online My Rebellious Heart by Samantha James - Free Book Online
Authors: Samantha James
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monastery at Tusk for a priest if you wish, milady."
Shana's eyes sought Barris, who did not miss
the silent plea there. She was as pale and drawn as he had ever seen her, he thought with a twist of his heart. Her features told more clearly than
words the strain these past days had wrought. He had no choice, he realized wearily, but to accede to her wishes.
'
His lips tightened. He spared the prisoner a long look, his features unusual y hard. "You wil have your priest," he said curtly. "Were it up to me, I would have you dispatched this very hour. But know this, Lord Weston, once you've made your confession the deed wil most certainly be done—and with al haste." One of the knights stepped forward. Barris jerked his head toward the earl. "See that he is locked up again."
Shana could not watch the knight lead the earl away. She made her way to a bench near the wall, all at once feeling dizzy and shaky. When she gathered the courage to lift her head, she found
Barris eyeing her in a way she had never encountered before, his expression enigmatic. She drew a quick breath. It spun through her mind that she was staring at a stranger.
He tipped his head to the side, and when he spoke, the pitch of his voice was very low. "You think me cruel, don't you?" "Cruel?" she echoed. To his surprise, a sad, wistful smile touched her lips. "You are demanding, aye. And never have I seen you so—so forceful. But I do not think you cruel. I think you merely do what you must," her smile withered, "as do we al ."
He swore beneath his breath. He started toward her, his only intent to vanquish the shadows from her face, but at that instant, the sound of pounding hooves resounded in the courtyard.
Shana had scarce risen to her feet than a young boy scurried through the entrance.
He rushed toward Barris. "Milord! One of your men is here. He has with him a message of grave importance!"
Shana glanced at Barris sharply. "I wil come with you ..." she began.
With a hand on her shoulder, he held her in place. "There is no need. Stay here, love. I promise I'll not be long." His tone brooked no argument. For the second time in as many minutes she found herself unable to banish the notion that this man she knew so wel was one she scarce knew at al .
She began to pace the length of the hall As he'd promised, he was not long. Shana held her breath as he strode to her; there was an air of urgency about him that she neither understood nor liked. Once again he took her hands.
"I must leave forthwith, Shana."
"Leave ... to return to Frydd?"
Barris silently cursed himself. So much had happened these past days ... the attack on Merwen ...
the massing of English troops at Langley. He despised himself for leaving Shana to cope with her father's death alone, but in his heart he knew she would manage. In her own way, she was strong, as strong as any man.
"I do not go to Frydd."
She cried his name in protest. "Barris, you've been gone a fortnight already. You've only just returned—"
"I know, love. But as you said only a moment past, we do what we must."
His words were both determined and regretful. She searched his face almost fearful y, struck by the certainty that something was not right. "Where do you go?"
He seemed to hesitate. "The countryside has been rife with discontent for months now, Shana. Our people are tired of kissing the feet of the English."
"I ... I know. A sennight past my father received a messenger from Llywelyn, seeking aid and support to rise up against the Crown. My father sent my uncle's man away with his bags ful of coin, and pledged men should the need arise." Comprehension dawned in a rush. Merciful heaven! No one hated the Englishmen's constant interference in Welsh affairs more than Barris. Would Barris heed the cal of the warrior—the cal to arms? She was suddenly terrified for him.
She drew a sharp breath. "Tel me, Barris! Did Llywelyn ask the same of you? Has this message to do with my uncle—and
Shana's eyes sought Barris, who did not miss
the silent plea there. She was as pale and drawn as he had ever seen her, he thought with a twist of his heart. Her features told more clearly than
words the strain these past days had wrought. He had no choice, he realized wearily, but to accede to her wishes.
'
His lips tightened. He spared the prisoner a long look, his features unusual y hard. "You wil have your priest," he said curtly. "Were it up to me, I would have you dispatched this very hour. But know this, Lord Weston, once you've made your confession the deed wil most certainly be done—and with al haste." One of the knights stepped forward. Barris jerked his head toward the earl. "See that he is locked up again."
Shana could not watch the knight lead the earl away. She made her way to a bench near the wall, all at once feeling dizzy and shaky. When she gathered the courage to lift her head, she found
Barris eyeing her in a way she had never encountered before, his expression enigmatic. She drew a quick breath. It spun through her mind that she was staring at a stranger.
He tipped his head to the side, and when he spoke, the pitch of his voice was very low. "You think me cruel, don't you?" "Cruel?" she echoed. To his surprise, a sad, wistful smile touched her lips. "You are demanding, aye. And never have I seen you so—so forceful. But I do not think you cruel. I think you merely do what you must," her smile withered, "as do we al ."
He swore beneath his breath. He started toward her, his only intent to vanquish the shadows from her face, but at that instant, the sound of pounding hooves resounded in the courtyard.
Shana had scarce risen to her feet than a young boy scurried through the entrance.
He rushed toward Barris. "Milord! One of your men is here. He has with him a message of grave importance!"
Shana glanced at Barris sharply. "I wil come with you ..." she began.
With a hand on her shoulder, he held her in place. "There is no need. Stay here, love. I promise I'll not be long." His tone brooked no argument. For the second time in as many minutes she found herself unable to banish the notion that this man she knew so wel was one she scarce knew at al .
She began to pace the length of the hall As he'd promised, he was not long. Shana held her breath as he strode to her; there was an air of urgency about him that she neither understood nor liked. Once again he took her hands.
"I must leave forthwith, Shana."
"Leave ... to return to Frydd?"
Barris silently cursed himself. So much had happened these past days ... the attack on Merwen ...
the massing of English troops at Langley. He despised himself for leaving Shana to cope with her father's death alone, but in his heart he knew she would manage. In her own way, she was strong, as strong as any man.
"I do not go to Frydd."
She cried his name in protest. "Barris, you've been gone a fortnight already. You've only just returned—"
"I know, love. But as you said only a moment past, we do what we must."
His words were both determined and regretful. She searched his face almost fearful y, struck by the certainty that something was not right. "Where do you go?"
He seemed to hesitate. "The countryside has been rife with discontent for months now, Shana. Our people are tired of kissing the feet of the English."
"I ... I know. A sennight past my father received a messenger from Llywelyn, seeking aid and support to rise up against the Crown. My father sent my uncle's man away with his bags ful of coin, and pledged men should the need arise." Comprehension dawned in a rush. Merciful heaven! No one hated the Englishmen's constant interference in Welsh affairs more than Barris. Would Barris heed the cal of the warrior—the cal to arms? She was suddenly terrified for him.
She drew a sharp breath. "Tel me, Barris! Did Llywelyn ask the same of you? Has this message to do with my uncle—and
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