Read Online Once Upon a Diamond by Teresa McCarthy - Free Book Online Page A

hold of her hair, cursing a blue streak.
    “Now ye’ve done it, wench. Now I’m going to have to hurt
you.”
    As
the blade came swooping down, Kate reared back into her pillow, pure horror
twisting her heart. A quick prayer flew through her mind, and again she scolded
herself, hoping Matthew would forgive her stupid decision of venturing into the
English countryside alone.
     
    Next door, Tristan awakened at the sound of a loud thump.
He swung his feet off the mattress and pushed himself out of the chair. Probably
some drunk making his way up the stairs, he thought. Cursing like a sailor too.
    Tristan rotated his neck, realizing he hadn’t made it to
bed at all. How long had he been sleeping in that blasted chair? 
    Another thump.
    He shifted his gaze toward the wall separating him and
the girl. Devil take it, he hoped the little termagant hadn’t gone against his
orders and left her room unlocked. There had been some unsavory characters
loitering about the taproom, staring at her as if she were the last plum
pudding for Christmas.
    He admitted the chit wasn’t much to look at, but she was
a lone female, which made her fair pickings for any male in the vicinity.
    He cursed beneath his breath. He thought he’d made it
clear to everyone in the tap that he was her protector. But knowing Kate for
only those few minutes, he guessed she had probably gone after that mangy dog. Dash
it all.
    Tristan didn’t know why the hell he cared, but there was
something innocent about her that set his nerves on edge.
    She was under his protection now, and if she wished to
disobey him, she best do it without him watching over her. He ought to slap
that little bottom of hers and set her straight on that account at least. The
girl seemed to need a firm hand somewhere in her life.
    Gritting his teeth against what he would find, he hastened
into the hall and stomped toward her door. It was open a crack. Stupid chit! 
He had told her to lock it. Even if she went for that mangy beast downstairs.
    But was Handsome in there? The dog would have barked at
his presence in the hall.
    There was the rustling of covers, and he clenched his
teeth. Could the chit truly have invited one of those men into her room? Was
she meeting someone here?
    A part of his heart began to harden again. Good riddance
then. He didn’t need another interfering female in his life.
    Low voices drifted into the hall, and he uttered a low
curse. Perhaps she had been waiting for someone all along, and he had fallen
into her nice little trap, paying for her meal and her bedchamber. Confounded female.
He should never have helped her.
    He spun on his feet, ready to return to his room, but
halted when a deep growl penetrated his brain. It wasn’t a sensuous growl. It
was a low, hideous snarl like that of a wolf springing for the kill.
    “Listen here, chit. You ain’t fooling me. You’re going to
tell me where his lordship is or I’m going to slit your pretty neck. Talk.”
    In two quick strides, Tristan was at Kate’s door,
gripping the handle and easing it open. He peered inside. A bright moonbeam
fanned through the window. His heart locked up when he observed a giant
hovering over an angel dressed in white. A flash of metal winked against Kate’s
long slim neck. Tristan stiffened as the point of the knife pushed against her
skin.
    “Go ahead and slit my throat. I’ll not let you put your
filthy hands on anyone else. Y-you monster!”
    A fire erupted in Tristan’s stomach. Devil take it. The
stubborn chit was defending him.
    “You deuced well will tell me, wench.”
    “Looking for me, my man.” 
    The intruder spun around, pulling his knife off Kate as Tristan
strode into the room.
    “Ah, his mighty lordship has returned.”
    Tristan’s eyes glittered. “Then I did hear correctly. You
looking for me?”
    “Funny thing, ain’t it? I was wanting to see your
lordship, and here ye are.” The knife rose in the air as the intruder stalked
forward.
    Kate gasped.