By Queen's Grace by Anton Shari

Author:Anton, Shari [Anton, Shari]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises
Published: 2011-07-15T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

“Gor, and will you look ather,” one of the captains said.

Corwin noticed the sweet suffering in the man’s voice. Indeed, Ruford and all of his captains took note and looked toward the stairway.

Obviously, Judith had come into the hall.

A silence ensued, bordering on reverence. Corwin carefully steeled his resolve to show no untoward reaction to Judith. He shouldn’t even look, but couldn’t help himself.

Lovely. Delicate. Regal. Each word accurately described the woman who stood at the bottom of the stairway.

Gowned in flowing amber silk, the vision that was Judith began a slow glide across the rushes toward the table where Corwin sat motionless, held captive by her beauty.

Like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon, Judith in her transformation was stunning. She’d been beautiful when draped in a nun’s robe, and no less lovely when garbed in rough peasant weave. The silk, however, hugged her body as none of her former garments had, revealing a shape molded to please the eye and invite a man’s hands.

Judith held her head high and her shoulders back. Her steps landed firmly. To those who shuffled aside to let her pass, she gifted nearly imperceptible nods of acknowledgment, accompanied by a faint smile.

A smile to die for.

She approached the table. For a short, painful moment Corwin’s gaze locked with hers. Then he turned away, fearing she would see unerringly into the depths of his heart. She already possessed his loyalty and devotion. ‘Twould be foolhardy to let her know she could have far more.

‘Twould be foolhardy to allow the rebels to see how much he desired the woman Ruford planned to marry.

Ruford looked pleasurably stunned at the change in Judith’s appearance. He rose and held out his hand. “My lady, words fail me.”

“You may save your flattery for some other, Ruford,” she said. “I do not forget I am a prisoner here, not a guest.”

Ruford’s hand dropped back to his side. “Truly, my lady, you are my most welcome guest. Did your maids not perform their duties to your satisfaction? Is not the chamber given you one fit for a lady?”

“From the moment your men captured me I have been a prisoner. I spent several long, hard days on horseback on a journey I did not wish to make. You bring me here against my will. Did you expect me to be pleasant about it? Surely you did not believe a bath and a decent chamber would allay my distaste at being kidnapped!”

“Did not Thurkill tell you why?”

“Oh, he spouted some silliness about my becoming queen of England. Truly, I do wish you had chosen another and let me be.”

Judith flounced around Ruford, coming into Corwin’s line of sight. She knelt down in the rushes next to Thurkill, in flagrant disregard for her silk gown, and put a gentle hand on the man’s shoulder.

“How fare you?” she asked.

“I will live,” he said.

Corwin wasn’t sure Thurkill would last the night. No physician had been summoned, leading him to believe there wasn’t one within the rebels’ encampment.

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