Captured At The Castle by Alexandra Ainsworth

Author:Alexandra Ainsworth [Ainsworth, Alexandra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sanguinity Press
Published: 2015-08-16T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

The floorboards groaned beneath Etienne as he padded through the corridor, as if to urge Geoffrey and the servants to investigate the intruder. Etienne held his breath, but no thundering footsteps followed him.

The hour was late. Etienne had watched the moon sweep along the horizon, urging on each slow movement of darkness, eager to discover the castle on his own. Bats rustled above him, squeaking as they awakened.

He had done this before. He was a criminal. So much for being reformed. So much for vowing for a more honorable life. The only thing people saw in him was a thief and a whore. That was his value. There was nothing more.

At least he could be good at it. The general desired him to look for a secret passageway, and he would look. His chest ached as he considered the duke and duchess in danger.

He sighed. Once he found a passageway, or found incriminating evidence on the magistrate, he would flee. Away from the magistrate and his large, smoldering eyes. Away from the desire for his embrace. Away from pretending his life could be something better.

The ceiling loomed high above him, and black cast-iron chandeliers dangled above. The candles still sat in them, unlit. Splatters of crimson wax speckled the floor. Polished swords and lengthy lances rested on iron hooks. More weapons hung on the walls, as if Sir Ambrose wanted anybody who caught an intruder to have a means of killing him at hand.

Something sounded, and Etienne scrunched against the wall, focusing on silencing his breath. The noise ceased, and Etienne allowed himself to relax. He counted to twenty and then continued down the hallway. The library door was shut, and he grasped the handle, turning the heavy door slowly.

Thankfully, no lights were lit.

He stepped into the darkened room. The scent of books pervaded. Rows of leather tomes lined mahogany bookcases, and velvet drapes covered the windows. He swung his head around the room. This would be a private place for the lord of the manor, away from the prying eyes of family and servants. There would be no more ideal place for a secret passage.

He surveyed the room. The ladder rested against a bookcase. He frowned, noticing a void of books on the top shelf. He climbed the ladder and crawled into the space. He pressed against the wall and searched for a hidden knob.

The library door creaked open. Etienne froze as a man lumbered into the room. He set his torch on the desk and lit a candle. The lights flickered over the man’s face, and Etienne was lost. Geoffrey.

The man was handsome. Etienne could grant him that. He had noticed it long ago, but Geoffrey’s recent kindness to him made him wonder what it would feel like to nestle against the man’s chest.

He licked his lips, and Geoffrey’s head snapped up.

“What on earth are you doing?”

Merde.

Etienne forced a neutral expression on his face and swung his legs down so they dangled above the books. He glanced at the titles.

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