Midnight Flame by Mary Wine

Author:Mary Wine [Wine, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, romance, Historical
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2023-10-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Alanna heard the horses in the distance.

She recalled the stallion he rode very well. It was a truly fitting companion for the Master of Stonebriar. His men were shadows as well. She could only recall Miles’s face, for the others had never looked directly at her.

She was off the bed and pulled the window shutters open as the chain rattled behind her.

Such an eerie sound…

Down in the courtyard, the lanky manservant had the stallion saddled. He held it firmly as the animal danced, clearly impatient to be away. The horse didn’t have to wait very long. The Master of Stonebriar crossed through the virgin snow, leaving deep footprints in it on his way to the stallion.

Once he gained the saddle, she saw the snow clinging to his boots all the way past his knees.

He was correct about it being foolish to venture out into the night.

But that didn’t please her. No, not a bit.

Below her, the men leaned forward and rode off into the night. The sound of the horses echoed through the courtyard until they vanished. Alanna was left listening to the howl of the wind.

So forlorn…

She shut the shutters, but the wind was still howling behind the sturdy wood.

Had he really claimed he was acting for her own good?

Alanna wanted to rage against the imprisonment, yet the memory of his kiss surfaced.

She’d kissed him back.

The impulse had been completely and fully followed though until he’d broken it off. Even the memory of it made her blush. She sighed.

But a scent came in with the next breath she drew. Her belly rumbled loudly in response. Looking around the chamber, Alanna spied the basket the manservant had carried. It was sitting on the small table near the chamber doorway.

The chain rattled when she took a step toward the basket. Whoever had installed the chain had measured its length well. Alanna was just able to reach the chair and table. She sat down and pushed a small length of wool fabric aside to see what the basket contained.

“Oh my…”

She didn’t care if she was speaking to herself, for the contents of the basket were wonderous. There was a fresh round of bread and a thick chunk of cheese. A lovely apple was there along with a pottery bowl full of some dark stew. She picked up the bowl carefully, smiling when she found it still warm.

As she ate, her attention fell on the length of chain.

His duty…

She was very curious what it might be to include having a chamber that was set up as a prison for someone.

Well…not just anyone…

No. The chamber was quite nice. Even the shackle around her ankle was covered in soft leather. The bedding was fine and thick. There was even a comb on the table, along with two books. It was a place fit for a noble.

Duty…

The Master of Stonebriar was indeed a harsh man at times, but he didn’t dress like a beast. No, his clothing had been well made and fashioned of good quality wool.

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