Only For You by Hannah Howell

Author:Hannah Howell
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Zebra Books

Eleven

“There is no sign of the man, m’lord,” Pitney said as he rode up beside Botolf.

Botolf looked into the distance and swore. It was already dusk, and there was no point in continuing the search for Cecil. The man had disappeared as completely as if he had never existed. The only thing they had seen to prove that Cecil had been on Regenford land was the blood on the ground near the spot where he had accosted Saxan.

Closing his eyes, Botolf fought to quell the helpless rage churning inside him. Not even when Cecil had seduced Alice had he been so eager to kill the man. He could not dispel the image of the bruises on Saxan’s fair skin. Those images kept his anger hot and fierce.

“There is no point in continuing, m’lord,” Pitney said, interrupting Botolf’s thoughts.

Looking at the youth who was swiftly becoming one of his closest men-at-arms, Botolf nodded. “He has slithered off into the deep grass.”

“Aye, and though I should like to look beneath each blade, I know it will gain us nothing to do so.”

“Let us return to Regenford then. I should like to see how my wife fares,” Botolf said as he turned his mount back toward his keep.

“At least Cecil was not able to accomplish what he so clearly planned to do,” Pitney said as he rode alongside.”

“So young Robert assures me. Mayhap I should have stayed behind to be certain.”

“Nay, m‘lord. Saxan expected you to lead this search. If she had felt a need for you to stay with her, one greater than the need to find Cecil, she would have said so. My sister has e’er spoken her mind.”

“Aye, she has. If she told me to go, it is exactly what she meant me to do,” he murmured, speaking mostly to himself.

His worry was not fully eased, however. After such an ordeal a woman would expect some comforting, but he had not even held her for a moment before dashing off to join in a fruitless search for Cecil. It was possible that she would think he cared little about her hurts.

A harsh laugh echoed in his head, and he pressed his lips together tightly to keep it from escaping. Nothing could be further from the truth. He cared more than he wished to, but the first thought in his head when he had seen her bruises had not been to soothe her hurt. It had been a craving to hack to pieces the man who had inflicted them. That was undoubtedly the usual way for a man to react, but he was not sure Saxan would understand, not if she were in great need of comfort, a comfort only he could give her.

When they reached Regenford, Botolf headed straight for Saxan’s bedchamber only to have Pitney halt him on the stairs. “I must see how Saxan fares.”

“Aye, m’lord, but I am asking for only a moment of your time,” Pitney said.

“ ’Tis important?”

“Very, m’lord. Cecil must be stopped, do you

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