Rebel Lady, Convenient Wife by June Francis

Author:June Francis [Francis, June]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Medieval
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight What was happening? It sounded as if someone was breaking down the door. A familiar fury gripped Jack and he started up, reliving the moment when his master’s men had dragged him out of the dark hovel into the blazing sunlight and forced him to his knees. It was not the first time he had been whipped, but now the lash was knotted and contained sharp pieces of metal.

‘What’s that noise?’

Jack started awake, realising he must have dozed off. He swore beneath his breath and berated himself for failing to stay alert.

‘Jack!’

‘Aye, I heard it,’ he said, recognising Anna’s voice.

Shrugging the blanket from his shoulders, he reached for his sword and stood up. For a moment the room seemed to whirl about him and he gripped the bedpost until everything steadied. He wondered if the dizziness was a result of the opiate. He looked at Anna and could see her face clearly in the pale light coming through the window. Her eyes looked

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puffy and he wondered if she had been crying. There was a sudden sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Had he failed her? Had their host managed to break in?

‘That brute didn’t get in here, did he?’ he asked hoarsely.

‘No! But look at the door!’

Jack did so, and he noticed that although the back of the chair was still rammed under the door handle, it had shifted.

There was a slight gap between the door and the jamb. He tiptoed over to the door and stood listening a moment but could hear no sound of breathing outside. He guessed that if their host had attempted to enter the chamber, then he had left as soon as he heard them talking. Even so, Jack removed the chair and trod on a key as he did so. He picked it up before going outside and glancing up and down the passage.

There was no one in sight, but that was not to say that someone was not concealing themselves in one of the nearby bedchambers. He stood a moment, pondering what to do. He was in a mood for a fight, but guessed such a confrontation with their host would bring the servants running. Anna’s safety must be his priority. He returned to the bedchamber and locked the door behind him.

‘I’m of a mind to leave immediately,’ he said in a low voice. ‘I’ve paid for a horse, so we’ll have the finest one in his stables.’ He smoothed down his tousled dark hair and looked in her direction. ‘From Lampaul’s conversation, it would not surprise me if he provides information about shipping to those involved in piracy along this coast. Let’s hope we can leave the house without meeting anyone on the way.’

Anna nodded. ‘If you consider that the wisest course, then I will do what you say.’

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Rebel Lady, Convenient Wife

He thought her voice sounded lacklustre and wondered if she had been crying because she regretted his having made the decision to travel to Vitré in her company.

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