Silverhawk by Bettis Barbara

Author:Bettis, Barbara [Bettis, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Medieval
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc
Published: 2013-07-22T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

“Not far now, my lady.” Relief washed over Emelin at Sir James’ shout. It seemed they’d ridden for hours. At some point clouds had drifted in to block the sun. At least the temperature remained steady.

She lifted her cheek from Giles’ back. Her face burned from the heat pulsing through his shirt and tunic. They had to find help soon. Pray God he’d awaken before her arms refused to hold his sagging body any longer. The horse sidestepped, and Giles’ muscles tensed. He was awake.

Her first reaction was to ask how he felt. A stupid question. Instead she said, “Can you see the castle?” She listened for the cogency of his reply.

Silence lengthened before he finally answered, “Yes. Through the trees there.” Good. He was rational. Leaning carefully to one side, she looked but didn’t see a large structure.

Instead, she spotted a cluster of dwellings that marked the village, laid out much like a cross. Each cottage had a small plot of land. Several other cottages, set away from the main streets, were larger and looked to boast more property.

A good lord, to allow his tenants this generous use of land. Perhaps such a lord would shelter Giles until he healed enough to travel again. In the last few hours, Emelin had realized this was her chance. With Silverhawk incapacitated, she could leave, return to Langley, and he couldn’t stop her.

First, however, she would see his injury treated. He rescued her, after all. Once she determined he was well cared for, she’d set out.

No matter how right the words “your man” sounded when Sir Thomas uttered them, Giles wasn’t her man. She was bound to another. Even should she want, there was no way to break the betrothal.

And in spite of his drugging kisses and caresses, Giles had never indicated a desire to wed her. She tamped down a bubble of disappointment. Of course she did not want him to do so.

Yet she shivered at the memory of his lips on hers. She should be ashamed of herself, lusting after a man she didn’t know—one mortally wounded at that.

The odd thing was, she felt she did know him. Awareness fairly hummed between them. And no matter the dangers, with Giles she felt safe.

A rumble in his chest vibrated against her hand. Oh, Lord. Lost in thought, she’d caressed him. She jerked away and nearly tumbled off the horse at the abrupt movement. When she looked up, Granville filled her sight.

Across a gentle hill not far from a small woods ran a massive stone wall. The upper stories of a square keep were visible above the enclosure. In the center of the wall, tall towers flanked double wooden gates that creaked open at Sir James’ signal. Shorter towers anchored each corner where the thick walls met.

A heaviness jerked at her arms. Giles had pitched forward but caught himself at the last moment. Praise God, they had made it in time. She didn’t know how much longer he could remain upright. If he lost consciousness again, the ropes must hold him, because she could not.

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