The Rebel Heiress and the Knight--Winner of the Romantic Novelists' Association's Joan Hessayon Award 2020 by Melissa Oliver

Author:Melissa Oliver
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2020-04-08T13:46:56+00:00

Chapter Ten

The next few days brought a flurry of activity to Tallany Castle as preparations were made for the long journey down south to Winchester Castle, the ancestral home and favourite castle of King John. Even his young son Prince Henry had been born there.

Summons had been received, demanding Hugh, Will and their men to his makeshift court there, the Sovereign needing much support from his allies against the Rebel Barons’ new demands on him—especially the auspicious Great Charter of Liberties, or Magna Carta, that they insisted he sign and naturally the King refused to do.

On having had the missive read, Hugh sensed the anger John must be feeling. And his protracted rage at not only having his rule questioned but having to bend to the will of the Rebel Barons, meaning he was unlikely to concede. John was not the easiest of men, and a situation like this was bound to blow up to unparalleled proportions and be an unmitigated disaster. The whole country would end up tearing itself to bits.

And Hugh had no choice in the matter and was honour-bound to travel down at the King’s request.

His days were spent organising his men, the supplies and wagons needed for the journey, as well as scouting the demesne lands and local forests with Will for Le Renard and his outlaws—but to no avail. They had once again disappeared as if into thin air. And the imprisoned men hadn’t helped much either, swearing they knew nothing about them or their hiding place, adding to Hugh’s frustration.

All of which left him little time to spend with Eleanor. Not that he stopped thinking about her. The way she had looked at that precise moment when he had claimed her was now imprinted on him for ever.

Their unexpected closeness was more than he’d ever thought possible with a woman. And when he gazed at her, at those big, brown luminous eyes, that chestnut hair and the intoxicating body that he’d had the pleasure of exploring these past few nights, it made him want to find her and take her back to bed, there and then.

He groaned inwardly. It was more than that—and he knew it. She was witty, spirited and intelligent in a way that captivated and intrigued him. She was both unusual and alluring.

The truth was that he liked Eleanor and enjoyed her company. It was the little things too—such as a shared look or understanding when he caught her eye, trying hard not to laugh at a mutual jest. Or surprising her with a small gift he thought she might appreciate and watching her astonishment at receiving it. He also admired Eleanor’s constancy to Tallany and its people. She didn’t feel it beneath her to work tirelessly, taking her duty as chatelaine seriously.

Yes, he liked her very well indeed, and all those feelings scared the hell out of him. He knew he shouldn’t allow himself to get too close to her. That had never been part of their bargain. But he just couldn’t help it.

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