Harlequin Historical July 2018--Box Set 2 of 2 by Lynna Banning

Author:Lynna Banning
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2018-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

Samuel stepped up on to the forecastle deck just as curses that would burn any hardened sailor’s ears left Elrik’s mouth. He turned to follow the direction of Elrik’s stare and laughed. ‘Did you expect the Wolf’s lady to do anything different?’

‘The intention had been to ensure her safety. To keep her from doing just this.’

‘That is what you have been doing? You couldn’t have explained that to us?’

‘It was hard enough without having the two of you try to talk me out of it.’

‘Well, I would say your intention fell short.’

‘She promised to wait. She knew how important her safety was to me.’

‘Perhaps she felt she’d be safer with you.’

Nothing happened at Carlisle without David’s knowledge. So, how had she left the castle without the King noticing? What had the man been thinking to permit her to join a group heading into battle?

Worry—something he’d hoped to avoid—settled cold around his heart. Something was wrong. She wasn’t here without a reason.

The last ship sent a red cloth up the mast, signalling trouble. Elrik ordered the men to lower the sail of his ship, giving the other vessel time to catch up and pull alongside.

* * *

Avelyn accepted the captain’s help in climbing to the upper deck of the ship. His surliness hadn’t yet fully subsided—he’d not been the least bit pleased when she’d boarded so hastily at the last possible second.

And less pleased when she’d frantically interrupted his orders to the men.

By the time she’d explained who she was and shoved the documents with King David’s seal prominent beneath the string holding the rolled parchments closed into his hands, the man’s face had taken on a frightening shade of red.

Now that he’d issued new orders to his men and led her to the deck above, he’d stepped back, leaving her to face her husband alone.

She pulled the borrowed cloak tighter around her body to ward off the chill of the breeze whipping across the water. Her stomach churned, but she wasn’t certain if that was from the sickening bobbing of the vessel, from knowing Elrik was going to be livid, or fear that her half-brother had already set what plans he had into motion.

When she caught a glimpse of her husband’s glare, she gripped the rail with both hands. His eyes blazed and even from this distance she could see that his jaw was clenched. Samuel, standing at his side, looked amused. The lopsided grin curling up one corner of the man’s mouth gave her hope that maybe Osbert had yet to make an appearance—perhaps she’d jumped to the wrong conclusion and he wasn’t among the men in Elrik’s company.

As the ship she was on pulled alongside her husband’s, he raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to say something.

Avelyn swallowed and scanned the men standing on the deck of his ship. To her relief she didn’t see Osbert. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t aboard one of the other ships.

She turned her attention back to Elrik, uncertain how to begin.

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