Page 92 of Bold Angel
“A messenger came only this morning. Beltar will arrive on the morrow.”
“Surely he cannot know that I am here.”
“’Tis the reason for his journey.”
“But how could he have discovered where I am?”
“Lady Caryn knows and so do I. The members of your troupe know. There are bound to be others.”
She worked to keep her hands from shaking. “What else did the message say?”
“Beltar accuses Lord Ral of your abduction.” Ambra hissed in a breath. “He demands that Braxston give you up. ’Tis hinted the Dark Knight has forced you into his bed, that you are Lord Ral’s leman.”
“Dear God in heaven. What says Lord Ral?”
A tinge of color crept into Richard’s cheeks. “He does not yet know. Thus far I have given the message only to Lady Caryn.” He glanced back toward the gray stonewalls of the keep. “Even now she seeks him out. Mayhap she can win you his favor.”
“He will not be pleased that you did not go to him in the beginning.”
“As you said, you and I are friends.”
“Aye.” But it wasn’t his friendship Ambra wanted. Now that she knew she must leave, she discovered what she had suspected all along. She wanted Richard’s love.
“Lady Caryn will speak well for you. Mayhap Lord Ral can pursuade Lord Beltar—”
“Nay, I cannot risk it.” She started forward, but Richard caught her arm.
“Where do you mean to go?”
“Far and away from here.” She took a step, but his grip on her arm grew tighter.
“I cannot let you do that.” His eyes came to rest on her face. Reaching out, he eased the hat from her head, letting her shiny blond hair tumble down, then he pulled the clay from the back of her ears. “You are a woman,” he said softly, “a young and beautiful one, at that. ’Tis not safe for you to roam the country. If Lord Ral cannot help you, then you must accept the path that lies ahead.”
Ambra watched him a moment, her heart thudding softly. Then she steeled herself and shook her head. “I may be a woman, but thus far I have made it on my own. I will continue to do so.” She pulled free of his hold and started walking, but Richard caught her in a few quick strides.
He grabbed her arm and spun her around. “You will do as I say, do you hear?”
“I will do as I please.” She tried to pull free, but he wouldn’t let go.
“You are willful and stubborn. You are reckless and headstrong and totally unmanageable. I pity Lord Beltar, should he take you to wife.”
Before she could think, her hand lashed out andcracked across his face. Ambra sucked in a breath and so did Richard. “I-I am sorry.” She chewed her bottom lip as an angry red mark appeared on his cheek. “I did not mean to do that.”
Richard said nothing, but a muscle tightened in his jaw. He grabbed her arm and pulled her close, then his mouth came down over hers. She could feel his anger in the tension in his body, but she could also feel his passion. He forced his tongue into her mouth and she thought her legs might give way beneath her. Then his fiery kiss gentled. His hold on her, no longer brutal but no less possessive, slowly began to ease. His lips brushed the corners of her mouth, teasing, tasting, making the heat flow softly through her body. He was shaking when he pulled away.
“I am sorry. I should not have done that.”
Ambra touched her kiss-swollen lips. The taste of him still lingered. “I wanted you to kiss me. I have for a very long time.”
Richard glanced away. “We are nothing alike, you and I.”
“I know. I am stubborn and willful, while you… you can be missish and far too set in your ways.”
A faint smile curved his lips, then he straightened. “And you are betrothed to another.” He gripped her arm and urged her once more toward the keep. “I meant what I said. I will not let you run.”
But you will let him have me.As they hadn’t in a very long time, tears gathered in her eyes and began to slip down her cheeks.
***
