Page 96 of The Beautiful Pretender

The footsteps stomped closer. Lord Thornbeck leaned against the bars of the door, probably trying to block the guards’ view of her.

“Who’s making that noise? Is it you, Thornbeck?”

He shook the bars with his powerful arms, making a loud metallic sound that reverberated off the stone walls.

Avelina tried not to move as the guards stood in front of Lord Thornbeck. Her heart thumped and she tried to slow her breathing, which was making her chest rise and fall. Could they hear her breathing? They would surely see her if they looked her way.God, make me invisible.

“Who is there?” one of the guards said sharply. “Is someone in your cell with you?”

“There is someone,” the other guard said.

“Of course there is,” Lord Thornbeck said. “Geitbart said he would capture Avelina and throw her in here with me, as you heard yourselves. They brought her in while you were gone, getting the bread.” He nodded at the loaves in their hands.

“No one told us,” one guard grumbled.

“Since you’re so in love with each other, you can share.” Thesecond, slightly larger guard shoved the small loaf through the bars. He turned to leave.

The first guard lingered, staring at Avelina, who stared back at him, her heart still pounding in her ears. Finally, he grunted and turned to follow his fellow guard.

“That was quick thinking.” She moved toward him.

“You should not be here. If Geitbart finds you, he will do harm to you.”

“Did they hurt you? Someone told me you broke the duke’s nose.”

He shook his head but winced and stopped, as if the motion hurt.

“They did. Let me see.”

“It is nothing, only a blow to the head.”

“Is it bleeding? Show me.”

“It’s stopped.”

She reached up and touched the back of his head, feeling the stickiness of blood.

He flinched and drew in a breath through his teeth.

Her stomach clenched at his pain. “You should sit down. Are you sure the bleeding has stopped?”

“Yes. I am well. But how is your ankle? Is it bleeding again?”

“No.” She lifted her foot and showed the bandage.

“Good.” His brows drew together, as he seemed to be thinking. “As long as they don’t realize you broke in, we can simply wait until they go for bread again, then you will have to escape.”

“You mean,wewill have to escape.”

“No. I cannot go anywhere or Geitbart will execute my men.”

“But did you not hear what I said? Odette says the king is on his way here. You need to escape before Geitbart discovers—”

“No.”

“I won’t leave here without you.”

“Lower your voice.”