Free Her Rebel Heart by Alison Stuart

supervising a small herd of cattle purchased for the provisioning of the castle and strode across the courtyard. Looking up at the residence he saw Deliverance sitting at the window of the upper parlour, her chin resting on the hand of her uninjured arm. In that unguarded moment she looked so sad that he stopped in his tracks.
    She saw him and straightened, the moment of candour gone, but the recollection of her drawn, pensive face lingered. He waved at her and decided they should both take a short break from the responsibilities that weighed upon them so heavily.
    Luke washed the dust of the day off and made himself as presentable as he could. He found Deliverance in the parlour, still sitting by the window where he had seen her, looking down over the courtyard, her arm in a neat blue silk sling. Penitence sat in a chair beside her, the ever-present embroidery in her hand. She looked up as Luke entered and seeing him she frowned. Luke swept both women an all encompassing bow as Deliverance turned around and looked at him.
    “Where did you get the cattle?” Deliverance asked without preamble.
    “Purchased quite legally from a farmer over by Stanton,” Luke replied. “I have some news. Charles Farrington has just sat himself down in front of Byton with three hundred men.”
    The women looked at each other and Penitence’s hand went to the chain at her throat
    “Three hundred?” Penitence stared at him. “How do you know that?”
    Luke's lips compressed. “The game of war, Mistress Felton. He watches us and I watch him.”
    Her eyes widened. “And Byton? Are you going to help?”
    He frowned. “What help can I be now they are under siege? When I offered Byton help, it was refused.”
    “Can't you attack Farrington from behind?” Penitence asked.
    “I have fifty men. He has three hundred.”
    “But you did it before!” Penitence said.
    “I had the element of surprise and Farrington's force was untrained and ill-equipped. It is quite a different army that is encamped before Byton. Two of my patrols have already been involved in skirmishes with Farrington's men. I'm sorry, Mistress Felton, but Byton is on its own. I've sent word to Gloucester but as you know that is also under siege. We can do no more and my men are all needed here.”
    Deliverance sank into the chair across from her sister. “Luke...Captain Collyer is right, Pen. There is nothing we can do for Byton.” She looked up at him. “How long do you think we have?”
    “Only a matter of days.”
    She sighed and looked away.
    Penitence looked him up and down. “You look unusually tidy. Do you have an assignation planned, Captain Collyer?”
    He looked down at his best coat of fine wool, dyed a deep ruby, alleviated by a spotless linen collar edged with a good quality lace that he had chosen. Just for a few minutes it felt good to have left his military persona in the bedchamber, even if he still wore a sword and had a small pistol tucked into his belt.
    An unaccustomed heat burned his cheeks and he cleared his throat.
    Looking at Deliverance, he said, “I was wondering if...that is... if you're up to it, Mistress Felton, you would care to take a walk?”
    Penitence gasped and, he amended his invitation. “I mean both of you, of course.”
    Penitence glanced at Deliverance. “I have chores to see to,” she said, “but I think a stroll would do you good, Liv.”
    Deliverance looked from her sister to Luke. “Me?”
    Thankful any confusion had been avoided by Penitence's tact, Luke continued with more confidence, “When Farrington takes Byton, he will move on to us and then our chance for a walk in the fresh air beside the Teme will be lost.”
    “A walk?” Deliverance repeated.
    “That is an excellent idea,” Penitence said. “A little fresh air will put some colour back in your cheeks, Liv.”
    Deliverance looked out at the fine summer evening and nodded. “Very well. Thank you, Captain Collyer. I really don't need this,” she said,