Free Darkest Knight by Cynthia Luhrs

stuff even in her time. It had to be worse here. Her stomach did flip-flops from thinking about being locked in one of the cells. During their travels, John explained you had to pay for accommodations. Pay for your food, blankets, basically for everything.
    She had no money. Nor any jewels. If they locked her up, she would have nothing to offer. And someone without means would die quickly in the tower or face difficult choices. She heard the awful cries as they’d escaped. Anna swallowed, remembering the man she saw lying dead in his cell, eyes open and unseeing. He was dressed in rags, his leg shaking as vermin moved in the dim light. A shudder went through her.
    “You are quiet this eve. It is aught amiss?”
    “I’m usually quiet. But there seems to be something about you that makes me talk more.” And stand up for herself. Knowing he wasn’t interested in her made it easy to banter back and forth. Just once, couldn’t the hot guy fall for the mousy girl?
    She tore the bread on the plate in front of her into small pieces. In the corner of the kitchen, a mouse sat up, whiskers twitching. Before she considered what she was doing, Anna threw him a tiny piece of bread. He grabbed it and scurried into a hole in the corner. She knew she was asking for trouble. Feeding a mouse. Where there was one there were probably hundreds. But he looked so cute and hungry that she couldn’t resist. Run across me while I sleep, though, and I’ll be getting a cat, Mr. Mouse.
    “If this is you talking more, mistress. I would hate to see when you are silent.” John smiled. He was utterly charming even while he was obviously distracted. She hadn’t been the only one quiet tonight. Coming home must make him feel the full weight of his troubles bearing down on him.
    “I’m just tired. It’s been a long journey.”
    “I will send Emory for clothes for you tomorrow, and a bath. Would that please you?”
    What would it be like if he turned the full impact of those kind brown eyes upon her and saw her truly for the first time? Part of her wanted to find out. But the other part…
    “Very much. I’m afraid if I go too much longer, flies will start following me around.”
    He grinned. “I would follow you, stench or not.”
    If only. A girl could dream.
    “I know you need to stay away from the tower. And I certainly understand, given the circumstances. But I must find a way back home. I have to believe since I fell through time in the Tower of London, that is where I must go to make my way home.”
    “And if you cannot go home? Then…”
    He seemed almost ready to tell her something and then changed his mind. She shrugged it off.
    “I have to stay positive. There are those who need me at home. Depend upon me for their welfare.”
    He opened his mouth ask her a question when they heard a commotion in the hall.
    John jumped to his feet, sword and dagger in hand.
    “Is that any way to greet your brother?”

Chapter Seventeen

    Anna couldn’t believe her eyes. She was looking at another Hollywood hunk. He looked younger than John. He didn’t have the same worries etched across his face. She would’ve known them as brothers anywhere.
    John sheathed his blades and went to his brother, who promptly punched him in the face. Knowing when to get out of the way, Anna sat on the edge of the table as John and his brother exchanged blows. Soon they were rolling around on the floor, cursing at each other. At least, she assumed they were cursing. The words sounded sort of like French. What was it with men and fighting? Maybe it was like women meeting and sizing up each other’s appearances.
    John brushed the dust from his tunic, blood running down the side of his face. He held out a hand to his brother.  
    The guy slapped the proffered hand away. “I am not an infirm lad.”
    He straightened his clothing and made her a bow.
    “Who is this vision of loveliness? A fairy residing in this ruin? Seeing her in your ruin of a hall, I can almost