Knight's Caress

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Authors: Lynette Vinet
Tags: Romance
near her. Hastily, she brushed her tousled hair away from her face. “Where is everyone?” she asked with a wary glance at Wulfgar.
    “Gone, my lady, all gone except for us.”
    “Gone where? How did everyone leave without my hearing them? Why did Tedric not tell…” Quickly, she grew quiet, not caring for the sudden eruption of laughter from Wulfgar and the knowing look in his eyes. She chastised herself for even thinking about Tedric. Apparently Wulfgar knew far more about what had passed between her and Tedric than she cared to dwell upon.
    “Lord Tedric owes you not an explanation for his actions. He is no longer here, having ordered everyone to take their leave of this place during the night. We’ve scattered to the four winds as a means of protecting ourselves from Norman vengeance, now that Lady Edytha is safe with her family.”
    “Edytha has been returned?” Amberlie’s shocked statement sounded like a question. When had all of this taken place? she wondered. When would she herself be returned to Woodrose Keep? Or would she be returned? Her eyes contained suspicion. “I can’t imagine Guy de Bayonne releasing Tedric’s sister before I am returned.”
    Wulfgar shrugged. “‘Tis little concern of mine what your kinsman thought, but he released Edytha into the company of three of our men last eve. Our own small force was nearby to make certain no Norman followed, though Tedric made it plain that your safety would be jeopardized if de Bayonne attacked. It seems that Guy de Bayonne sets great store by his pretty niece, my lady, to agree not to pursue us before your release.” Wulfgar leered, but made no move to touch her, though Amberlie sensed his restraint might wane.
    She didn’t like his insinuations, but at the moment she didn’t care what he thought about her relationship with Guy—or what Tedric might have thought either. She wanted only to go home. “When shall I be set free?”
    “Now, my lady, but first I’ll blindfold you. We don’t trust that you won’t reveal our hiding place.”
    Amberlie started to protest, but she thought better of it, and allowed Wulfgar to tie the covering over her eyes. He extended a hand to her and led her out of the cave to place her on a horse. Wulfgar didn’t mount behind her but walked, leading the horse in the direction of the keep.
    The early morning sunshine spilled through the overhead branches, and meadowlarks chirped in the boughs of trees. The forest had come to life sweetly and slowly as they progressed toward their destination. For all of Amberlie’s relief to be going home, she couldn’t help but wonder why Tedric hadn’t escorted her—and she swallowed her hurt that she could be so easily discarded by a crude and overbearing barbarian. But her good sense kept telling her that she was well rid of Tedric, the renegade who’d murdered Henri, the hateful man who’d inflamed her with his kisses, only to send her on her way without a word of farewell. But she silently vowed to avenge herself upon him for all he’d done to her. If it took the rest of her life, she’d make him pay for his crimes against her.
    So busy was she mulling over her future plan of revenge, that she didn’t realize Wulfgar and the horse had ceased walking. “Why have we stopped?” she asked worriedly after Wulfgar removed the blindfold. They were in a particularly dense part of the forest.
    “This is as far as I go, my lady. You’ve only to follow the path to the keep.”
    “You surely jest,” she objected with some force. “I know not the way to the keep from here. You simply can’t leave me to fend for myself in this—this wilderness.” Amberlie glanced wildly around, fearful that that was exactly what Wulfgar proposed doing.
    Wulfgar grabbed Amberlie around the waist and lowered her from the horse to the ground. “Lord Tedric has given me his orders, my lady. I must obey or risk discovery by de Bayonne and his men. ‘Tis necessary for me to leave you here.

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