Free A Midnight Dance by Lila DiPasqua Page A

the inside of her wrist in light, sensuous circles with his thumb. Touching her inspired a number of salacious thoughts, all of which involved leading her back to their secluded spot, stripping off her clothing, and taking her slowly.
    Jules released her wrist and focused on the two males before him. “My patience is thinning,” he warned.
    They exchanged looks once more. Then the younger, a lanky boy with dark hair and eyes, stepped forward, clearly surprising the others, and took the goblet from Raymond’s hand.
    “I will drink it,” he said and took a sip. “There. You see? It’s not poisoned.” He smiled.
    Jules tamped down his annoyance with the cheeky youth. “What is your name?”
    “Robert, sir.”
    “Well, Robert, that’s not enough. Down all of it .”
    “Is that really necessary?” Elise asked. “If he’d poisoned it, would he have offered to drink it?”
    “I’m willing to be lenient about petty theft. But not about attempted mass murder. If he is willing to drink the entire goblet, then they are free to go.”
    Jules leveled Robert with the full weight of his regard. “Finish it.”
    Robert cast his accomplices an uneasy look. “If I drink it all, I’ll simply fall asleep, correct?”
    “Yes, you’ll wake up in a few hours,” the other male said.
    Elise nodded. “You’ll be fine, Robert.”
    Appearing assured, his smile returned. He lifted his goblet. “Well then, here’s to all of you, and to a good night’s rest.” He downed the wine.
    Jules waited and watched for any ill-effects. Silent moments slipped by. He looked at Raymond. Raymond simply raised a brow.
    “Go,” Jules ordered the young men, satisfied, wanting them out of his sight. “If I ever catch you near my camp again, you’ll rue the day.”
    “We won’t ever bother you again,” Robert promised and walked toward their cart, still moving with a normal gait.
    Jules gave his men a nod, dismissing them. They began to disperse, resuming their previous activities, but Raymond remained by his side.
    It was then Jules noticed that the older male thief was still fixed to his spot. With a defiant tilt of his head, he glared at Jules.
    Jules stabbed the tip of his sword into the earth between his boots and held the hilt with both hands. He narrowed his eyes. “You have something you wish to say to me?”
    “Yes. I do,” he said. “I will see you again.”
    Jules could feel ire prickling his skin, growing rapidly irritated by the young man’s insolence and his stupidity. “Oh? Where?”
    “In hell.”
    “Gerard!” Elise exclaimed.
    Jules pulled his sword out of the ground. Gripping the hilt fiercely in his right hand, he took a step toward the brash youth. “And what makes you think you’ll see me there?”
    Gerard glanced at Elise. “After what you and I have done to this woman tonight, our souls will be damned.”
    Jules tightened his jaw. “Now you are contrite? Where was your conscience when you were trying to sell her ? You’ve got to be the greatest of fools to linger in my presence a moment longer than necessary. Unless”—Jules raised his sword to Gerard’s throat—“you wish to appear before your Maker for your Judgment now .”
    “No!” Elise’s hand shot out. She shoved at Gerard’s chest. “Go! Get on the cart. Leave now .”
    “My pleasure,” Gerard said between gritted teeth. “Let’s go.”
    “I am staying.”
    “Pardon?” Gerard looked aghast.
    “I am staying with him.” She moved closer to Jules. “If you’ll allow me to?” Her comely face was turned upward, awaiting his answer. “Will you take me to my cousin in Maillard?”
    “Your WHAT ?” Gerard spat out. “Are you mad? You are not staying with him! Or them.” He pointed to Jules’s men around the campfire.
    Jules grabbed him by the throat. “ Gerard , is it?” Gerard’s eyes widened in horrified astonishment, as his throat was in the clench of Jules’s grip, his toes barely touching the earth. “You are