Free Prisoner of My Desire by Johanna Lindsey

shackles.
    “And if my seed did not take? Will another take my place here in this cursed bed?”
    “That need not concern you, sirrah.”
    “Then tell me why a child is needed. And my child? I deserve to know that at least.”
    Mildred was surprised, having assumed Rowena would have told him that, but she shrugged. “Why else? To secure this place. She wed Kirkburough’s old lord, but he died the same day, the day you were taken. The child will be claimed as his.”
    Greed, aye, he should have known. And Kirkburough was a large fief, with the town included. He had seen the keep from the town. He had avoided it because he had not wanted to meet the lord and have to explain his presence in the area. His escort of thirty men would have been cause for alarm, even in the town, which waswhy he had sent them on ahead. All he had wanted was a bed and a bath, which any inn could supply. He had not counted on a greedy bride determined to keep what she had married for at any cost.
    Mildred stepped out of his reach when the last chain dropped loudly to the floor. Warrick carefully lowered his arms, his muscles screaming after three days at that unnatural angle. He gritted his teeth against the pain. That, too, felt strange without the gag to bite on. But he did not wait for the pain in his shoulders to lessen before he reached for the clothes she had brought.
    The tunic was made of the most inferior homespun he had ever seen, fit only for the meanest villein, and stunk to high heaven. But at least it fit him across the shoulders and arms, though it was lacking in length. So, too, were the coarse russet leggings, moth-eaten and frayed, and stopping well short of his ankles. The shoes were made of cloth, so at least they stretched to his size. The belt was a thin strip of leather.
    He said naught about the deplorable clothes. Once dressed, he had only one thing on his mind.
    “Where is she?”
    “Nay.” Mildred backed away to the door. “You try to hurt her, I will sound the alarm.”
    “I wouldst just speak with her.”
    “You lie, sirrah. ’Tis in your eyes. She bade me help you escape because she does not want your death on her conscience, but she never wants to see you again. Do you come back here,Lord Gilbert will kill you. ’Tis that simple. So take your life and go.”
    He stared at her for a long moment, his desire to get his hands on the wench who might or might not already carry his child warring with his desire for freedom. And he did not know how many he would have to fight if Mildred did cry for help. That settled it.
    “Very well, but I will need a sword, my horse—”
    “Are you mad?” she hissed. “You will go as you are, to draw no notice. The men who took you got rid of all that was yours, doubt it not. Now come. I will lead you to the postern gate. There is little time left.”
    He followed her, but he took note of everything he saw as she led him out of the keep and through the bailey. He almost changed his mind about leaving when he saw how few men were about, other than servants. The defenses were strong, but there was no one there to man them.
    No wonder the brother was off hiring men. Kirkburough could be taken in a day, and Warrick would be back in less than a sennight to prove it.

Chapter 10
    “’Tis done.”
    “I know,” Rowena said dispassionately as she turned away from the window. “I watched until he disappeared into yonder woods.”
    “I have a bad feeling about this,” Mildred said uneasily. “We should have waited.”
    “Nay. Gilbert has already said he will not depart here until he is assured I have the babe. He intends to leave the siege of Tures in the hands of his knights, since they do not expect to make much progress in the early weeks, and he is not really needed there. Today was the first he has even stepped out of the hall, much less the keep. He might not again. And he watches everyone with a hawk’s eye, to make sure no servants sneak up here. Think you he would not