Free The King's Falcon (Roundheads & Cavaliers Book 3) by Stella Riley Page B

now.’
    ‘As you wish, my lady.’   He made an extravagant bow.   ‘So – aside from satisfying your ladyship’s curiosity – did your ladyship want anything else?’
    ‘Don’t! I didn’t mean that.   You know I didn’t.’
    ‘I’m not sure I know you at all … or indeed that I ever did.’  
    He continued to contemplate her, unable to define his feelings.   He hadn’t expected to see her or to care whether or not he did.   It had been six years, after all and the twenty-four year-old he’d been then was now a different person.   The hurt he’d felt at the time had long since faded into shadow.   And yet, looking at her now, he remembered how much he’d believed he loved her; remembered how sure he’d been that she felt the same; and remembered how, returning to find her married to his brother without either warning or a word of explanation, had left him feeling as though something had been ripped from his chest.   It was a recollection.   No more than that … but he didn’t want it.   He said, ‘What do you want with me, Elizabeth?’
    ‘I don’t know.   I just …’ She shrugged helplessly. ‘I suppose I thought I should … perhaps I should explain.’
    ‘It’s a little late for that, don’t you think?   And unnecessary.   You chose James because, having inherited the title and the land, he was a better prospect than myself.   We won’t go into why he asked you.   And clearly,’ he gestured vaguely to the room, ‘you are happy with your choice.’
    Suddenly wanting to deny what he’d said but unable, under his cool, implacable gaze, to find the words, she blurted, ‘Are you married?’
    ‘No.’ A pause.   And then, on a note of mocking amusement, ‘Oh dear.   You’re not thinking I’ve remained unwed on your account?’
    ‘No.   My goodness – of course not!’
    One raised brow suggested that he didn’t entirely believe her but he said merely, ‘What, then?’  
    Elizabeth found herself at a loss again.   What she thought was that he still looked exactly the same.   A little harder, perhaps – his muscles more clearly defined; but still as tall and lithe and wildly attractive as he’d always been.   Long tawny hair lay in careless waves on broad shoulders; dark green eyes, flecked with gold were set between ridiculously long lashes; and the chiselled planes and angles of his face were nothing short of breath-taking.   She forced herself to swallow.   He was sinfully beautiful and possessed of an indefinable air of danger that was as alluring as it was exciting.   And she had thrown him away in favour of money and status … and James.   James who came to her bed twice every week on exactly the same days and made love to her in exactly the same tediously unimaginative way that frequently made her want to scream.   She suspected that if Ashley made a woman scream, it would be for other reasons entirely.
    The idea made heat rise to her cheeks and she said quickly, ‘I suppose you’re in Worcester with Charles Stuart?’
    ‘I’m in Worcester with His Majesty King Charles the Second,’ he corrected coolly, ‘and it’s time I completed my business with James and returned there.’   He made an unsmiling but perfectly correct bow and said, ‘It’s been fun, my dear.   We must do it again some time.   But for now, you needn’t bother to show me out.   I know the way.’
    Five minutes later, Ashley strode out into the courtyard, his face utterly bleak.   He found his brother behind the stables, fastening down a loaded cart; and, without troubling to mention Elizabeth, he said, ‘Are you done here?’
    ‘Yes.’   James arose from his task and looked back with open dislike. ‘You’ll find everything you asked for.   But if anyone learns where it came from, I’ll do my best to see you hanged.’
    ‘You wouldn’t be the first one to try.’   Ashley tethered his horse to the back of the cart.   ‘Since it would be a waste of breath, I