Free Forever Knight: Thornton Brothers Time Travel (A Thornton Brothers Time Travel Romance Book 2) by Cynthia Luhrs Page B

play chess and wager.”  
    One of the men raised a cup. “Horse racing tomorrow.”
    Another man halfway down the table raised his. “My horses are faster. I plan to depart with your gold.”
    They laughed, and Robert nodded at the servants to bring in the next course and more wine.
    Featherton leaned down close to his ear. “The wenches have arrived. Shall I have them brought in?” He sniffed, the disapproval evident in his tone.
    “Give them ale and bring them in.”
    The men banged their cups on the table as the women entered the hall. They were all shapes and sizes, something to please every man in attendance. Robert had gone to great expense to ensure his guests’ pleasure. Some of the women pulled the men to the center of the hall to dance. Servants cleared the tables, pushing the benches and tables to the sides of the hall. Several would be left near the fire for those who wished to play chess.
    ’Twas as good a time as any to check on his guest. Robert slipped away from the hall and up the stairs, nodding to the guard on duty.
    Connor opened his eyes and groaned as he struggled to sit up.
    “I hear music. Ye know ’tis not wise. If anyone finds me here, will be both our heads.”
    Robert poured the man a glass of wine. “Did you drink the healer’s foul brew tonight?”  
    The Scot grimaced. “Aye. Only to keep the wee lassie from weeping.” He sat up, breathing heavily from the effort. “Foul-tasting potion.”
    Robert raised a cup. “I could not send everyone away; would raise too many questions. I have guards posted, and if anyone asks, I will say the chamber is under repair and unsafe. As long as you are quiet and don’t call out like a woman, all will be well.”
    “When I am able, we will cross swords in the lists and then we shall see how free you are with your slurs, ye wee bastard.”
    Robert laughed. “I shall look forward to it.” He told Connor about the guests in attendance and saw the worry in the man’s eyes.
    “Radford will not hesitate to give us up to the king. Anything to better his station.”
    “Leave him to me. I will do my best to see them gone in a few days.”
    The Scot frowned. “Do not tempt the fates. Send them away on the morrow.”
    “As soon as I can.” Robert sat back, talking to the man as they discussed the best course of action. Rancor swirled through him that he must give up his revelry because of a debt he owed. Was it not bad enough he had a future girl locked in his dungeons? What was next? Robert shuddered and wished he had not asked the question. For he knew the fates were not done tormenting him yet.

Chapter Fifteen

    Elizabeth had pried at every corner, wiggled every bar, and found no way to escape. A bribe came to mind, but without money or anything else of value to offer, well, it wasn’t like a smile was going to do her much good. She’d learned that from her previous seven stays in the poky.
    While she’d been locked away down here, she’d decided there was no way this was a prank. If it had only been a few hours she might have believed so. But now? Now all she could think was that something else was going on. With nothing but time on her hands, she’d gone over every moment since she’d arrived in England. The only thing that stood out was the terrible storm. What had happened to the beautiful strip of fabric? Looking down at her dress, she decided it was indeed a scrap meant for the rag bin. She’d gone to sleep, afraid of the storm and then woken to snoring. Him . Finding Robert the jerk in her bed. Of course, he’d claimed was his bed and she was the interloper.
    There didn’t seem to be any kind of rational explanation except for the whole cult idea. “A cult of medieval re-enactors.” Sounded crazy when she said it out loud. As she sat pondering her situation, Elizabeth heard voices. A man entered the dungeon. The guard had tried unsuccessfully to keep him from coming further into the room. She stood, hoping perhaps this man