Free Joanna Davis - Knights In Shining Armor by Haven; Taken By The Soldier Page A

full."
                  "I see. Why? Has she sent something recently?"
                  "Yes, last week in fact. It's a letter to a Lady Pauline Woodruff. I have it with me now. Would you like to see it?"
                  Rowan had a terrible feeling in the pit of his stomach. A feeling that his world was about to come crashing down around him.
                  "Yes, I would."
                  Henry handed him a neatly folder parchment. He stared at it. The letter was sealed with Lady Emeline's family crest, not the Fairhaven mark.
                  "It's a funny thing now that I think on it. That's the only letter that wasn't addressed to the military."
                  His head shot up.
                  "What did you say?"
                  "In the past five years I have withheld hundreds of letters from Lady Fairhaven. Every single one was for a soldier whose name escapes me at the moment. Not one of them made it past me as far as I know. Can't blame the man really, who would want their wife sending letters to another man?"
                  Rowan suddenly felt as if he'd drunk a barrel of wine. His head was spinning from the information he'd just been given. He swallowed convulsively.
                  "You still have the letters you say?"
                  "Every one. Didn't seem right to destroy them. Not sure what to do with them now though."
                  "Bring them here."
                  "Are you sure? It would take a year to read them all. Womanly nonsense most likely."
                  "Yes. I'm sure."
                  The man took his leave then, promising to call again soon with the undelivered mail. Rowan hardly noticed. He felt the blood coursing through his veins, pulsing in his temples. She had written to him after all. Had she asked for help? Forgiveness? He wouldn't be able to think of anything else until he knew.
                  He had to read those letters.
     

Six
     
     
     
     
                  An hour later his good will was slowly vanishing. He had read her letter to her Aunt asking for shelter. She must have written it before he'd made her his woman. After all, she was pleased with him now. He decided to resist the urge to mention it to her. He would be generous and not punish her for sending the letter without his leave.
                  He was waiting for Emeline to join him for the evening meal but she had yet to appear. He waved the old woman over as she was pouring ale for the men.
                  "Fetch your Lady, Magda. I grow weary of waiting."
                  She nodded and left the chamber. The old woman had been warmer to him since he'd taken Emeline to his bed. She trusted him now that she could see he'd kept his promise to be gentle with the lady. An alliance of sorts had sprung up between them.
                  It didn't take her long to return. Magda stood by the doorway and caught his eye. He felt a deep sense of unease that increase tenfold when the old woman shook her head. He stood and crossed to her, pulling her out of the great hall behind him.
                  "What is it?"
                  "She'd not in her room, nor the kitchen."
                  "What?"
                  A terrible feeling was settling into the pit of his stomach. Something was terribly wrong, he knew it. He called Wyeth, Peter and Kenneth to his side and quickly explained that Emeline was- he didn't want to say the word 'missing' but there was no other word for it. He told them to search the castle and the grounds without attracting attention. Then he ran outside to the one place he thought she might be.
                  Magda was at his heels as he approached the goat pen. He cursed under his breath as concern