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

turned to anger.
                  The stupid little goat was gone.
                  Clearly Emeline had left at some point since he saw her that afternoon. No one had taken her. She'd left. He closed his eyes as rage blossomed full blown in his chest. She had disobeyed a direct order. She was his and she had run away.
                  She had betrayed him. Again.
                  He would find her and she would have to be punished this time. He could not let her think she could behave this way and get away with it. Jaw clenched, he ordered his soldiers to comb the countryside for him, then he went looking for the serving woman.
                  He found her in the kitchens, looking fearful. He loomed over her as the other servants cleared out of the kitchen, leaving steaming pots to sway over the fire.
                  "Where is she Magda?"
                  "I don't know. I swear to you."
                  "You know where she is."
                  "No!"
                  He did not believe her. All women were liars. That truth had been affirmed for him today.
                  "Tell me woman, or you will not like the consequences!"
                  She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.
                  "I dinna know, but I can guess where she's gone. And why."
                  He narrowed his eyes, resisting the urge to shake the woman.
                  "You will tell me now!"
                  "One of the kitchen girls told me your men were talking in the great hall. She heard them say that when your bride came, you'd give the lady Emeline to the soldiers for their pleasure. They were saying all the things they were going to do to my Lady. She said that… Emeline heard them too."
                  "What?"
                  "You made a promise to take care of her! How could you do this to her? She's not a toy to be passed around! I'm not helping ye find her so ye can turn her into the castle whore! You can beat me and I still won't tell!"
                  The old woman was yelling at him in the middle of the kitchen. In the midst of all the turmoil in his mind, he took a moment to be glad no one else was witness to this.
                  "Listen to me Magda. I did not say that to my men. I would never have said that. I planned to wed her, damn ye!"
                  "Don't lie to me! I know yer kind. Ye'll take what you want from her and then ye'll discard her without a backward glance!"
                  "No! I wouldn't!"
                  He was vehement in his response but a little voice reminded him that it was exactly what he'd planned to do before he'd seen the tapestry. He closed his eyes. This was his fault. He should have made Emeline's position plain to the men. He couldn't fault them for wanting her. He shouldn't fault her for running.
                  But he did.
                  She should have come to him and asked him. She should have trusted him! His gut tightened as he grabbed the old woman again.
                  "Tell me where she is Magda! Look outside, there's a storm coming. She's not safe out there on her own!"
                  The old woman bit her lip, clearly unsure that she could trust him. Something in his eyes must have convinced her to tell him.
                  "There's a tunnel from the storeroom. It goes to the sea. I'll show ye."
                  He followed the woman below stairs, stopping only to grab a torch from the wall. As he stepped into the dark tunnel he swore to himself that when he found her, he'd have her chained to his bed. She'd never run from him again.
     
                 
     
     
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                  Emeline was doubting