Page 58 of An Outlaw’s Desire

Bloody hell.

Pitt’s jaw hardened. “What are you doing here?”

“A question I should ask you,” Sherborne said with a thin smile.

Disgust and fear burned within Pitt. Sherborne knew of the tunnels inside the keep from his days as a squire. He’d led the others to spy on the wards. Yet, the fact he’d gotten inside tonight, of all nights, reminded Pitt that his lordship had men loyal to him within the fortress; the concealed chamber filled with so many weapons had proven that.

Pitt scrambled to figure out how the next moments might unfold, but his heart overruled his attempts at logic. Blythe was in even more peril. He had to protect her; give her the chance to get away. At the very least, she could stop the siege.

Sherborne moved closer. “A moment ago, were you discussing riches?”

No way in hell was Pitt answering that question. He held his lordship’s stare. “Did you follow me tonight?”

“I did. One of my men contacted me. Told me he’d received a missive from you.”

Galven was loyal to Sherborne.

“Not knowing your intentions,” his lordship continued. “I decided to visit the castle—to make sure all was in order for the morrow.”

Had Sherborne meant the store of weapons? A sickening chill settled in Pitt’s gut, even as another man stepped out of the shadows behind his lordship: Galven.

Behind Pitt, Blythe drew in a sharp breath.

His lordship’s gaze shifted from Pitt to her. “You did not tell me you had an accomplice.”

“She is not involved in any way.” How grateful Pitt was that his voice hadn’t betrayed his lie. Still, he doubted his words had convinced Sherborne to let her go.

“Finding her with you makes this situation more complicated.”

“I disagree.” Sweat beaded on Pitt’s brow, for he also thought of the book she held. While he didn’t know all of the writings it contained, Sherborne mustn’t get hold of the tome. “I was just making sure she found her way out.” He gestured to behind him, hoping she’d understand his signal for her to run.

The air behind him shifted as Blythe hurried away.

“Hold.” Sherborne motioned to Galven.

Pitt swiftly drew his sword, but so did his lordship. As Pitt stared his opponent down, the guard shoved past and grabbed Blythe’s arm.

“Let go of me!”

Pitt longed to glance over his shoulder at her, but he didn’t dare shift his gaze from Sherborne.

“I regret you saw me tonight, milady,” his lordship said. “Now I cannot let you leave.”

“I do not even know who you are.”

Pitt silently applauded her acting skills. Sherborne, though, was unlikely to be fooled.

His lordship chuckled. “Of course, you know me. I lived here when you did. I was a squire, just like Pitt. You were one of Lord Montgomery’s wards.”

“I do not remember all the folk I met years ago,” Blythe said.

“Mayhap not, but this past summer you attended the feast held the day before I was to marry Rosetta. You were among the guests who waited for her to arrive at the church in Clipston for our wedding. I remember you, Blythe.”

Ah, God.Pitt’s fear drove deeper, forSherborne could decide to kill her here in this tunnel. Pitt would fight like hellfire to make sure she didn’t die this night.

“What were you doing tonight?” his lordship demanded, his attention returning to Pitt. “I did not realize you two had kept in contact.”

“I did not realize you needed to know,” Pitt snarled.