Page 36 of A Knight’s Vengeance

“Of course not.” She did not like his nearness, but she also would not show cowardice and retreat.

“You should be satisfied with what I have given you. Grateful, even.”

“Grateful?”

He nodded. His hair, curving past the edge of his collar, gleamed like polished oak. “When I came to Branton, I found it in disrepair. ’Twill take months to bring it to the standard to which a spoiled lady, like you, is accustomed.”

Chills rippled through her.

“Vast structural repairs must be done or this keep will crumble into a heap of stones and mortar. I need a full retainer of servants, which I do not have. There are far too many tasks for a few hands, yet I still provided you and your lady-in-waiting with a warm bed, clean clothing, food, and drink.” His lips drew back from his teeth. “I even paid a healer with my own coin, little that I have, to tend your wounds.”

“W-why are you telling me this?”

Promise smoldered in his gaze. Promise of… what?

He smiled, but warmth did not touch his eyes. “Mayhap I should have sent you to the dungeon instead. ’Tis a foul place, the perfect home for spiders, rats, and vermin.” His tongue curled around the word and Elizabeth shuddered. “’Tis damp and cold even in the heat of summer. Unlike this chamber, which you hold in such contempt.”

De Lanceau took one last step and halted in front of her. His gaze raked up the front of her bliaut. “Aye, you have much to be grateful for. Most of all, that I have not unleashed my fury and sought your body to appease me.”

Elizabeth gasped. She stumbled back, but his hand caught her left wrist and held her firm. She struggled, but he pulled her toward him until her breasts brushed his jerkin. Fabric whispered where their bodies touched.

He smelled of bitter, earthy ale. Of man.

Trembling, she stared up at the seductive fullness of his lips. “Milord.”

“You think to apologize?” His breath fanned against her forehead. “Too late, milady. You have taxed my restraint once too often with your waspish tongue.”

With a strangled cry, Elizabeth broke free of his grip. She whirled and bolted toward the trestle table.

De Lanceau’s laughter chased her. Pace by pace, he stalked her down the table. She scooted ahead of him, her bottom pressed against the table’s edge. Her hands skidded on the dusty surface. She tried to dart past him, but he thwarted her escape.

Her fingertips scraped against stone, and, with a horrified jolt, she realized she was against the far wall.

Trapped.

A wicked smirk on his lips, de Lanceau towered over her. He crowded her back into the corner.

His palms slammed on the wall either side of her head.

“Tell me,” he murmured against her hair. “Are your only assets the lands you bring to marriage, damsel? Or, are there other reasons for Sedgewick to covet you as his betrothed?”

“I do not know what you mean.” She flattened back against the cold stone, one hip squeezed against the end of the table.

“You will.”

“Please, let me go.”

His fingers tangled into her hair. “You should not have provoked me. Any woman with any sense would have realized I am not a kind or patient man.”

His thumb tilted up her chin.

He meant to kiss her.

Elizabeth jerked her face away. With gentle but firm movements, he twisted her hair around his hand until she had no choice but to look at him. “Nay,” she choked. “N⁠—”

His mouth crushed down over hers.

The kiss tasted of anger. His lips branded hers with the essence of ale. His tongue lashed. In all her years, no man had ever kissed her.