Page 84 of A Knight’s Vengeance

Exhaling a fierce sigh, Geoffrey released Elizabeth’s hands. He rolled off her, got to his feet, and snatched the parchment from Veronique. Behind him, the bed ropes creaked. Elizabeth stumbled away from him, clutching at her ruined bliaut.

Geoffrey broke the seal with his thumb and read the terse lines scribed on the parchment. He laughed. “Damsel, you are not as valuable to your sire as you might believe.”

“What do you mean?” Her fingers knotted into the green wool, holding the edges of the slashed fabric together.

“Your father refused to surrender Wode.”

Pride and relief glowed in her eyes. “I told you he would never agree to your demands.”

“He has challenged me to a melee three days from now, in Moyden Wood.”

“A melee?” Elizabeth’s face turned pale, and she swayed on her feet.

Her horror touched Geoffrey. Despite her pampered, sheltered upbringing, she knew of the savage mock battles that pitted one enemy against another, without the king’s knowledge or consent. Geoffrey had fought two with the Earl of Druentwode. In the fight’s ensuing thrill and blood lust, few warriors heeded the rules of chivalry that governed tournaments. Even fewer considered their opponents’ safety. Most weapons were not blunted, a fact, he expected, her father knew as well.

Anticipation snaked down Geoffrey’s spine. At long last, vengeance. If he were correct in guessing Brackendale’s intentions, one lord would be killed. The other would stand as the dust settled on the maimed and the dead. He would be the rightful ruler of Wode.

“You cannot,” Elizabeth shrieked. “You cannot!”

Geoffrey shrugged. “’Tis a fair challenge. May the mightiest lord win.”

Her eyes grew wide with fear. “My father is no match for you in armed combat. He will die.”

“Then he will die,” Geoffrey said with cold finality.

Elizabeth’s hand flew to her mouth. She ran for the door.

He let her go.

As the sound of Elizabeth’s footsteps faded, Veronique turned to Geoffrey and grinned. “Tsk, tsk. A spineless wench, is she not?”

“’Tis no concern of yours,” he snarled.

Veronique arched an eyebrow. With his hands on his hips, and his lips pressed into a line, he looked less than satisfied with his encounter with the lady. She bit back a smug laugh. Served him right for dallying with another woman.

Frustration and fury surrounded him like invisible armor. Excitement shivered through Veronique. Ah, she loved to soothe his anger. It took skill and patience to transform rage, such a volatile emotion, into unbridled passion.

But she could.

She cast him a teasing pout. With loose-hipped strides, she crossed to him and twirled her fingers into the fine hair at his nape. “You are not pleased I interrupted you, after all?” When he did not respond, she slid her flattened palms down his torso and shoved them up under his shirt.

He cursed.

With a teasing giggle, she crushed her body against his while her fingers glided over his bare skin. “Tell me, milord, that you are not angry with me.”

He growled. “You disobeyed me. The message could have waited.”

Veronique hid a scowl. If she had not entered the solar, he would have sampled another woman’s body. She dug her nails into his flesh and covered her rage with a bold, slippery kiss that should have left him enticed and malleable. “Who would see to your needs then?” she cooed. “’Tis clear Brackendale’s daughter could not.”

His hands closed around her wrists, stopping her caresses.

“I am in no mood for your games,” he said, his voice so iron hard, she shivered.

As Veronique stared up into his face, half-masked by shadow, fear prickled in her veins. The night he had returned to bed after leaving her alone, he had not touched her. When she had tried to entice him, he had rolled onto his side and left her cold. Nor, over the past few days or nights, had he invited her to share his bed.

Forcing a sultry grin, she stretched up on the tips of her toes. She would prove he was not immune to her seductions.

He frowned and pushed her away. Turning his back to her, he reached for the wine jug on the side table.