For two days Rosalind slept on the cold, hard ground. Even the sacks of grain had been better than this. Shivers racked her body beneath the thin blankets her brothers had packed. Mostly she just lay there, aching for someone she no longer had. Or, if she was brutally honest with herself, had never had. And every moment she despised herself for that weakness.I shouldn't long for a man who viewed me as nothing more than a pawn.When she closed her eyes and curled up in her blankets close by her brothers and listened to the wind whistle through the trees, she could feel the phantom press of Ashton's lips on hers. The memories, too vivid not to be real, made her body tremble with longing and her heart bleed all over again.Damn that bloody Lennox to hell for making her long for him, for her body and soul to ache to be with him, even when he didn't care about her at all.I'm a puppet to him, nothing more. So why does it hurt to leave him behind?"Sleep, Rosalind." Brock's voice came
"A castle. It would have to be a bloody castle," Ashton muttered as he knelt behind a large boulder bordering the lake facing Castle Kincade. Godric, Cedric and Lucien were with him on either side as they studied the massive edifice in the distance."So much for our plans of overtaking them on the road," Lucien grumbled.Godric stared intently at the castle before glaring at Lucien. "Those Scots were devils when they fought us over bar wenches. I'd hate to see what they would do to protect their kin."Ashton squinted at the castle. "It's not the brothers that worry me. It's her father. He's the real brute. Her brothers love her, but from what I gathered he's bad enough to scare them into obedience."Godric and Lucien exchanged worried glances."We've never laid siege to a castle before." Lucien smiled grimly. "I suppose there's a first time for everything. But I'm afraid I left the family battering ram back at my estate."Godric couldn't help but chuckle at that.Ashton licked h
Ashton was here. He'd come for her. And yet all she could think was how angry she was with him.He stood there looking down at her with those piercing blue eyes. Eyes that had widened with surprise when he'd realized just what she had in her possession. He hadn't known about these letters, but no doubt he suspected she had something on Waverly that he could use. That had been the whole point of his seduction, hadn't it?He couldn't have come just for me. I'm a pawn to him, a piece to be moved about a chessboard.The bundle of letters seemed to burn her skin, and she couldn't bear to hold the weight of them a moment longer.Again she considered, for just an instant, that she ought to demand something in return, like his most profitable shipping company in addition to the return of all that was rightfully hers. A symbolic victory of sorts over him. But the truth was, she didn't want a reminder of him once he walked out of her life. If he wanted the letters, he could bloody well have
The sound of pistols made Rosalind jump. She clutched her skirts and ran for the door, her brothers at her heels."Rosalind, stay behind us!" Brock ordered, but she wasn't listening. If Hugo's men were shooting out there, seven against one"Ashton!" she cried out as she grasped the iron handle of the wooden door that led outside. Her brothers all now held their slender but lethal blades in one hand and pistols in the other.Brodie helped her pull the door open, and a scene of wild ferocity halted her in her tracks. Ashton's friends were fighting men left and right. The clash of blades and fists made her sick. She was a strong woman, but no one handled bloodshed well when it was with those she'd come to care about. Her brothers dove into the fray, bellowing out ancient battle cries that echoed off the castle walls. Brock grabbed a man and swung him hard toward the moat, the man shouting as he hit the water with a mighty splash."Ashton!" she cried, looking around. It was then she sa
Rosalind curled up on her side of the bed next to Ashton. It had been two long days since the doctor had extracted the bullet, sewn up the wound and seen to proper bandaging of Ashton's shoulder.When she'd asked how soon Ashton would heal, he'd replied, "The rest lies with God." The doctor's parting words had left her ill and feeling hollow. She hadn't moved from Ashton's side except to tend to her personal needs."Ashton, come back to me," she begged for the hundredth time. Her fingers clutched his. She waited for a squeeze, a twitch, any sign that he was still there and she hadn't lost him.She wiped at the tears that kept pooling in her eyes. She couldn't lose him, not when her heart had finally accepted him as her own."Please" She would give anything in that moment for him to be all right. "I will never leave you again.""Iwill hold you to that" Ashton's voice was rough, barely above a whisper."Ashton!" She felt his hand grip hers, squeezing weakly. She started to cry as s
Hugo stood in front of the large fireplace in his study at his townhouse on South Audley Street. Waiting. His blood was roaring in his ears, and his head felt light.He promised himself it would be over soon. The evidence of his foolish beginnings, evidence that could damage the country, let alone threaten his own life, would be back in his hands and could safely be destroyed. The League of Rogues would not learn how deep his interests went and could not unravel his carefully constructed web of lies and secrets.The study door opened, and his butler nodded at him."Sir Hugo, Mr. Sheffield has arrived.""Show him in. Is my wife still at home?""Yes, Sir Hugo. She was preparing to go out this evening. Should I tell her you wish to speak with her?""No. Send Sheffield in.""Very good, sir."Hugo turned back to the fireplace and only turned again once Daniel had entered. Daniel's coat was covered in dust from the road, but his face was bright with triumph."Did you get them?" Hugo
"Husband" Rosalind tested the word as she watched Ashton tweak his cravat. He cut a dashing figure in his blue waistcoat and buckskin breeches. At the word, Ashton raised his eyes to hers, and the slow curve of his lips making her flush."Wife."Rosalind bit her lip. Had she truly been married today? It had been a blur of laughter, smiles and friendship that left her feeling wrapped in a cocoon of love. The League and their wives, as well as Ashton's family, had taken her into their lives openly and warmly. Even her brothers had been on their best behavior for once, despite being among so many Englishmen. Brock had promised her they would stay a few weeks while repairs were made to the castle.Everything was perfect. She'd never known life could be so full of joy."Come and let me look at you." Ashton held out a hand, and she came to him. She had changed into one of her favorite gowns. A cream-colored gown with Belgian lace and red roses embroidered along the sleeves, the bodice an
Ashton stood in a private drawing room at his estate with the fire crackling in the hearth behind him. Before him stood his five closest friends. They had been through so much this past year, and yet in some ways it felt like only the beginning.Godric leaned on a cane, his leg still giving him a bit of a limp. Lucien toyed with a slip of red silk. Cedric and Jonathan were pouring glasses of brandy for the others. Charles leaned against the wall by the door, his gaze pensive.In his hand Charles held the small gold decoder device that he'd found in his room. Rosalind had confirmed that it was the one her father had sent. The key to unlocking Hugo's letters had been under their noses all along. Charles toyed with the device as he met Ashton's gaze, impatient to get started."What is with the cloak-and-dagger gathering?" Lucien asked. "Has there been a development regarding Waverly?"Ashton removed a single letter from his waistcoat and held it up. Every man's eyes fixed on the few p