A Knight of Passion(31)

The old housekeeper’s welcome had been genuine. She had fussed over Riana, fed and bathed her, freshened one of the two kirtles Riana had brought with her, and insisted that the young girl assisting with the bath plaited her hair once it was dry. These were people she could work with…care for.

“You should rest a bit.” Mrs Carpenter raised a brow. “You want Sir Bryant’s first night with you in Chilgoriam Castle to be memorable.”

Riana kept to herself that it was unlikely the first night in Chilgoriam would be any more memorable than the first night and morning at Arundel. Though she would gladly wipe those days from her memory and start anew here in Sir Bryant’s home. Despite her trepidation, anticipation hummed through her. Mrs Carpenter and the female servants had expressed satisfaction that their lord had brought home a mistress. The housekeeper clucked that he had taken his sweet time in finding a wife. Riana couldn’t be certain how the rest of the household would respond to her, but once she took her place as mistress of Chilgoriam, the dream would be a reality. After, that is, she took care of the final order of business.





Chapter Sixteen

At the sound of the door opening behind her, Riana turned from the hearth in Sir Bryant’s bedchamber. He stood in the doorway.

“Good evening, my lord,” she said. “You are well?”

A corner of his mouth quirked. “Aye.”

He entered the room, closing the door behind him, and crossed to the bed. He unstrapped his sword, laid it on the dresser beside the bed, then stretched out on the mattress.

“The duchess can no longer harm you or Siusan,” he said.

Riana nodded. “I am grateful.”

“Grateful? Hmm. How grateful?”

She couldn't be angry at the question. She owed him her gratitude, and the amused twinkled in his eyes stated he would take her gratitude in any form she gave it. How much more gratitude would she have to give for the request she was about to make?

Riana walked to the bed and sat on the edge beside him. “The duchess cannot hurt us. But she can hurt Glen.”

He nodded, clearly waiting for her to ask outright.

“I have nothing more to offer. I am yours to do with as you please…”

“I imagine you would again take matters into your hands if I did not deal with the matter.”

“I cannot abandon him.”

“He risked prison for you.”

“I had no idea the duchess would imprison him,” Riana burst out. “Had I known…”

“We will buy his release,” Sir Bryant said.

“The duchess cares nothing for your money.”

“True, but the warden will.”

Riana flushed with memory of the man, his hands on her body, mouth on her cunt when Sir Bryant burst into the room.

“I must tell you what you want to know,” she said.

Sir Bryant grasped her wrist and pulled across his chest. He brushed her cheek with a thumb. His trailed his finger downwards over her chin and along her neck. Gooseflesh raced down her arms. His feather-light touch skimmed across the exposed curve of one breast, then the other. He dipped his finger into her bodice, brushing her nipple. She shivered. He tugged down her sleeve, exposing a breast. He palmed the weighty flesh. His gaze shifted to her mouth and he leaned close.

When he had nearly reached her mouth, Riana said, “My lord.”

His eyes lifted to hers.

“We must speak.”

He tugged her skirt thigh-high and reached between her legs. He brushed a thigh with his fingers, then slipped them between her already moist folds.

“Is this what I need to know?” he asked. “How wet you are for me?”

Her heart raced. She wanted him. Wanted to feel his length deep inside, to know she was safe in his arms…would always be safe. But a man’s cock had never saved a woman. He plunged his fingers into her channel. Pleasure ripped through her.

“What you need to know,” she said in a breathless voice, “is that Her Grace murdered Lord Marr.”

The fingers inside her stilled.

“What?”

“Lord Marr,” she said. “The duchess is responsible for his death.”

“He was killed by a robber,” Sir Bryant said.

“The murder was made to look like a robbery.”

Sir Bryant removed his fingers from inside her and straightened, forcing her to sit up.

“You certainly know how to shrink a man’s cock to the size of a sausage.”