A Knight of Passion(9)

“Where is my sister?” Riana demanded.

“In her chambers. We are fortunate to have thwarted the escape. Did it not occur to you that the very thing you fear could happen to her would? What if one of Sir Dunbar’s men had encountered her? They would not have protected her as the duke’s men will.”

“Her maidenhead is a small price for freedom,” Riana replied.

The duchess’ brows shot up. “They would pass her around until she bled.”

“Not all men are like your husband,” Riana said, and started to turn.

“Are you not going to ask about your beloved Glen?”

Riana halted. “Glen? What of him?”

“I turned him over to the Sheriff.”

“The Sheriff?” Riana burst out. “But why? He has committed no crime.”

“Kidnapping a noblewoman is a crime punishable by hanging.”

Riana’s insides shook. “Wha—what do you mean? He did not kidnap her.”

“My husband thinks he did.”

Her head reeled. Glen in prison? Riana fell to her knees and grasped the duchess’ hand. “I beg you, do not hang him.”

“It is him or your sister, Riana.” Cold blue eyes stared down at her. “Which shall it be?”

The duchess knew she wouldn’t sacrifice Siusan. Head bowed, Riana rose and crossed to the door. She closed the door behind her and paused in the hallway. Without Glen, Siusan had no chance of escape, and escape they must, for the duchess now understood that Riana would no longer wait to save her sister. How much time before the duchess gave Siusan to the duke? She wanted Sir Dunbar eliminated. If Riana could forestall his death for even a few hours, she might obtain Glen’s freedom, and find a way to get Siusan out of Arundel.

Tears burned the corners of her eyes at the thought of the old mute locked in a cell with criminals who would as soon cut his throat as shove their cocks inside his arse. At least he could protect himself…for a time.

She swallowed, her throat dry. The duchess had unknowingly given Riana the answer to Glen’s freedom. The warden would be willing to grant favours in exchange for a delectable piece such as herself. Riana’s stomach turned at thought of the gaol keeper’s grimy mouth clamped to her mound as he attempted to suck her into pleasure. The fool would never know he hadn’t succeeded.





Chapter Five

Fury rammed through Bryant. Using Riana as a whore wasn’t enough. The duchess would have the young woman murder for her. He had wondered why Riana had emptied the wine goblet into the chamber pot. He was gratified to understand she wouldn’t chance him drinking the deadly wine by mistake. She was no murderess, at least not at heart.

The duchess, however, schemed to murder his mentor, the man who had been more of a father to him than his own father. Twenty-three years ago, Bryant’s father had torn him from his mother’s arms at the age of seven and given him to Dunbar as his page. Now Bryant was a knight to be reckoned with—though he wasn’t powerful enough to stand against the Duke or Duchess of Arundel.

Bryant’s word wouldn’t be enough to bring her to justice for conspiring to murder, but Sir Dunbar would believe him and, if the older knight saw the wisdom in the plan now forming in Bryant’s mind, together, they might wield some power over the duke and duchess.

Five minutes later, Bryant entered Sir Dunbar’s room.

Dunbar cursed and propped himself up in bed when Bryant lit a candle. “‘Tis the middle of the night.”

“I can leave and take with me the information about the attempt on your life,” Bryant said.

Dunbar threw back the covers and sat up. “Who have I offended this time?”

Bryant lowered himself into the chair to the left of the bed. “The Duchess of Arundel.”

Dunbar’s brows rose in question, and Bryant told him all he’d overheard between her and Riana.

Ten minutes later, Bryant had finished the tale and he leant back in his chair as Dunbar gulped the last of the wine he had poured.

He set the goblet on the night stand beside the bed and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “You are damned fortunate the wench did not feed you the poison just for good measure—and I am fortunate to have caught the eye of that serving maid. Had she not brought me to these chambers, I would have certainly f*cked the whore, then drank the poison she fed me.” He grinned. “Your life for mine is a fair trade after all, the times I’ve saved your life.”