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Betrayed HeartsbyElizabeth HenshallDID YOU PURCHASE THIS BOOK WITHOUT A COVER?If you did. you should be aware it is stolen property as it was reportedtolsold and destroyed by a retailer. Neither the Author nor the publisherhas received any payment for this book.All the characters in this book have no extstence outside the imagination ofthe author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same nameor names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known orunknown fo-the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in pan inany form. This edition is published by arrangement with HarlequinEnterprises H B. V. The text of this publication or any part thereof maynot be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic ormechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an informationretrieval system. or otherwise, without the written permission of thepublisher.This book is sold sub leer to the condition that it shall not~ by way oftrade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulatedwithout the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or coverother than that in which a is published and without a similar conditionincluding this condition being imposed on the, subsequent purchaser.MILLS & BOON, the Ro~e Device and LEGACY OF LOVE are trademarks of thepublisher. Harlequin Mills & Boon Limited, Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road,Richmond, Surrey TW9 I SRISBN 0 263 79875 5Set in 10 on 12 pt Linotron Times 04-9610-79729 Typeset in Great Britain byCentracet, Cambridge Printed in Great Britain by BPC Paperbacks LtdCHAPTER ONE.The thin rope binding her. wrists cut into her as Ghislaine struggleddesperately to get free. The destrier beneath her snorted with whatsounded alarmingly like disgust, and she hoped that the huge war-horsewould not take her doomed movements amiss."If you do not have the wits to stay still, wench, then you will find mytemper' far less amenable than the horse's," growled her captor.Ghislaine narrowed her eyes in fury and would have answered that threatwith the contempt it deserved, but unfortunately her mouth had beengagged with a foul rag that smelled as if it had come from the midden.Her guard's fingers pressed painfully into her arms as he pulled herback against his chest. The rivets of his protective leather hauberkgouged through her clothing. She was left with no option other than toremain where she was. If she tried to sit up without touching him, sherisked being trapped tightly by two very muscular thighs, Opting for thelesser evil and pain Ghislaine sank reluctantly back against her foe.The covering over her head was stifling and she wondered honestly justhow much longer she could endure being trussed up like a sack of grain,pummelled about on a horse and ripped to shreds by twine, without beingsick. It seemed like hours since she had breathed fresh air.The heartbeat of the man behind her thudded loudly in her ear and shewhispered a desperate appeal to heaven to arrange for it to stop.Nothing terrible or messy, she suggested quickly.Just to have it stop. Father Thomas had warned her on many o~casions ofthe dangers of malicious prayers but Ghislaine was convinced that, justonce, God might grant her this small wish, After all, she had donenothing to deserve such treatment.Well, she amended hastily, at least she had not deserved to be kidnappedby a bunch of marauding outlaws. Her crime was merely to have venturedfurther than she should from her manor. And, of course, had she heededEdwin's warning in the first place, she would not be in this predicamentat all.The morning had been crisp and dry, promising to be the most clement daythey had seen this February. Ghislaine, fed up with being inside themanor after a long, wet winter, had saddled her horse and set off, bowin hand, to see if she could shoot some game. The long-suffering Edwinhad reluctantly followed his headstrong mistress, warning her repeatedlythat outlaws had' been spotted in the forest nearby.She had, of course chosen to ignore him. Since she was hunting the Earlof Chester's game to give to the villagers, God, she was sure, would notinterfere. After' all, it had not been the villagers who had caused themurrain that had devastated the cattle herds. No one else, least of allthe Earl, would provide them with other food.It had not been until she reached the border that divided her land fromthe Earl's that Ghislaine had begun to feel uneasy~-Even then, she hadnot heeded her own instincts. Disaster 'had struck whilst she had.been patiently stalking a deer. Just as she had b, about to loose anarrow, a large hand had clamped o her mouth and dragged her back towardsthe cove~ the trees.Instinctively she had bitten hard and kicked b~ wards, causing herassailant to curse loudly be: yanking her up into the air and throwingsometl dark over her head. Within seconds her wrists mouth had beenbound and she had been dum unceremoniously into the saddle of a largehorse. captor had issued a few gruff orders and, since tl had barelyuttered a word.At first she had remained paralysed with fear, daring to move in caseshe incurred the wrath of man behind her. When she had realised that shenot going to die immediately, Ghislaine had com the conclusio ri thatshe was being taken for some o purpose."It was common enough in such 'a lawless county young heiresses to beheld captive and married for't lands, although Ghislaine found it hardto believe in case. Aye, she had lands and a manor, but they ~ smallcompared to most.Nor did she look much the lady of the manor.Mostly Ghislaine resembled of the peasants, and her captor would have tobe shrewd to have known who she was.It was a moment before she realised that the h, had at last come to ahalt.None too gently, Ghisl: was pulled down from the saddle and set on herHer eyes blinked rapidly when the covering was ym from her head."If you have any desire to survive the hour, girl, will not utter aword," a deep voice growled in her Swirling round unsteadily, Ghislainestared at the man who towered above her. He was tall, very tall, andswathed in a filthy cloak and stained leather hauberk. His thick blackhair hung around his shoulders and cold, ice-blue eyes impaled her.Danger seeped from the very depths of his black soul, and in an instant,Ghislaine knew that he was capable 0f murder.Satisfied that his captive would not move, he pulled away the gag alongwith several clumps of her long hair. Her shriek of pain brought hishand over her mouth and she was pulled roughly into his chest once more."Hell's teeth, girl," he hissed furiously."Do you want to die?"Ghislaine toyed with the idea of biting his hand again but decidedagainst. it when she caught sight of the knife close to her throat.When she finally shook her head, he sent her sprawling to the ground.Indignantly, Ghislaine rose as gracefully as her mud-covered cloak wouldallow and fixed him with a look of burning hatred."Have you always possessed such natural charm," she spat, her dark eyesflashing, 'or are you merely practising on me?" Tossing her wild,red-gold hair over her shoulder, Ghislaine lifted her chin defiantly andwaited for the death blow. If he was going to kill her, she would preferit to be quick.His eyes blazed, but instead of hurling the knife at her as she hadexpected, he turned to a blond-haired man standing a few yards away."Are you sure it's her?" he ground out~ the muscles in his jaw rigidwith control.When the blond man nodded, her captor rounded on her once more."So, Lady~ de Launay, you do not value your life overmuch?He knew her name so it was clear that this had been planned. Closing hereyes in fear, Ghislaine could not even begin to think why he had takenher."Oh, but I fear you have made a mistake," she began, her eyes widening."I am Lad~ de Launay's maid. Effie."His eyes narrowed as he assessed her appearance. "Effie is small, plump~blonde and," he added with grim conviction, 'pretty. You are none ofthose."The words were a deliberate attempt to upset her, but Ghislaine fixedhim with a smile."I am sure that ..."He advanced on her and grabbed her chin between his fingers interruptingher explanation most effectively."And I am sure that unless you co-operate, lady, your handsomecomplanion over there will be meeting his maker earlier than heexpected."Ghislaine swivelled her eyes in the direction 'he nodded to and caughtsight of Edwin, his long, thin frame bound and trussed between severalarmed men.Her eyes returned to her assailant. Pulling her chin from l~is fingers,Ghislaine glared at him."Very well," she replied flatly."What do you want?""I want you to behave like a lady, if that is possible." His stingingsarcasm caused her to raise no more than an auburn brow in response."We travel on to Chester and my men and'i wish to enter the city asunobtrusively as possible."None of this made sense."Why?" she demanded curiously."Because I have a desire to speak with the Earl of Chester, and bybringing him one of his wards I believe it may help him to view my causein a more positive light."So, she was to be a hostage."And if I do not cooperate, you will kill Edwin," she concluded.The dark-haired outlaw stared at her pounds r a moment be~ fore nodding."I hope you remember that, Lady de Launay," he warned ominously beforeturning back to the small army of men waiting some yards away.Despite her brave words, Ghislaine was terrified. Edwin's life depended... [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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