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  They rested only minutes, ate hurriedly and were again on their way.

  That night, as Elizabeth snuggled in Miles’s arms, she had her first chance to talk to him. “What do you think of this young woman you risked your life for?” she asked.

  “I know she’s dangerous,” he answered. “She was married to the Duke of Lorillard. As a child I used to hear of his cruelty. He’s been through seven or eight rich, highborn young women. They all seem to die within a few years of marriage.”

  “Is Chris highborn?”

  Miles gave a snort. “She’s descended from generations of kings.”

  “How do you know all this?”

  “From my French relatives. They’ve had a few dealings with the Lorillard family. Elizabeth,” he said solemnly, “I want you to keep these.” He closed her hand over the long strand of pearls Christiana’d worn yesterday. “Tomorrow, late, we should reach the home of my relatives but in case we don’t…No!” He put a finger to her lips to quiet her. “I want to tell you the truth so you can be prepared. The Lorillard family is powerful and we’ve taken the life of one member and now harbor another. They’ll tear the countryside apart looking for us. If anything happens, take the pearls and go back to England to my brothers. They will take care of you.”

  “But what about your French relatives? Couldn’t I go to them?”

  “I’ll tell you the story someday, but for now let’s just say that the Lorillards know me. If I’m captured, the way to my people here will be blocked. Go home to my brothers. Will you swear that? No more attempts to rescue me, but get home to safety.”

  She refused to answer him.

  “Elizabeth!”

  “I swear I will go home to your brothers.” She sighed.

  “And what about the rest?”

  “I will make no more promises!” she hissed at him, turning her face up to his to be kissed.

  They made love slowly and deliberately, as if tomorrow would never come. Miles’s words of warning made Elizabeth feel desperate, as if they had only a few hours together. Twice, tears came to her eyes, tears of frustration that they’d been so close to safety and one woman’s lust had put them in danger.

  Miles kissed away her tears and whispered that she was to live for the moment and she could save her anger and hatred until later when they had the leisure.

  She fell asleep holding Miles as tightly as she could and during the night she moved on top of him. He woke, smiled, kissed the top of her head, pulled a wad of her hair out of his mouth, hugged her and went back to sleep.

  Roger woke them before daybreak and after one look, Elizabeth was sure he’d never been asleep. Christiana appeared from the trees, her eyes alive, her lips full and reddened, whisker burn on her neck and the side of her face. As they began to walk, Elizabeth saw Roger constantly cast looks toward Chris—looks of awe and pleasure. By noon, he had his arm around the girl, pulling her close to him. And once, to Elizabeth’s surprise, he caught Chris in his arms and kissed her passionately. Roger’d always been decorous, aware of his place in life, his knightly vows, and he never made public displays of affection.

  Miles caught Elizabeth, pulled her away from the spot where she stood gaping at her brother.

  It was an hour before sunset when men burst from the trees, swords drawn and pointed at the throats of the four travelers.

  A man, old, ugly, stepped from behind the knights. “Well, Montgomery, we meet again. Take them!” he commanded.

  Chapter 19

  ELIZABETH SAT STILL ON THE HORSE FOR JUST A MOMENT as she saw, through tears, the ancient Montgomery fortress. So many things had changed in the last few weeks that she wasn’t sure either England or the massive stronghold would still be there.

  One of the horses of the three big men behind her stamped impatiently, bringing Elizabeth to her senses. With a great cry, she used the ends of her reins as a whip and spurred the horse forward. For all that she’d never visited the Montgomery estates, she knew the plan of it well. In Scotland, Miles had told her about the place, even drawn a sketch in the dirt.

  She headed for the heavily guarded back gate, the family entrance. As she came to the walls that surrounded the narrow entrance, she barely slowed her horse.

  Immediately, guards, arrows aimed, challenged her.

  “The wife of Miles Montgomery,” one of the men behind Elizabeth bellowed upward.

  Six arrows landed in the ground before Elizabeth’s horse, and the tired animal reared, one hoof breaking two shafts. Elizabeth used all her strength to control the frightened animal.

  Three armed knights now stood between her and the closed entrance.

  “I am Elizabeth Montgomery and these men are with me,” she said impatiently but with some respect. Not many places were guarded like this any more.

  As if they were statues, the knights held their ground as more men dropped from the walls and aimed swordpoints at the men behind Elizabeth.

  When twenty Montgomery knights were assembled, one guard spoke to her. “You alone may enter. Your men stay here.”

  “Yes, of course. Take me to Gavin. He can identify me.”

  The reins of Elizabeth’s horse were taken from her and she was led into a clean, spacious courtyard before a large house. More buildings were tucked inside the high surrounding walls.

  One of the guards entered the house and moments later a pretty woman appeared, her face smudged with flour, sesame seeds dotting her hair.

  “Take me to your master,” Elizabeth ordered the woman. “I have news that concerns him.”

  “Are you Elizabeth?” the small woman asked. “Do you have news of Miles? We were told you’d both been killed. Henry! Help her from her horse and bring the men with her inside and feed them.”

  At that moment Bronwyn appeared in the doorway and behind her the little singer Elizabeth’d met years before, Alyx.

  “Elizabeth!” Bronwyn cried, running forward.

  Elizabeth nearly fell into her sister-in-law’s arms. “I am so glad to see you! It’s been such a long journey. Where’s Stephen? We have to return and get Miles and Roger. They’ve been taken by a French duke and we have to ransom them or rescue them or—”

  “Slow down,” Bronwyn said. “Come inside and have something to eat and we’ll make plans.”

  “Henry!” the woman behind Elizabeth commanded. “Fetch my stepfather and Sir Guy. Send them to me and prepare seven horses for a journey. Send a rider ahead immediately and have a ship prepared for travel to France. I want no delay. Is that understood?”

  Elizabeth had stopped, gaping at the woman she’d first thought was a servant.

  “May I present Lady Judith?” Bronwyn said with some amusement.

  Judith brushed her hand at a stray strand of hair and a flurry of golden sesame seeds fell away. “Do you know where Miles is held?”

  “Yes, I’ve just come from there.”

  “And ridden hard by the look of you,” Bronwyn said.

  “Hello, Alyx,” Elizabeth said, extending her hand to the quiet woman who had moved to stand beside Bronwyn.

  Alyx nodded in greeting and smiled shyly. She’d never felt so insignificant before as she did now, surrounded by her magnificent sisters-in-law.

  At that moment Sir Guy came running. The giant looked as if he’d lost weight. Behind him came Tam, his sturdy form fairly making the ground shake.

  “You have word of my Lord Miles?” Sir Guy called, his eyes roaming over Elizabeth. “We were told you were dead.”

  “And who told you this?” Elizabeth asked, voice rising. “Did no one search for us?”

  “Come inside,” Judith said, her hand on Elizabeth’s arm. “Tell us what has happened.”

  Minutes later Elizabeth sat at a big table, eating energetically of the vast quantity of food set before her, while telling her story. Around her were her three sisters-in-law, a man she didn’t know—John Bassett, Judith’s mother’s husband—Sir Guy and Tam.

  With her mouth full, she told hu