Blood Lust by Jamie Salsibury Page B

two days passed. Today was the day of her wedding to Benjamin. Katherine wondered what he had told their guests, how he explained why she had not arrived and that there would be no marriage.
    Failing to escape, she failed to return in time to marry the duke. All that morning she felt the weight of defeat on her shoulders. The bandit lurked outside, careful to stay away from her wrath. The only person to enter the cottage was the stable boy who came to empty the chamber pots and deliver food. He said nothing, but his manner made it clear his loyalty was with the man outside.
    She watched as he descended the stairs, having tidied up the bedchamber. He averted his eyes away from her.
    “Are you a friend of William’s?”
    He looked at her closely. “Are you speaking of his lordship?”
    “Yes.”
    “I do as he says. He pays me, but that is all.” he replied easing toward the door.
    “It’s very pretty out here isn’t it?”
    “It’s terribly co. . .He stopped cold. He eyed her warily. “Don’t be trying your tricks on me. His lordship warned me you might try to.”
    “What else did he tell you? Did he tell you that he abducted me, that I’m being held against my will?”
    The boy slipped toward the door. “You should do what his lordship tells you. You’re his woman. It ain’t no business of mine.”
    “His woman! Is that what he told you, that lying. . .” The boy ignored her as if she wasn’t there, and went out the door, closing it behind him.
    She was right. The young boy’s loyalty were to the man outside. His loyalty could not be bought.
    It still didn’t help her dilemma. She glanced at the clock and noticed it was three in the afternoon. She would have been married by now. And then if she were she’d be frantic with worry over the wedding night she faced with Benjamin Spencer.
    His cool demeanor was unsettling, and none of his advances had stirred her, for she would have done her duty. It was part of her bargain, a price she would have paid to save her home and her family.
    Sitting restlessly on the sofa, Katherine picked up the book she had been trying to read. The words on the pages were a blur. Suddenly she threw the book on the floor in a burst of anger.
    Damn him! If she didn’t marry the duke how was she and Thomas to live?
    They were nearly out of money. They were behind on almost everything, including the servants wages and there wasn’t much left in the house to sell and still keep up the charade.
    Glancing out the window she saw her captor in the distance, exercising his horse. Why did he want to stop her wedding? What could her marriage to the duke possibly have to do with him?
    Frustrated because no answers came to her, she flounced off the sofa, picked up her book from where it had fallen and noticed that the flagstone beneath it had been knocked loose. She looked closer. It had been purposely set in the floor that way. It had never firmly mortared into place. She moved the book and began to dig the stone out, wondering what was beneath it.
    She lifted the heavy rock free and spotted a small leather pouch that had been stashed there. It jingled of coins when she lifted it, but it was the weapon lying in the hole that caught her attention.
    Excitement pulsed through her. Carefully, she picked up the old blunderbuss, carefully lifting it out of its hiding place, unwrapping it from the protective cloth that covered it.
    Her fingers touched the worn, polished wood. The piece had been well cared for. It was primed and ready to fire. Whoever had put it there had meant to be prepared for any threat.
    She hurried to the window and saw her captor leading his horse to the barn. He could return any moment. She lifted the weapon once more, assessing the weight of it. It appeared opportunity had come to her and she couldn’t ignore it. Still, she could hardly shoot him. . .
    Katherine bit her lip as the door opened and William walked in. He was carrying an armload of wood for the fire. There was