Knight Moves: Merriweather Sisters Time Travel (Merriweather Sisters Time Travel Romance Book 2) by Cynthia Luhrs Page B
Authors: Cynthia Luhrs
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watch her and uncover whatever intrigue she was plotting.
“How did you come to be on my land, lady? Where is your escort?”
She was saved from answering when the falling snow turned to stinging sleet. The men were all mounted and ready to ride, except for his captain. Renly boosted the girl up onto James’ horse. He cupped his hands. James nodded, grateful for aid. His leg burned from kneeling so long, his shoulder pained him, and his head ached.
He sat behind her with a groan. “You can tell me how you came to be on my lands unescorted and in the clutches of bandits when we reach Falconburg. You need a warm drink and a bath.”
She was shivering. James wrapped his cloak around them both, pulling her against his chest to let his body warm her. She stiffened for a moment then relaxed.
James knew they were merely a short distance from the castle, yet it seemed to take a fortnight to reach home. She reached out to touch his face without recoiling in horror. Every other lady in the realm ran screaming. Did she truly not care what he looked like? James was suspicious of this woman who did not fear him. Was not affronted by his visage.
Truth be told, she vexed him. The fact she seemed to find him not pleasing but perchance acceptable made James wary.
What was she doing at his home? Had the men they encountered been a ruse? She needed to be careful, for he had encountered those men before. They would have assaulted her then left her for dead or killed her when they’d slaked their needs.
The lady traveled with no companions. James and his men saw no sign of anyone else. He expected to find a carriage or a horse, perhaps belongings. Yet they found nothing. ’Twas as if she’d sprung up from the grass fully formed and ready to cause him trouble.
The wench in question had fallen asleep against his chest. She breathed in noisily through her swollen nose, sounding like one of his dogs. Her hair was soft like silk against his chin. She was tall for a woman, and shapely. He felt her curves as she leaned against him. Found himself staring at her legs. What kind of woman went about wearing men’s hose? And her tunic. He had never seen such fine garments. He shifted in the saddle, trying to ease the pain in his hip, and by moving he woke her.
“Holy cow! Is that Falconburg?”
James was perplexed. She’d told him she came from his home earlier in the day, and yet her reaction bespoke of never seeing the castle before.
“Aye, lady.”
She craned her head up to look at him. “It’s quite breathtaking, isn’t it? My name is Melinda. Melinda Merriweather.”
He was filled with pride that she found his home pleasing. “I am James Rivers. Lord Falconburg. You may call me James.”
“I can’t believe I’m really here.”
She seemed filled with joy at seeing his home. Being with him. And James was intrigued. He vowed to find out everything he could about Melinda Merriweather.
Chapter Nine
So far she’d lost the sapphire ring she’d found in the rubble, been abducted by a group of smelly men, knocked around a bit, and just when she thought she was going to die, he’d showed up.
Melinda had been so busy trying to escape that it took her a moment to process what was happening. The man, James, was unlike any man she’d ever seen back home. His thick black hair reached his shoulders and looked like it was long overdue for a trim. Yet it was his eyes that held her. They were a clear green that reminded her of the ocean. But on a man that would just be silly. And what a waste. She knew women who would kill for his eye color.
Melinda wasn’t sure if her body shaking was from the cold or the adrenaline wearing off. She’d never experienced anything of the sort before. The closest she’d come to violence had been when some teenage boy stole her parking spot during a downpour, making her ruin her favorite heels. Maybe coming to the past wasn’t the best idea. She frowned. No matter. Even with everything so far,
“How did you come to be on my land, lady? Where is your escort?”
She was saved from answering when the falling snow turned to stinging sleet. The men were all mounted and ready to ride, except for his captain. Renly boosted the girl up onto James’ horse. He cupped his hands. James nodded, grateful for aid. His leg burned from kneeling so long, his shoulder pained him, and his head ached.
He sat behind her with a groan. “You can tell me how you came to be on my lands unescorted and in the clutches of bandits when we reach Falconburg. You need a warm drink and a bath.”
She was shivering. James wrapped his cloak around them both, pulling her against his chest to let his body warm her. She stiffened for a moment then relaxed.
James knew they were merely a short distance from the castle, yet it seemed to take a fortnight to reach home. She reached out to touch his face without recoiling in horror. Every other lady in the realm ran screaming. Did she truly not care what he looked like? James was suspicious of this woman who did not fear him. Was not affronted by his visage.
Truth be told, she vexed him. The fact she seemed to find him not pleasing but perchance acceptable made James wary.
What was she doing at his home? Had the men they encountered been a ruse? She needed to be careful, for he had encountered those men before. They would have assaulted her then left her for dead or killed her when they’d slaked their needs.
The lady traveled with no companions. James and his men saw no sign of anyone else. He expected to find a carriage or a horse, perhaps belongings. Yet they found nothing. ’Twas as if she’d sprung up from the grass fully formed and ready to cause him trouble.
The wench in question had fallen asleep against his chest. She breathed in noisily through her swollen nose, sounding like one of his dogs. Her hair was soft like silk against his chin. She was tall for a woman, and shapely. He felt her curves as she leaned against him. Found himself staring at her legs. What kind of woman went about wearing men’s hose? And her tunic. He had never seen such fine garments. He shifted in the saddle, trying to ease the pain in his hip, and by moving he woke her.
“Holy cow! Is that Falconburg?”
James was perplexed. She’d told him she came from his home earlier in the day, and yet her reaction bespoke of never seeing the castle before.
“Aye, lady.”
She craned her head up to look at him. “It’s quite breathtaking, isn’t it? My name is Melinda. Melinda Merriweather.”
He was filled with pride that she found his home pleasing. “I am James Rivers. Lord Falconburg. You may call me James.”
“I can’t believe I’m really here.”
She seemed filled with joy at seeing his home. Being with him. And James was intrigued. He vowed to find out everything he could about Melinda Merriweather.
Chapter Nine
So far she’d lost the sapphire ring she’d found in the rubble, been abducted by a group of smelly men, knocked around a bit, and just when she thought she was going to die, he’d showed up.
Melinda had been so busy trying to escape that it took her a moment to process what was happening. The man, James, was unlike any man she’d ever seen back home. His thick black hair reached his shoulders and looked like it was long overdue for a trim. Yet it was his eyes that held her. They were a clear green that reminded her of the ocean. But on a man that would just be silly. And what a waste. She knew women who would kill for his eye color.
Melinda wasn’t sure if her body shaking was from the cold or the adrenaline wearing off. She’d never experienced anything of the sort before. The closest she’d come to violence had been when some teenage boy stole her parking spot during a downpour, making her ruin her favorite heels. Maybe coming to the past wasn’t the best idea. She frowned. No matter. Even with everything so far,
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