Carried Away Read Online Free

north, at my mother’s ancestral home of Kirkthwaite Hall.”
    Why was she telling him these personal details? Who was he? Why had he kidnapped her? She remained silent, fearful of the answers. Her heart was still beating too fast, but was it because of her fear or his overwhelming masculinity?
    The smile left his face. “And you came to our land with Heinrich’s child bride.” It wasn’t a question and she couldn’t fail to hear the sarcasm in his voice.
    She averted her eyes from his steadfast gaze. She wanted to explain that she’d been brought against her will, but that would be disloyal to her mistress. “Yes, I’m one of her ladies-in-waiting.”
    “What is it you’re waiting for, Lady Blythe Lacey FitzRam?”
    The question took her by surprise and she wondered if he perhaps didn’t understand the term lady-in-waiting . He was too refined for that, too much a man of the world. What did he see when those blue eyes pierced her? The truth? She almost blurted out the secret longings of her heart.
    I’m waiting for a handsome knight to sweep me off my feet, carry me away and make me his wife in every way possible.
    What was she thinking? She blushed and he smiled again. Suddenly she swayed, overwhelmed by the heat and fear. He caught her and carried her over to a bench.
    “My lady, I’m a terrible host. I should offer you a beverage. You’ve had an ordeal. Some ale, perhaps? I can summon the boy.”
    She’d regained some of her equilibrium now she was seated. She used her hand as a fan. “No, thank you. I’m just so hot.”
    He raked his gaze over her from head to toe. “Forgive me, Lady Blythe Lacey FitzRam, but your attire isn’t suited to our summer climate.”
    She smiled ruefully. “You’re absolutely right. It would be good to be wearing less.”
    His blue eyes lit up with suggestive delight—had she no control over her words?
    Think before you speak. Be on your guard.
    “Your hair is too tightly braided. My apologies if it appears rude to say so, but it is fashioned in a style that doesn’t suit your beautiful face.”
    He raised his hand to touch her hair. “I regret bumping your head as we left the cathedral. How does it feel now?”
    Instantly better with his touch.
    “Perhaps if you took down your hair you would feel more comfortable?”
    A shiver raced up and down her spine. “I cannot, sir,” she whispered, wishing fervently she could. “It wouldn’t be seemly to take down my hair in your presence.”
    He laughed. “Lady Blythe, it’s not seemly of me to have carried you off!”
    His laughter reverberated down to her toes and she took courage from his teasing. “Who are you, Black Knight?”
    He looked away. “My name is of no importance, but you can call me your Black Knight if you wish.”
    My Black Knight.
    “ Schwarze ritter ,” she attempted and he laughed again. “Very good. You have a good ear for my language.”
    The silence stretched between them before she had the courage to ask, “Why have you brought me here?”
    His eyes pierced her. “We need you to take care of your child Queen. She knows you. She’ll feel safer.”
    Her mouth fell open. “You’ve kidnapped the Queen? Why?”
    He leapt to his feet. “Do you English know nothing of German politics, of our realities?”
    She looked away from him, stunned by his vehement reply.
    He took her hand and bowed to kiss it. “Forgive me, Lady Blythe, I didn’t mean to be rude. We’ve come from Köln. Heinrich has laid siege to the city and blockaded it, cutting us off from the Rhine. We don’t wish to be his subjects, so we’ve rebelled. We’ll hold Matilda until he withdraws. We wish harm to neither her, nor you.”
    She looked up nervously, wanting for some incomprehensible reason to lift her hand to her lips and lick the still-wet warmth of his kiss. “You’re from Köln? I know of the struggle there.”
    He shook his head emphatically. “ Nein , I’m from Saxony. Like you I have Saxon blood. We’re