Ravished Read Online Free Page B

introduction.”
              “Damn, I have but
forgotten my manners.  Sons, I present Lord Alex Montague of ... whence have
you come?”
              “Evenshire, my
lord.”
              “Of Evenshire.  My
sons,” he gestured with his hand and they came forth as he spoke their name,
“The thundercloud in the corner is Lord Bronson Blackmore.  My second son Lord
Rafael, and youngest son, Lord Gray.  I have another son, older than Gray, Lord
Nigel, but I fear he enjoys the intrigues of court far too much to visit us
often.”
              He had another son?  A veritable army of them, all battle honed and wary.
              Alex could scarce
believe three such giants had issued forth from one maker, let alone four.  She
pitied their poor mother.  Rafael and Gray looked closer than Bronson.  Their
smiles and the twinkle in their eyes bespoke deviltry.  Aye, she could tell by
the look of the Blackmores that they were rogues, the lot of them.  There was
no doubt in her mind that the last was equally as devastating.  Alex was
thankful she was not susceptible to charm and flattery, nor a fair face.
              She realized she
had been rudely silent.  “And the lady of the manor?” she asked in a quiet
voice.
              “She has passed
on,” Bronson gritted out.  His ears were devilishly keen.
              “My apologies.” 
‘Twas a trial for her to keep anger from her expression.  Alex would be glad to
see the last of him.  He had taken a dislike to her for some reason she couldn’t
fathom, and she abhorred having someone angry at her for no good reason.
              Lord Derwin
dismissed Constance to see about readying Alex a room.  “We will see you have
every comfort.  I will not have it spread about that we treat heroes shabbily
in my household.  You must rest and refresh yourself.”  He draped his arm
around her shoulder as a friend, as a father.
              She felt homesick
of a sudden and cursed the foul winds of change for her contemptuous destiny. 
              She sighed.  Alex
wondered again at her good sense, but it was too late to back out.  She would
have to make the best of the situation until opportunity presented itself.
              “Come now, I will
show you myself to dinner and your room.”
              As they started to
leave, Bronson called out, “We welcome you, Lord Montague.  I look
forward to your stay.”
              Lord Derwin
chuckled.
              She caught
Bronson’s dark look but said nothing as they exited.  She felt his eyes bore
into the back of her skull until they’d gone, and she was left to ponder his
cryptic statement.
              What could he
mean?
     
    * * * *
     
              “Well, brother,
what did you make of the scamp?” Rafael asked, his legs outstretched, and the
remainder of his plate scattered carelessly on the floor along with his
brothers’.  A servant would be by soon to collect and polish it, and return it
to their armory for safekeeping.
              “I think him a
pissant in need of a good whelping.”  Bronson yawned, stretching like an
immense beast of prey.  “I’d blister him for being off from home, but I’d
likely break his puny bones with one wallop on his arse.”
              “Ha!  You put on
too good a show of nonchalance.”  Gray sat up in his chair, leaning forward. 
“You’re afraid Constance will enamor herself of him ... or worse, ensnare the
boy with her charms.  He’s a touch pretty I say, but women always find that
most appealing.”
              Bronson’s arched
brows drew low over his eyes.  “Nay.  Constance has better sense.”
              “Aye.  What
possible harm could come from the runt?”  Gray laughed at his dark look.  “Ah,
I see the thoughts tumbling through your skull, you’ll listen to naught I