The Apprehension (Unexpected Circumstances #6) - Shay Savage Page 0,16

Parnell. The two went at it for several minutes, and I must admit I found it hard not to watch the muscles in Branford’s arms and back as he swung his sword. I found myself daydreaming of the previous night as the same hands had caressed my body so gently.

A call from the road distracted Branford from his battle and me from my fantasy. All eyes in the field turned as Sir Rylan rode up on his steed with a farmer’s cart behind him, a pair of slow mares pulling it steadily over the muddy road. Sir Rylan’s arm waved in the air, and I stood to accompany Branford to where the knight had brought his horse to a halt.

“I have a gift for you,” Sir Rylan said. He looked at me for a moment. “Perhaps Queen Alexandra should return to the castle first.”

“My queen stays at my side,” Branford told him. “What gift?”

“I would like to discuss the terms of the gift first, if we may.”

Branford’s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at our ally.

“Explain.”

Sir Rylan swung his leg up and over the saddle and dropped down next to his horse. Michael stepped forward and grasped the reins, moving the large animal off to the side and out of the way.

“You asked for the heads of Lady Kimberly and Sir Leland,” Rylan said. “You have offered a substantial bounty for them both—more if brought to you alive.”

“I have,” Branford said with a nod.

“I want you to remove the bounty on Sir Leland.”

“Because he is of your blood?” Branford asked as his upper lip curled into a sneer. “Lady Kimberly is of my own blood, I will have you know. It will not prevent her from receiving punishment for her treachery against my kingdom!”

“Not because he is of my blood, no.” Sir Rylan took a deep breath as he looked off toward the cart. “However, my uncle favors him. My uncle will still provide you with men, but he wants the price on Sir Leland’s head lifted.”

“He was part of this plot,” Branford said with a growl. “You heard it from my own cousin’s mouth. He was part of it from the beginning. He interfered with a royal bloodline. How could I possibly let that slide?”

“I intend to compensate you for it,” Sir Rylan stated.

“How?”

“You will cancel the bounty?”

“What compensation?” Branford said, demanding an answer. “What could possibly be offered in return for this grievous favor?”

“In return, I will give you this.” Sir Rylan took a few steps backwards until he reached the edge of the cart. Branford followed and we all peered into the back as Sir Rylan yanked back a rough blanket that covered a form lying in a pile of straw.

It was Lady Kimberly—bound and gagged in the back of the farmer’s cart.

“I need no other payment,” Rylan added.

Though I could feel the tension vibrating through the air as Branford’s hands clenched into fists, I was too consumed by my own thoughts as I looked down at the woman. Nelle’s words entered my head in a rush, reminding me that it was Kimberly’s conniving and information about Branford’s past that allowed Janet to exploit my sympathy and compassion and allowed her treachery into our rooms.

It was Lady Kimberly’s plot to kill Branford’s children as they tried to grow inside of me.

In an instant, my mind traveled to a place it had never before encountered. My vision became focused on the woman in the cart, and my limbs tensed as my throat constricted. She was the one who started this plan by revealing information about Branford’s past to his enemies. She was the one who devised the idea to kill Branford’s children, to deny him an heir, and to force him to take the concubine he did not desire.

A screech unlike any heard before came from my lungs as I lunged onto the cart and began pounding my fists into the former noblewoman’s face. She cringed back, as if she could bury herself within the straw below her, but I was unrelenting. She had no escape, and my hands burned and ached as they made contact with her head and shoulders.

I felt arms gently encircle my waist, but I paid them no heed—I just continued to rain blows down upon the woman below me. Even as the arms pulled me backwards off the cart, I screamed incoherently at her as I reached out as far as I could, trying to inflict whatever damage I could to the horrible