Midnight Eyes by Brophy, Sarah (well read books .TXT) 📕

somehow managed to insinuate herself into the king’s confidences, and undermine all of Roger’s perfect schemes, but even while his mind was screaming with the bile of his hate, he couldn’t stop his body’s arousal.

To know that she was within reach ate into him, like a cancer in his brain. She had actually come, actually dared to confront him. It was beyond comprehension. It was not supposed to happen this way! This wasn’t part of his plan.

She was supposed to have been so frightened that she could scarcely breathe. She was supposed to be still hiding under the covers of her bed, waiting for him to come and claim her. She was supposed to be so without resources that she had no other choice but to accept her fate.

And her fate was to become his absolutely. There was to be no escape for her. The victory would be all his. That was the plan.

Instead, she had managed to leave her secure prison and come to the king like some avenging angel. All that courage and strength just to save some bastard who had been forced into her bed. Roger clenched his teeth.

No, Little Sister, he thought darkly as he stood up and instinctively began to straighten his clothes. you might yet manage to save your husband, but there will be nothing you can do to save yourself. I will win.

He always did. He would crush her completely and no one and nothing would stand in his way this time.

She was his.

Chapter Sixteen

Gareth stepped quietly into Imogen’s chamber only after he had made sure no one had seen him skulking in the corridor outside her room. He gently closed the door, making no sound. He turned slowly, letting his eyes adjust to the dark room.

He found Imogen standing by the open window, her profile bathed in moonlight. The dark waves of her hair hung like raw silk in the silvery light, lifting gently in the warm spring breeze, filling the chamber with its perfume. Gareth closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.

“I see you not only managed to give your own guards the slip, but have also got past mine,” Imogen said softly. Startled, Gareth opened his eyes and responded to the slight smile on her face with one of his own.

“And here I was thinking I was sneaking about most discreetly,” he said with a chuckle.

She shrugged her shoulders elegantly. “Men who spend their days in heavy armor aren’t able to achieve the level of discretion required for a good sneak.” She smiled gently at him. “Their rather forthright odor tends to do all their announcing for them, I find.”

“My lady, are you trying to, very politely, of course…”

“Of course…”

“…to say I need a bath?” He tried to sound offended, but Imogen could hear the grin in his voice.

“I would never dare to question a gentleman about his bathing habits. I’m far too well brought up for that, but you have to admit that it wouldn’t exactly hurt if you splashed some water and soap around at the end of the day.” She spoke lightly, but already the smile was fading from her face. Her expression became pensive as her mind returned once more to the maze of intrigues they now had to pick their way through.

Looking at Imogen, Gareth felt his own face turning grim.

“What did William say about Robert?” he asked quietly.

“A whole lot of nothing.” She sighed and folded her arms tightly around her middle. “He very politely told me that Robert is alive for now, but would give me no assurances beyond that. He listened to all I had to say, took the letters and dismissed me, telling me to get some rest, like some concerned host.” She snorted. “He doesn’t seem to realize that it’s not very good manners to put guards on your guest’s door. All I know for sure is that we now await the king’s pleasure.”

Her eyes filled with tears, but she refused to let them fall.

“While Robert is still alive, there is hope, Imogen, don’t forget that,” Gareth said quietly. “That William is at least considering our evidence is the best we could have hoped for.”

“But if the king decides to side with Roger, by morning we could all be dead.”

Gareth scowled. He racked his brains to find something to say that could be at once both a denial and the truth, but there was nothing he could say. Well he had never let that stop him before, he decided. “Imogen…” he began, but she cut him off.

“I want to see him. I want to be with Robert.”

Gareth’s eyes widened in shock and he let out a long, low whistle. “And just how the hell do you think we are going to achieve that?”

“It can’t be all that difficult. If you can manage to get past your guards and mine, surely you can get me into the dungeons. It couldn’t be all that much more challengeing, surely.” Her mouth twisted into a wry smile. “Don’t tell him I said so, but Matthew was right. The guards here are less than impressive, as you have already found out tonight.”

Gareth paced to the window and scowled out into the night. “I suppose, with a few well-placed bribes and a lot of skulking, it could be done. Possibly,” he admitted reluctantly. “But to do so is madness! If we get caught by anyone with half a brain, all of the goodwill you have managed to foster with William will evaporate in an instant.”

Even as he gave the warning, he knew he was wasting his time. The determined look on Imogen’s face told him that her mind was already made up. She was going to do it whether Gareth liked it or not.

He grimaced as he all too easily foresaw how Robert would react to Imogen materializing in his cell. Robert would strangle her for even contemplating such a thing. He would then strangle Gareth for going along with her insanity. And he