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

was going to go along with it, he realized morosely. He had only to see the radiant smile that bloomed on Imogen’s face to know he was already committed to this folly.

He would never be able to fight her when she bestowed one of those beautiful smiles on him.

“Grab your cloak,” he said coldly as he walked briskly to the door and stood there tapping his foot.

As soon as this unholy mess is sorted out, he vowed silently to himself, he would get as far away from Imogen and her siren’s call as the size of their frighteningly small planet allowed. Perhaps he could go on a crusade. Surely Jerusalem would be far enough away from her for him to reclaim his soul from her gentle hands.

While he was reclaiming his soul he should try to find out exactly where it was he had lost his backbone, he thought with a dark oath.

Imogen walked carefully forward, and linked her arm through his. She leaned up and whispered, “Thank you” in his ear, and Gareth began to worry that he would never get Imogen out of his soul, not even when he was six feet under.

He turned to her and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “It would be very easy to love you,” he said softly, a self-deprecating grimace passing over his face as hers filled with confusion and concern.

“But Gareth, I love…”

He placed a finger over her lips. “I know. You love Robert.” Wondering at his own masochism, he added gruffly, “And I also know that the mad behemoth loves you in return. No, Imogen, I know that your love is otherwise engaged and I wouldn’t try to change that. I just wanted you to know that no matter what happens here, I…” His voice faded, mere words seeming entirely inadequate to express all he felt.

She raised a shaky hand to his cheek, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “That is not love, Gareth. You don’t love me.” She quickly shook her head to still his protestations. “You care for me, as I care for you, but love doesn’t grow with only one person tending it. Not true love. Love cannot exist in the misery of unrequited feelings. True love is something that happens between two souls. When they find each other, they will both see in the other the missing parts of themselves. True love isn’t the sad longing of just one person. Someday, you will find true love. A dear soul like yours was never meant to be alone.”

Gareth’s vision blurred and he had to clear his throat before he could find his voice. “You are a very wise woman, you know.” He tried to smile, but managed only a shaky imitation. “Wise, that is, when you’re not running around like a madwoman, trying to break into royal dungeons.”

“And you’re a very special man, one whom I care for deeply, when you are not being an overprotective ogre.”

“I will try to be content with that.”

Gareth saw her grin and take a deep, steadying breath, and knew that his moment had passed. He wasn’t entirely sure that he was at all sad to see it go.

But then, there would be time enough for regrets later.

“Well, let’s see if I can use my specialness to get you into His Majesty’s dungeons.” He wrinkled his brow. “Although I can’t say I like your choice of venue for your liaison.”

“I’ll have you know that no less a person than the king said that his dungeons were very romantic,” she said with mock hauteur.

Gareth snorted dismissively. “Not much of a recommendation when you consider that our beloved monarch also finds your brother romantic.”

She was still giggling when Gareth returned after checking that the coast was clear.

“Right, let’s get to it,” he whispered, and hustled her unceremoniously out of the room.

The sneaking proved to be all too easy. William might have guards everywhere, but that quantity did not translate into quality. Most of them seemed to spend their time clustered in dark corners, gambling away their meager wages in the pitiful hope of increasing them.

As they slipped into the dungeons Gareth found himself in complete agreement with Matthew’s early disgust at the discipline in the king’s service. It hadn’t even been a challenge. It was only when they reached the door of Robert’s cell that they encountered the kind of professional guard who had to be well paid to look the other way.

Gareth stood outside the cell and haggled deftly with the man, but in the end they had to pay the exorbitant amount the guard demanded. The man smiled toothlessly as Gareth grudgingly counted over the gold pieces.

“Well, thankee, sir,” the guard said, not trying to hide his glee. “Don’t forget that me replacement will be arrivin’ just before dawn, so you had best have done your business by then.” He gave the money a gloating jangle, before walking away, whistling.

“How long will that give us?” Imogen asked quietly, but even so her voice still seemed to echo around the empty stone passageway.

“About four hours. I’ll knock three times to let you know that it is time to leave.”

He quickly used the key and pulled the door ajar, maneuvering Imogen so that she was in front of it.

“Take two steps forward and pull the door,” Gareth murmured and held on to her shoulders for a moment, then stepped away.

Imogen hesitated. “Thank you doesn’t even begin to explain how grateful I am to you for doing this,” she said shakily.

Silence was all the answer she got. She took a deep breath and pushed open the door, walking carefully into the unknown.

“Be happy,” Gareth murmured before disappearing into the shadows to await the dawn.

At the sound of the door closing Robert’s eyes opened, his mind instantly awake and wary. He tried to keep every muscle relaxed so that it would appear as if he still slept, but every sense was alive to any threat that might come out of the darkness.

“Robert?” she