(continued from June)

“Lord Colchester summoned you to his country estate to read his fortune,” Sir Geoffrey intoned.
The statement startled her, so ludicrous Valentina allowed herself to laugh, certain she lost her mind. A hysterical peal of a voice she hardly recognized rang through the hollow chamber.

“Surely you jest,” she said in disbelief. “No one would go to such lengths to capture me.”
Her eyes came up to study the earl’s face. His expression was a mask, one of pained tolerance.

The sensation of falling into a bottomless abyss made her lean against him, her kidnapper.

Her breathing slowed, except for a low keen of distress to summon the spirits. A plea to return to the caravan and her home.
Gradually, she added deep breaths to steady her balance and calm her nerves.

He might not be jesting. This might not be a misunderstanding. In any case, her life was not a bauble for his amusement.

Her chin came up.

3 comments

  1. Mary Marvella // August 26, 2008 at 2:43 AM  

    Bet hes gonna do more than fulfill his orders. Hmmmm.

  2. Mary Marvella // August 26, 2008 at 2:45 AM  

    OOPS! He's gonna do more....
    I need to proof before I hit publish.

  3. Josie // August 26, 2008 at 3:09 PM  

    LOL! Yup---he does more.