The gatekeeper turned and looked after the knight, his astonishment clear. The older man, the companion of the knight, appeared to be amused.
Why did the knight assume his message would be refused?
Isabella had to know.
She spun and ran for the door, thinking she would listen in the great hall as the knight made his argument. She had only just flung open the door when she heard boots on the stairs, approaching quickly. It sounded as if a man took the stairs two or even three at a time. She might have retreated but the knight crested the top of the stairs.
He slowed his pace to consider her. His eyes, Isabella could now see, were a clear and deep blue and he was ruggedly handsome. Even though she was tall, he was taller. He strode toward her with such care that she thought of a wolf hunting its prey. His gaze was unswerving and a crooked smile lifted one corner of his mouth.
Isabella felt hot, right to her toes.
“The maiden from the window,” he murmured and the appreciation in his low voice made Isabella flush. “Yet more curious than I imagined.”
“While you, sir, are more bold than might be imagined.”
He smiled outright then, the expression softening his features in a most attractive way. Isabella could not avert her gaze. Indeed, it seemed she could not breathe.
“Sir!” Anthony shouted from lower on the stairs. “Sir, I must insist upon speaking first to the laird of your presence.” The older castellan could be heard huffing as he climbed the stairs behind the new arrival.
Isabella would not be daunted by this knight. She straightened, aware that Anthony would hear whatsoever she said. “I understand that you are Murdoch Seton,” she said crisply. “I, for one, would not keep you from delivering your missive. It must be of great import for you to be so concerned of your reception.”
“And so it is,” he acknowledged, his eyes glinting.
Was he mocking her? Flirting with her? Isabella did not know, but his manner flustered her in a most unwelcome way.
“Then I shall not delay you further.” She made to step past this rogue, but he touched a fingertip to her elbow. The weight of his finger stopped her cold. She glanced up at him, and was snared by the intensity of his gaze.
Had she ever seen eyes of such a vivid blue?
“Perhaps the lady’s smile would be worth a delay.” he said, his voice as soft as silken velvet.
“Perhaps a guest should not be so rude as to make demands before he is welcomed,” she retorted.
“In normal circumstance, I would agree,” he said, his voice dropping even lower. His fingertip slid toward her wrist in a most deliberate and shocking way. Isabella stared at it, surprised by the shivers than raced over her flesh, emanating from that point. “Has the lady a name?”
“Of course,” Isabella said. “But I understand the guest has a quest.” She stepped away, just as Anthony reached the summit of the stairs.
The castellan glared at Murdoch. “My lady Isabella, did this man trouble you?”
Murdoch chuckled and Isabella flushed that he now knew the name she would have kept from him.
“No, Anthony,” Isabella said. “I merely reminded him that it is common courtesy for guests to be announced.”
“And so it is,” Anthony said with all the considerable hauteur he could summon. “I will precede you to my laird and if he wishes to speak with you, he shall.”
“Oh, he will speak with me,” Murdoch said quietly. The threat in his tone caught at Isabella’s ears. “It is not every man who wishes to hear of the grievances made against him, but the Laird of Kinfairlie will hear mine.”
“We shall see,” Anthony huffed and marched onward, beckoning the knight with a terse gesture.
Grievances? Isabella paused on the stairs to the hall and glanced back, only to find the knight’s gaze locked upon her. What complaint could Murdoch have of Alexander? Her brother was well known for the fairness of his courts and the justice of his administration. She had assumed Elizabeth was correct and Murdoch came courting, but now she wondered.
Anthony climbed the stairs to the third floor and this time, Murdoch waited behind.
Because he was watching Isabella.
Almost as if he dared her to continue their conversation.
Isabella glanced down the stairs, noted the devilry in his gaze, then accepted his dare. She took a step back toward him, mindful of Anthony’s proximity. “What complaint could you have against my brother?” she whispered. “He is honest and just...”
“Then perhaps my brother is in error,” Murdoch said, his tone revealing that he believed otherwise. “Doubtless your brother will tell me the truth.” He said this last as if he did not believe it.
It was his confidence in Alexander’s poor character that nettled her, for it was unfair.
Even though she did not know what had fed his conclusions.
“Of course, he will,” Isabella said, keeping her voice low. “My brother is true...”
“Sir!” Anthony shouted from the third floor.
Murdoch bowed before Isabella. “To my regret, duty calls, my lady Isabella.”
Isabella opened her mouth to tell this man what to do with his presumption, then she saw the wicked twinkle in his eyes. His fingertip brushed the tip of her nose playfully, his gaze dropping to her lips. Isabella stepped backward in outrage at his boldness, but she could think of what to say, he leapt up the stairs to the third floor.
He spun on the stairs, just before disappearing from view, and blew her a cocky kiss.
The man had no lack of confidence in his charm, that much was certain. Or in any maiden’s fascination with him!
Isabella pivoted, her annoyance simmering, and took two steps toward the kitchens where she would gather ingredients for Eleanor’s posset.
Then she halted. If she went to the kitchens, she would never know what accusation the knight would make against Alexander. Her brother shared no confidences now that he was laird.
And Isabella wanted to know this knight’s complaint.
Isabella hurried back into the chamber shared by the sisters, closed the door and waited until Anthony limped back down to the hall. Then she raced to the third floor on silent feet, flattened herself against the wall beside the door to Alexander’s chamber, and listened.
* * *
The Renegade’s Heart
by Claire Delacroix
Now available in both digital and print editions
About the Author
Deborah Cooke sold her first book in 1992, a medieval romance called THE ROMANCE OF THE ROSE published under her pseudonym Claire Delacroix. Since then, she has published over fifty novels in a wide variety of sub-genres, including historical romance, contemporary romance, paranormal romance, fantasy romance, time travel romance, women’s fiction, paranormal young adult and fantasy with romantic elements. She has published under the names Claire Delacroix, Claire Cross and Deborah Cooke. THE BEAUTY, part of her successful Bride Quest series of historical romances, was her first title to land on the New York Times List of Bestselling Books. Her books routinely appear on other bestseller lists and have won numerous awards. In 2009, she was the writer-in-residence at the Toronto Public Library, the first time the library has hosted a residency focused on the romance genre. In 2012, she was honored to receive the Romance Writers of America’s Mentor of the Year Award.
Currently, she writes the Dragonfire series of paranormal romances featuring dragon shape shifter heroes under the name Deborah Cooke. She also is writing the True Love Brides series of medieval romances as Claire Delacroix, which continues the story of the family introduced in her popular title THE BEAUTY BRIDE. Deborah lives in Canada with her husband and family, as well as far too many unfinished knitting projects.
Connect Online!
Deborah’s Website
Claire’s Website
Deborah on Facebook
Claire on Facebook
Deborah’s Blog
Deborah’s Monthly Newsl
etter
Books by Deborah Cooke
Paranormal Romances
- The Dragonfire Series -
Kiss of Fire
Kiss of Fury
Kiss of Fate
Harmonia’s Kiss
Winter Kiss
Whisper Kiss
Darkfire Kiss
Flashfire
Ember’s Kiss
Kiss of Danger
Paranormal Young Adult
- The Dragon Diaries -
Flying Blind
Winging It
Blazing the Trail
Contemporary Romance
- The Coxwells -
Third Time Lucky
Double Trouble
One More Time
All or Nothing
Short Stories
* * *
Books by Claire Delacroix
Time Travel Romances
Once Upon a Kiss
The Last Highlander
The Moonstone
Love Potion #9
Historical Romances
The Romance of the Rose
Honeyed Lies
Unicorn Bride
The Sorceress
Roarke’s Folly
Pearl Beyond Price
The Magician’s Quest
Unicorn Vengeance
My Lady’s Champion
Enchanted
My Lady’s Desire
- The Bride Quest -
The Princess
TheDamsel
The Heiress
The Countess
The Temptress
- The Rogues of Ravensmuir -
The Rogue
The Scoundrel
The Warrior
- The Jewels of Kinfairlie -
The Beauty Bride
The Rose Red Bride
The Snow White Bride
The Ballad of Rosamunde
- The True Love Brides -
The Renegade’s Heart
Urban Fantasy Romance
- The Prometheus Project -
Fallen
Guardian
Rebel
Short Stories and Novellas
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Excerpt from Kiss of Darkness
Excerpt from The Renegade’s Heart
About the Author
Connect Online
More Books by the Author