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Bastard

V

Joanna s the black marks that identified the labyrinth of tunnels beneath Wyckford Heath Hall Even as a young girl, she’d heard stories of the passages that led out of the keep, but had never been able to find them

She’d also heard the tales that treasures hidden centuries earlier by the Saxons during the Anglo invasion were still in the tunnels below Therein lay Ralf’s interest in the ain her

She rolled the map and tucked it behind a loose stone near the fireplace, for she hadn’t time to make a false sketch for Ralf before he returned froreat rush of warhty, powerful Bernard--how he rode his steed, and wielded his lance in toowith pride and nearly crying when he was struck with bone-shattering blows--yet he’d remained in his saddle as a fresh and untested Ralf had not

Maris had rushed to see to his hurts after the last challenge while Joanna returned to her cha the fact that she could not attend hientle ether in a passionate kiss that still caused her heart to race Sheanother man whilst she was bound to another, but in her heart of hearts, she believed that God--who helped those who helped thee her too harshly For was not love the greatest gift?

Bernard was the first person in her life to truly show her love

The door to the chamber flew open and Joanna turned, startled, to see Ralf limp in His face held no expression as he stared at her Her middle dropped and sheher expression carefully blank

Without relieving her froaze, Ralf shoved the door behind hi to her temples Her voice wavered "May I tend to you--"

"Silence!" His voice lashed across the roo so hard that she thought it would burst from her chest Ralf took a step toward her…then another "Do you gloat at my defeat this day?"

She did not move, even to step away, and replied, "Nay, my lord, I do not--"

"Bitch!" he snarled

The backhanded slap sent her head crashing into the stone wall, and sharp pain radiated along the side of her face War reverberated in her temple where she’d struck stone

He stared at her, his harsh breathing rasping in the air between theh at me? I would show you the error of your ways, Joanna"

Her fingers became ice and the room shifted "My lord, please--"

"Did I not tell you to be silent?"

A fist plowed into her breast, and another into her abdoh air to cry out She sank to the floor, her hand splaying over the rough stone Her fingers spasmed over the slate as his booted foot slammed into her hip

"Where is the map?" Her stool crashed onto the floor next to her, splintering in pieces and barely ed herself from the pain to realize that he would not kill her until he had it Struggling to draw a breath, she whispered, "I do not have it"

"You do not have it?" he screa out with his foot

Joanna tried to roll away, but she found herself trapped between Ralf and the unyielding wall Fists and feet pu her into a corner from which she had no escape but the war pain inflicted upon him by Maris’s instructions to Harold and Rowan His ared froth of the two men to pop it back into place

That done, he promptly slid into the co more directions to Rowan

When Bernard awoke, it was dusk, and well into the evening ood squire should, stayed with hiery as Bernard They went down to find a place at the long trestle tables, Bernard’s injured arm strapped to his torso by an adah her evil husband sat near her father, the Lord of Wyckford Bernard flattened his lips at the thought of Ralf’sfury he’d experienced earlier e from across the loud hall

Once, Ralf turned to look at hithe back of his neck There was a self-satisfied glint in the h he knew hihter, Bernard felt a queasiness curdle in hisdesire to see Joanna--to hold and kiss her, and to whisk her away from her monstrous husband--caused Bernard to bolt to his feet Nohilst Ralf busied himself with dinner…now, mayhap he could chance to find her in her chau save an angry shake of his head before turning to stalk out of the hall When would his father give up the chance to meddle in his life?