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The urgency caone

Firm hands pulled and pushed at him, and he wanted to slip into that blackness and sleep…but the urgency kept kneading at hi…like the hands that interrupted his comfort

Maris

The na bolt and he jerked awake So on the faces that stared down at him Maris was not there, he realized dimly…Henry…Bart…Rayency, but it took all of his effort to pinpoint his concentration The urgency had aught to do with her… Maris, his betrothed wife, his beloved…

D’Arcy

Dirick croaked the na to take her! "Maris," he ed to push froh, though the concern still ringed his eyes "The man’s worried that he won’t be able to do his wife justice this night…hehiathered all of his wits and strength and nodded his head, reaching for the hand that was proffered to hied to Henry…but Dirick disregarded that fact as he lunged for the offered grip and pulled himself to his feet

He was in the forest The athered around with their mounts, and the hounds, and even the carcass of the boar "I aze

"Ludingdon, what ails you? You must come back to the castle and be tended to!" Henry boo hiuh!"

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

"Howabout the forest for so party She’d ridden quite far out of London with Michael and Victor and expected to find the hunting party at any time

Neither e it

"I do not see them anywhere," she said more forcefully "Surely the hunt did not take the party this far froe started in the base of her spine and she reined Hickory up "Are you certain we are going in the right direction?"

Michael stopped his horse and turned back to her "Corabbed the reins froan to propel Hickory behind his ownand Maris felt fear curdle in her ," she said, squinting up at the sun that was beginning to climb down the sky Panic started to blossohed and the sound sent a chill up her spine "Your bridegroom is in no condition to attend the ceremony There is no need for you to return"

Those words held a finality that did not sit ith Maris It had occurred to her earlier that she’d disobeyed Dirick’s orders to go nowhere without him or Ray factor in her decision And, in sooth, she’d forgotten her proed his horse into a canter, and Maris was forced to lean forward and grab Hickory’s mane Just as she had done when Bon abducted her, she forced herself to examine the situation She sed the fear in her throat She could not escape on foot, and Michael was in control of her horse Victor rode so close to her that his ainst Hickory’s shoulder

"’Tis not far fro up so that their horses were neck and neck

Maris was now just behind the on Hickory She used the opportunity to slip a hand under her skirt and pull forth her dagger She sent up a prayer of thanks that her mother had warned her never to be without the knife and set to cutting away at the reins If she were quick, and lucky, she could cut herself free and be off Mayhap, she and Hickory could outrun her kidnappers If not--

She stopped her thoughts right there That possibility was not worth thinking on

Once again, Maris considered the facts and the situation Dirick should have learned of her absence by now, and of course he would search for her That thought eased her a bit

But as she continued to saw through the thick leather, another thought turned her cold Michael and Victor talked so certainly of Dirick’s injury…mayhap there was a truth to it and he would not be able to cory, frustrated tears welled in her eyes and she pushed the thought away She’d think only of one thing now: escaping froh, Maris gathered herself and readied her courage, gripping Hickory with her thighs and tightening her fistful of mane With a final slice, she cut the last bit of leather and kicked her horse to veer suddenly away