Light to Valhalla by Melissa Lynne Blue Page B

the room , his gaze resting on Alex and Thomas murmuring quietly beside the hearth . “ In private,” he whispered to prevent the other s from hearing.
    Those glittering green eyes widened curiously . “I suppose. ” Charley settled her cup on the tabletop and took his proffered hand, allowing S idney to lead her from the room . “What is this about, Sidney?”
    He pulled her down the hall and around another corner, flattening her urgently against the wall . Eyes wide with alarm she fought his hold, but he held firm . “Look, Charles ,” he adopted his most caring tone, “ after t h e stable hands and I ride out this morning to take care of Saunders I won’t be coming back here.”
    S he stopped fighting , eyes wide with disappointment and discontent . “What?  Why?  I don’t understand.”
    Tenderly h e reached out to tug a silken st r ay curl, hanging over her shoulder . In stantly she s hif te d back . No doubt thinking of Alex . Well, Sidney would put an end to that .
    “Alex prefers I return to London, ” he murmured, tracing the delicate line of her jaw with his forefinger . “Actually he demanded it . Charley, promise me you’ll be careful , ” he continued urgently . “ I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
    The plump curve of her heart shaped lips bowed in a small, reassuring smile . “Not to worry, Sidney . Alex and Thomas are perfectly able to keep me safe from whoever hired those men to kidnap me . ”
    Her eyes positively glowed with the mention of Alex… How irksome.
    “It’s not those brigands I’m worried about. ” Sidney stepped closer, trapping her between his body and the wall . Every soft curve of her luscious body pressed provocatively against him, he leaned close, brushing his mouth past her ear . Charley gasped, panic in her eyes, and restraining hands pressed against his chest, preventing him from trying anything bolder . Anger flared . Patience . With practiced effort he schooled his emotions, taking the fury firmly in hand . He must bide his time and win her right from beneath his cousin’s nose . “It’s Alex, Charley . Beware of Alex . L ast night he confided in me that i f he doesn’t produce an heir Regina’s petition to have him discharged will be granted . Alex will do anything to get you with child so he can return to duty . Anything.”
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Five
     
    Bile seared Charley ’s throat . “No,” she gasped, searching Sidney’s face , desperate to deny his words . “Let me go . That isn’t true . I-I heard you talking by the stairs and—” Alex had sounded downright j ealous by the prospect of Charley and Sid together . Tru e hope had blossomed within her, bringing back the love and adoration she’d locked away, denied, for so many years . After all that had happened in the last hours she needed for her knight in shining armor to be just that… a real hero . Memories of Alex’s tender touch in the woods twined with his cruel words from the past and carv ed a vicious path through her soul . “I said let go! ” She struggled against Sidney’s strangely possessive grasp .
    He shook his head . “You know Alex as well as me . He’s out for himself and his career above all else.”
    She didn’t respond, only blinked back tears .
    “There’s more, Charles , much more . ” S inister warning darkened his eyes . She stilled, more than a little frightened . “ General Wither—”
    “What’s all this about? ” Alex’s deep tenor boomed through the hall .
    Without missing a beat Sidney slid casually back , releasing Charley , and affording her a full view of her husband’s hulking form . Charley ’s throat ran dry . Alex stood in the hall with all the menace of an avenging angel . Dark wavy locks tumble d over his forehead in glorious disarray , framing the intense blue of his hooded gaze . The strong line of his jaw clenched, and the grim set of his mouth spoke of his displeasure . The simple white shirt draped ov er his