Virginia Henley by The Raven, the Rose

private and that it won’t take more than a moment.”
    The servant bobbed a brief curtsey and went on her hopeless mission. As soon as Roseanna learned that Ravenspur had returned and wished to see her, she hurriedly put on the maidenbelt. Her mischievous heart leaped, and her wicked juices bubbled with anticipation as she slipped into a fawn-colored underdress, exquisitely embroidered with stalks of wheat, that she’d purposely chosen because it emphasized the pallor of her skin. Satisfied with her ethereal appearance, Roseanna was readyto indulge in the very theatrics her mother had accused her of.
    When Kate returned to her mistress, she said plainly and simply, “I can get no response.”
    Joanna set her empty goblet down with a bang. “I’ll handle her,” she said with determination. Indeed, if Roseanna refused to open the door this time, she would send for Neville and have the door forced open. How dare her daughter show her up before the baron?
    As soon as Joanna had left, Ravenspur turned to Kate Kendall. “What is upsetting you so much, ma’am?”
    Flattered to be so addressed by such an exalted personage, she expelled her breath and proved the old adage that when under stress, women confess. “Oh, my lord, Lady Roseanna has been locked in her room all week without food.”
    “Good God!” he exclaimed, and strode out of the room and up the staircase that led to the turret. Taking Joanna firmly by the shoulders, he removed her from the doorway. “I had no idea you would punish her, ma-dame,” he said coldly.
    Joanna’s eyes widened in disbelief. “She is punishing me, sir, I would have you know!”
    He pitted his great strength against the door by wedging his foot firmly beside the lock and kicking with all his might. At the first loud thud Roseanna fell to the floor in a very appealing faint. At the third kick the lock gave, and the door swung in to reveal the small, limp figure. Roger was on his knees instantly, his hands upon her body searching for signs of warmth and life. His fingers encountered the metal chastity belt. He raised condemning eyes to Joanna and said, “I would never have believed a mother could be this cruel!” He lifted the delicate girland strode from the turret room down to his own chamber; Joanna followed him.
    With eyes tightly closed and heart hammering wildly, Roseanna knew she had aroused his vow of knighthood to protect with his life a maiden in distress. Good God, she’d gone too far, as usual. Somehow she had to find a way to make herself unattractive to him.
    Gently, he laid her upon his bed and chaffed her hands. He poured her a little Chablis and lifted it to her pale lips.
    She opened her eyes slowly and said weakly, “Where … am I?”
    “You wicked girl! Stop this play-acting at once!” demanded Joanna.
    Ravenspur turned on her instantly. “Outside! I want to be alone with her.” His eyes blazed with such dark fire, that she dared not goad him further. She swept past him, taking Kate with her. Very well, Joanna thought angrily, the little wildcat could face him alone. They deserved each other!
    “Roseanna, are you feeling strong enough to talk to me?” he asked.
    Instinct told her that she would get more from this man by appealing to his chivalrous heart than by making demands.
    “Whatever have you done to provoke your mother to such extremes?” he asked gently.
    She allowed one tear to slip down her cheek. “It’s because we wish to dissolve the betrothal, and”—she spoke softly, but passionately—“because … I love—another.”
    A frown came between his heavy brows. “Who?” he demanded; some of the gentleness had left his voice.
    She shook her head woefully. “Alas, I cannot tell his name. He would suffer greater punishment than I.”
    “Is this why she’s forced you into the maidenbelt?” he asked, his eyes holding hers.
    He was no longer carrying her, but the closeness of his body to hers reminded her of his great strength. She