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After throwing the heavy coverlet aside, she gathered up the linens and began tying the freshly laundered to the stale ones.
    Determining she would have to escape the lofty chamber or it would become her frigid tomb, she picked up the broom and strode purposefully toward the window.
    * * * *
    “Seems to me that if you're returning from a hunting trip you should at least have some dead animals with you,” Colin shouted as he approached the stables. Beckett proudly held up two scrawny hares strung on a tether.
    Colin stopped in front of him and grinned. “Very impressive. And it only took this band of ruthless giants three weeks to catch those. Oh, the horrors you must have faced bringing down those rabbits.”
    Beckett shrugged. “We don't like to take more than we need.”
    “Small game abounds in your very own warren. Why you chose to go so far afield, I would not hazard to guess. But I am glad to see you're back in one piece.”
    Beckett took a faltering step forward. “Well almost.” Several days on horseback always left his leg stiff.
    “Does it pain you much?” Colin asked.
    “Nothing a few nights of careful tending won't cure,” Beckett said. “Or have you worn out all the women already so now they are tired of de Saxbys?”
    “I have left no skirt unturned,” Colin boasted.
    Beckett could feel the instant heat behind his eyes.
    His cousin took a step back. “Do I look a madman? I haven't touched Christiana. So you can unfurl those fists.”
    Beckett relaxed, but said nothing.
    “You know, cousin, rumors are swirling around the village,” Colin said.
    Beckett turned to unsaddle his horse. “What rumors?”
    “That a group of masked outlaws are roaming the forests. They supposedly gave some of Revynwyll's brutes a pummeling and left a few carcasses in their wake. Someone witnessed the leader of this outlaw band firing off three arrows before his opponent had even drawn from his quiver.”
    Beckett handed his saddle and bridle to the stable boy. “Since when do you pay heed to senseless chatter?”
    Colin grabbed his arm. “I've only known two men strong enough to use a longbow with such skill, and your father was one of them.”
    Beckett glanced down at Colin's hand on his arm and raised an eyebrow. Colin quickly released his hold.
    “Have you a point to make?” Beckett asked. A flutter of white caught his eye over his cousin's shoulder. Someone had dropped a long strand of what appeared to be bed linens from the high window of the east tower. A petite figure with startlingly pale hair emerged from the window. Looking positively tiny against the huge stone wall, she began inching her way down the makeshift rope. “Christ's blood. What the devil is she doing?”
    Beckett shoved past his cousin and, gripping the thigh of his weak leg, he loped awkwardly toward the tower. By the time Beckett reached it, a small crowd of onlookers had already gathered. The sound of ripping cloth could be heard over the amused mutterings of the villagers. Only a thin shred of material kept Tiana from sure disaster.
    Beckett felt his heart drop to his feet.
    “Faster, Christy. Hand over hand. That's it, love,” Colin coached.
    Miraculously, the sheet held, but she'd reached the end with ten feet yet to go.
    Beckett shot underneath her.
    His heart thundered. “Drop, woman,” he ordered.
    She craned her neck and looked down at him. Then shutting her eyes, she released the tail of the sheet, plunking hard into his arms, sending him rocking on his heels.
    “My lord?” Tiana squeaked.
    “Yes.” His breathing had yet to slow.
    She peered shyly up at him, her dove-gray eyes shadowed by her thick lashes. “I see you've returned.”
    “Aye.”
    She slipped her hand beneath his hair. It felt like ice against the nape of his neck. She nestled tightly against his chest as though she wished to burrow into him for warmth. And the heat was there. He felt aflame. His blood flowed lava hot through his veins.
    She began biting