Page 89 of Foolish Bride
Michael was out the door before Preston had finished his sentence.
Chapter 20
Dust filled Elinor’s lungs, and she coughed herself back into consciousness. Sprawled in a pile of dust and rubble, she eased up, pushing away pieces of rock and mortar. Considering she’d thought the entire castle had fallen on her head, it was nice to wake up at all.
Her arms, legs, and head all seemed to be in the proper place. Tentatively, she touched the side of her head where a substantial bump had formed. She winced, then brushed her hair out of her face. She had little pain and only bruises and scrapes.
Not twenty feet beyond where Elinor had lain unconscious, the passage had collapsed, leaving the hallway exposed to the outside. It was a miracle that she was alive and uninjured. Crawling to her right, she used the wall to steady herself as she tried to stand.
Far in the distance, voices raised.
Footsteps clattered down the stairs behind her.
Her heart banged loudly in her chest, and her head throbbed. How she yearned to lay down on her soft bed at home and cry until the tears would no longer come. One of those tears escape down her cheek, and she dashed it away. “No time for that now.” The possibility of winding up back in Roxton’s bed pushed Elinor beyond her normal limits.
When she steadied herself on all fours, rough stone cut into the soft skin of her hands. Thankful for Brianne’s sturdy boots, she climbed over jagged pieces of rock. She made it outside with a few more bruises.
Clean air was a relief, but the open courtyard and garden left her nowhere to hide. A wall stood thirty yards away, but she knew she couldn’t make that run unseen.
She picked up a good-sized rock and rushed behind the edge of the exposed wall.
Shuffling and footfall sounded on the other side of the rocks.
With all her might, she raised the stone above her head, her arms shaking with effort.
A dark head came into view. Without a thought, she hurled herself forward with the rock, intent on cracking the man’s skull.
He dropped to the ground and rolled forward, knocking her to the ground. The stone tumbled harmlessly away.
Elinor screamed as her shoulder hit the ground.
He leaped on top of her.
She screamed louder and thrashed her head, kicking her legs.
“Elinor!”
One of her hands slipped from his grip, and she lashed out with her nails, cutting deep scratches in his neck.
He took a firmer hold of her arms. “Elinor, it’s me, Michael. You’re safe.”
She stopped thrashing and looked up. It took several seconds to recognize that it was indeed Michael who held her. It was Michael she’d nearly killed with a rock. “Michael?”
“I am here.” He released her hands.
She slapped him soundly across his face.
He stared down at her with all the sweetness and love they shared shining in his eyes.
“You are too late. I am married to a monster.” The hysteria she’d been holding back tumbled out in large tears and wracking sobs.
Michael rolled to one side, pulled her into his lap, and held her tight. “Don’t worry. We will take care of whatever Roxton has done.”
“I am truly ruined now.” An entire year of planning and disappointment swallowed her up.
Cradling her in his arms like a child, he rocked her and kissed her forehead. “I love you, Elinor. Everything will be fine, I promise.”
She stiffened and pulled away far enough she could look at his face. “You make promises too easily, Michael.”
