Page 72 of Dancing On Air

“I have invited your parents to the festival today. I hadn’t planned on it, but I think mayhap I’ll make an alliance with your father that includes marrying you.”

“What?” she gasped. Hearing this making her entire body shake.

He pulled her to him, running his beefy hand over the side of her cheek. “After all, a prize like you shouldn’t be wasted.”

Eleanor wanted to bite him, spit on him, and tell him off. But she needed to give Connor time to get out of here as well. Until they had that goblet, he couldn’t be seen.

“What’s the matter?” asked Sampson. “You’re not still pining for that stupid hangman, are you? You know you can never marry him.”

“And neither will I ever marry you! Remember, my father was good friends with Wensel Wyland, the man you wanted to behead. The man you are responsible for turning into the hangman.” She could no longer hold back her anger.

“I had nothing to do with that hangman crap. If it were up to me, he would have died that day for killing my brother.”

He held her wrist tightly and she struggled to get loose. That’s when she noticed Connor stopping and looking over at them. She prayed he would keep on going, but like she knew he would do, he beelined it over to them instead.

“Here comes the hangman, my lord,” one of the guards informed him.

“Good,” said Sampson with a chuckle. “I can’t wait to see his face when he finds out I’m marrying his past betrothed.”

“My parents would never agree to me marrying you,” said Eleanor, still struggling to get out of his hold.

“Oh, never mind. You are too feisty of a wench. You’ll be too much trouble. I don’t think I want you in my bed after all.”

“Is there a problem here?” asked Connor, walking up next to Eleanor.

“Nay, everything is fine,” said Eleanor, trying to motion to Connor with her eyes to get the heck out of there.

“The only problem, Executioner, is that you should be preparing for the hanging,” said Sampson. “What are you doing over here speaking to me like that? Get back by the gallows where you belong. No one wants you near them.”

“My lord, the prisoner has escaped,” yelled the prison guard, rubbing his head and running out into the courtyard. “The hangman helped him escape.”

“What?” asked Sampson, releasing Eleanor. Connor grabbed her and started running. “Get them!” shouted the lord of the castle.

“Connor, what are you doing?” Eleanor looked up at him in surprise. “This wasn’t part of the plan.”

“I’m trying to save you,” he said, pushing his way through the crowd, pulling her along with him.

“Everything is ruined now. Lord Sampson knows you helped Finnian escape.”

“It doesn’t matter. The guard I knocked over the head was going to tell him sooner or later. Let’s get the hell out of here.” He ran back to get his horse, but one of the castle guards was already there. They turned and ran the other way, only to bump into two more guards coming at them with their weapons drawn. And when they turned once more, they crashed right into Lord Sampson. The edge of the man’s blade rested under Connor’s chin.

“Bad move, fool,” spat Sampson. “Because even without the boy, one way or another I am going to have a hanging today.”

“The boy didn’t deserve to die,” said Connor.

“Mayhap now you’ll have to die in his place.”

“Nay!” screamed Eleanor. “Leave him be. He did nothing wrong.”

“I’m not afraid to die,” said Connor. “But who is going to kill me? You? I don’t believe you are brave enough to do it. Unless you plan to poison me, just like you did to my father.”

“Connor, no,” said Eleanor under her breath, not wanting him to say that. Not yet. Now that Sampson realized they knew his secret, he would never let either of them go. He wouldn’t want to be exposed for murdering a man.

“Shall we take him away?” asked the guards, holding Connor by his arms.

“Nay, the fool is right about one thing. There would be no one to pull the lever since he’s the damned hangman.”

“What does that mean?” asked one of his men.