Betrothed by Lori Snow Read Free Book Online Page B

hand to the gold curls covering her mound.
    “She
had three little moles forming a triangle just below her left breast and that
intriguing little pattern was mirrored right here in the inside of her thigh.”
Syllba’s ice blue eyes opened to stare at him, to taunt him. “She loved my
mouth on them. I found the tiny markings fascinating. Didn’t you?”  
    Donovan’s
stomach clinched. His hands balled. He wanted to take the scrawny neck in front
of him and twist. Isabeau’s innocent comments from this morning came back and
hit him in the gut. He remembered them well. Isabeau had spent many an hour
with Christian while his countess wiled away endless time in this very room.
    Syllba had been his wife’s lover.
    Who
had they lashed to the bed?  Had they taken turns or had they forced
another innocent to partake in their vile sport?
    Donavan
had to be free of the room’s cloying perfume. All these years…  How could
he have been such a fool?  But suddenly these revelations, as wretched as
they were, explained so much.
    “You
will attend to all of your duties this evening,” he ordered coldly.
    Jesu! 
His honor hung in tatters. He needed to think. He burned to defend it. Were it
a man, he would issue his challenge. He had to have retribution. Marta wasn’t
here to pay for her part in the duplicity, but her lover was. This day he would
bring his vengeance down upon Marta’s lover.      

C hapter 6
     
     
    Although not expecting to see his lordship before the
evening meal, Isabeau was aware the instant he returned to the bailey. When
next she glimpsed him, he had reclaimed his mount and ridden out as if the
devil himself held burning embers to his heels.
    Had
he and Porter found something terrible during the inspection?  Shame
weighted her heart like a millstone. Olivet had changed since her father’s
time.
    At
breakfast, all had appeared well. But she had reminded him of his grief. Had he
brooded over the memories she kindled?  Had she caused his black
mood?  Had she angered him so he would tell Simon all, as punishment for
her boldness? 
    She
had only thought to share pleasant memories of the earl’s wife and child.
Instead, she might have opened an abyss of loss. The man had so many visible
scars; proof that some wounds were slow to heal. What of the ones unseen? How
could she mend the tear in his soul?  Why did she want to?
    “Milady?
Milady?”
    Isabeau
let go of her musings and turned to Marley. “Is there a problem in the
kitchen?”
    “Oh
nay, milady.” The woman practically shook with anticipation. “I was just
wonderin’ if my lord would be returnin’ at the regular time or should we put back
the evenin’ meal?”
    Isabeau
shook her head. “I will check with one of his lieutenants. Until we know, let
us just plan to begin serving at the regular time. I will make sure his
lordship does not go hungry. Remember what Papa always said. ‘A full belly leads
to happiness in the field or at the hearth.’ ”
    “Aye,
milady.” Marley smiled with nostalgia. “Lord Charles was a right one with the
sayins. He once told me, ‘A saint was not but a sinner who had not been
caught.’  ‘Course that was right after he had nipped a pie coolin’ on the
sill for his supper that night.”
    Isabeau
produced a slight smile. After all of these months, Marley had spoken so
casually of Isabeau’s father, it was apparent she had forgotten Simon’s decree.
He was the existing and only Lord d’Olivet. Her smile drooped with the
reminder of her half-brother. “Have you seen Lord Simon at all?”
    “Lord
Simon never visits the kitchens, as you know.” Marley gave her a pleased smile.
Simon’s absences were welcomed by all.
     “I
will confer with the earl’s man. You continue with the preparations as usual.
This is our liege. We must do ourselves proud,” Isabeau instructed absently.
     
    She
searched for Carstairs and a few answers. He and several men from both
Bennington and Olivet had