BindingPassion by Katherine Kingston Read Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Katherine Kingston
feared either. He, at least, will leave you
no worse off, should he leave.”
“Except, perhaps, for a broken heart.”
Brianne’s eyebrows rose. “Has it come to that already?”
Mary shrugged, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks. “He’s
handsome, kind, courteous, and has offered for me. He’s now the lord of this
manor. How could I not feel an attraction?”
“Then why do you not accept his offer?”
“I cannot give him what a wife owes her husband. Whenever he
touches me, a part of my mind can think only of Sir Benwyck and his brutality.
Though I’d will it not to happen, a panic overwhelms that I seem powerless to
stop. I retreat and freeze up. Is that a proper way for a wife to react to her
husband?” Mary sighed and shook her head.
“What says he to it?”
“He’s confident in his power to charm and enchant me until I
forget aught else.”
Brianne smiled. “I say again, then, give him the chance to
do so.”
“I shall. But for now, I must to duty.” Mary noted that the
servants were beginning to bring out the serving platters of food, so she
excused herself and went to supervise. Grand platters of meats, breads and
fruits provided a bountiful feast. Torches on long stakes were planted in the
ground in preparation for the celebration to last into the night.
For the next couple of hours the details of organizing the
party engaged her attention. She had donned one of her few remaining nice gowns
for the occasion, and now had to take care the long, flowing sleeves didn’t
trail into a food dish on one of the trestle tables. She rolled them up and
tucked under the ends as she stepped in to help serve when a crowd grew too big
at one place.
Many of those collecting food complimented her on how well
she looked, and a few added how nice it was to see the change in her station
the last few days. She enjoyed being with her people, dressed as a lady,
filling that function again. For a little while she could even pretend things
were as they’d been a few years earlier, before Sir William and Sir Benwyck
combined to destroy the life she’d known.
Daytime was giving way to twilight as they finished serving
food. A boy went around lighting the torches. Mary left the cleanup to the
servants. The more professional group of minstrels had begun to warm up and
tune their instruments, so the real dancing would begin soon. She should be
looking for Philip, since the lord and lady of the manor would be expected to
lead the first set. But first she went to check that the minstrels had all they
needed.
The lead musician, a young man with flowing dark hair and a
glint of wicked humor in his gray eyes, doffed his feathered cap with a
flourish and bowed deeply as she approached.
“My lady!” he said. “Good even to you. A fine party you’ve
mounted here. And a lovely day you chose, for so late in the year.”
His good humor and lopsided smile were so infectious, she
felt confident the evening’s entertainment would be more than satisfactory.
“Thank you, Sir Musician. I trust you’ll grace us with your best this evening.
Will your music be equal in perfection to the other trappings of the day?”
“For you, lady, naught but the finest. We’ll give you all
our very best, and you’ll be more than satisfied.” He bowed yet again, dipping
so low he nearly fell forward.
“I trust your efforts will be equal to your claims.”
He tried for an insulted frown but his merry face couldn’t
retain the scowl. “Ah, Lady, I have no facility with words to equal the sublime
glory of the music we play.”
Mary laughed. “Either you underestimate your verbal gifts or
you truly will transport us to worlds divine.”
A voice from behind her said, “That’s a pleasant sound to
hear.”
She turned to see Sir Philip standing directly behind her.
“Do I believe Sir Musician’s word, ‘tis naught to what we’ll experience later,”
she answered, thinking he meant the odd array of noises being produced by
no worse off, should he leave.”
“Except, perhaps, for a broken heart.”
Brianne’s eyebrows rose. “Has it come to that already?”
Mary shrugged, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks. “He’s
handsome, kind, courteous, and has offered for me. He’s now the lord of this
manor. How could I not feel an attraction?”
“Then why do you not accept his offer?”
“I cannot give him what a wife owes her husband. Whenever he
touches me, a part of my mind can think only of Sir Benwyck and his brutality.
Though I’d will it not to happen, a panic overwhelms that I seem powerless to
stop. I retreat and freeze up. Is that a proper way for a wife to react to her
husband?” Mary sighed and shook her head.
“What says he to it?”
“He’s confident in his power to charm and enchant me until I
forget aught else.”
Brianne smiled. “I say again, then, give him the chance to
do so.”
“I shall. But for now, I must to duty.” Mary noted that the
servants were beginning to bring out the serving platters of food, so she
excused herself and went to supervise. Grand platters of meats, breads and
fruits provided a bountiful feast. Torches on long stakes were planted in the
ground in preparation for the celebration to last into the night.
For the next couple of hours the details of organizing the
party engaged her attention. She had donned one of her few remaining nice gowns
for the occasion, and now had to take care the long, flowing sleeves didn’t
trail into a food dish on one of the trestle tables. She rolled them up and
tucked under the ends as she stepped in to help serve when a crowd grew too big
at one place.
Many of those collecting food complimented her on how well
she looked, and a few added how nice it was to see the change in her station
the last few days. She enjoyed being with her people, dressed as a lady,
filling that function again. For a little while she could even pretend things
were as they’d been a few years earlier, before Sir William and Sir Benwyck
combined to destroy the life she’d known.
Daytime was giving way to twilight as they finished serving
food. A boy went around lighting the torches. Mary left the cleanup to the
servants. The more professional group of minstrels had begun to warm up and
tune their instruments, so the real dancing would begin soon. She should be
looking for Philip, since the lord and lady of the manor would be expected to
lead the first set. But first she went to check that the minstrels had all they
needed.
The lead musician, a young man with flowing dark hair and a
glint of wicked humor in his gray eyes, doffed his feathered cap with a
flourish and bowed deeply as she approached.
“My lady!” he said. “Good even to you. A fine party you’ve
mounted here. And a lovely day you chose, for so late in the year.”
His good humor and lopsided smile were so infectious, she
felt confident the evening’s entertainment would be more than satisfactory.
“Thank you, Sir Musician. I trust you’ll grace us with your best this evening.
Will your music be equal in perfection to the other trappings of the day?”
“For you, lady, naught but the finest. We’ll give you all
our very best, and you’ll be more than satisfied.” He bowed yet again, dipping
so low he nearly fell forward.
“I trust your efforts will be equal to your claims.”
He tried for an insulted frown but his merry face couldn’t
retain the scowl. “Ah, Lady, I have no facility with words to equal the sublime
glory of the music we play.”
Mary laughed. “Either you underestimate your verbal gifts or
you truly will transport us to worlds divine.”
A voice from behind her said, “That’s a pleasant sound to
hear.”
She turned to see Sir Philip standing directly behind her.
“Do I believe Sir Musician’s word, ‘tis naught to what we’ll experience later,”
she answered, thinking he meant the odd array of noises being produced by