Cast Love Aside by Flora Speer Read Free Book Online

But she wasn't quite
that adventurous. To cover her confusion at the realization of how
very much she wanted to kiss Magnus and to taste his response, she
spoke the first sensible thought that came into her mind.
    “If they know of the passage and think to
investigate it, they'll see our footprints on the beach, and
they'll notice where the boat keel was dragged across the sand to
the water.”
    “True, if they know about the passage.
Most likely, your uncle has kept it a secret. You saw how the
barrels were blocking the door. As for the beach, they can't see
much until dawn, and by that time the tide will be high. Then,
there’s the fog to reckon with. Even a man in the tower looking out
on the seaward side won't be able to see through the fog.” As if to
emphasize his words a wisp of fog drifted over the rowboat.
    “Oh, no one ever goes to the tower,” Lilianne
said. “Not since my father died. You'd think Erland would keep
watchmen on duty there, but he doesn't.” Glancing toward the tall
structure that crowned the walls of Manoir Sainte Inge, she noticed
a thin line of something pale extending downward along the side of
the tower that faced the sea. It looked almost like a wide crack in
the stone or, perhaps, a heavy cord. She squinted, trying to see
better, but the odd effect vanished in the gathering mist and
Lilianne discounted what she had seen.
    Magnus took another mighty stroke with the
oars, leaning backward as he pulled. “Lilianne,” he said, very
softly.
    “Yes?” She kept her voice as low as his.
    “Sit back, stay quiet, and let me row without
distraction.” He leaned forward, preparing to pull again.
    “Do I distract you?” she asked in some
surprise, and waited for his reply until the rhythm of the stroke
brought him closer.
    “You know you do.” His whisper was fierce. “I
have a ship to find, and with this fog coming in, it won't be easy.
Now, stop talking.”
    Lilianne could see why locating the ship
wasn't going to be a simple task. The fog bank rolled right over
them, blotting out all trace of Manoir Sainte Inge, though the
voices of her uncle's men-at-arms still sounded remarkably
loud.
    She pulled her second-best cloak around her
shoulders and sat back on the bench as Magnus had ordered. Alice
took her hand and the two of them stayed silent, gazing into the
thick, damp grayness.

Chapter 3
     
     
    Because it was June, daylight lingered until
late, and on clear evenings a soft glow suffused both land and sea.
Even foggy weather did not produce complete darkness. Still, the
fog through which they were passing was so thick that Lilianne was
soon confused as to which way they were heading. She began to fear
they would miss the ship they were supposed to be meeting and
Magnus and his friends would continue to row straight out into the
middle of the Narrow Sea that lay between France and England – or,
worse, they'd row back to land without knowing it and her uncle's
men would be waiting to capture them as soon as they reached the
shore.
    She was distracted from her worry when Alice
groaned and made a sudden movement on the bench.
    “What's wrong?” Lilianne asked, reaching to
draw her friend back to the middle of the bench. Alice fought her
off, leaning away from Lilianne so she could hang her head over the
side of the rowboat.
    “I knew this would happen,” Alice gasped.
“Every time I venture onto the water, even just crossing a river by
ferry—”
    “Keep quiet and sit still,” Magnus snapped.
“I'm trying to get our bearings and I have to do it by sound.”
    “Alice can't help it,” Lilianne told him.
“She suffers from mal de mer. This is the first time she has
agreed to board a boat since she came to Manoir Sainte Inge.”
    “Wonderful,” Magnus retorted with scathing
sarcasm. “This mission grows ever more delightful.”
    “Have you no sympathy?” Lilianne
demanded.
    “Not at the moment. If you two don't stop
making so much noise, I'll toss both of you