Coins and Daggers by Patrice Hannah Read Free Book Online Page B

voice was laced with disappointment
and just the faintest of confidence.
    “It’s best you not to keep your hopes up
tonight, Ryia. I usually dine privately.”

    Seven
     
    C hastelle Manor
naturally was a quiet place, and that was not due to its small
number of occupants but for the very little social engagement ever
occurring within its walls over the past few years. Such walls were
well-known to be fences of silence and witnesses of the rarest
degrees of solitude.
    But today... A day of no extraordinary
prospects, laughter drifted from the library and down the hall. It
was such a surprising distraction that Ulric found himself striding
in the direction of the chatter. The guard, Gilgallon, stood erect
by the door, a flask in his hand. Ulric cleared his throat and the
man immediately hid it behind him, and bowed.
    “Gilgallon. Tell me, since when did I
require a guard for my library?”
    “Sir Montagu requested it, sir.”
    Frowning, Ulric reached for the knob on the
door and shoved it open. Why on earth would Edwin request such a
thing? Stepping inside the coolness of the well-stocked room, he
was immediately assaulted by the scent of lavender water and his
best friend’s voice.
    “It is nothing at all, Ryia. I am a man of
my word, as you can see.”
    “I’ve never doubted you, Edwin. Who would
have thought, though?”
    “Who would have thought what?” Ulric
interjected, glancing between Edwin and his sister. “It seems you
two have forgotten to invite me to whatever you are
celebrating.”
    Lady Ryia
scoffed and chuckled. “Of course, I haven’t forgotten.
Edwin, here, was quite hell-bent on fetching you from whatever hole
you’ve been in all morning but we all know of how much of a
party-spoiler you can be.”
    “And you, dear sister, never cease to wound
me.” He placed a mock hand over his heart and gave her his best
affronted expression. “How can I make it up to you?”
    Edwin laughed and shook his head. “You can
start by listening in on your sister’s rants of gratitude. She’s
very happy this morning.”
    Lady Ryia giggled. “And you are far too
modest, Edwin. You know exactly what I’m so grateful for. If it
weren’t for you, I probably would have never found such an
outstanding lady’s maid. Least of all one that is of such good
company.”
    Ulric eyed Edwin and moved to take his seat
facing them. “Ah. A lady’s maid?”
    “Yes. I don’t know where he found her but
I’d have never thought to find one so very well-versed and
accomplished. And at so young a age. But she comes with remarkable
recommendations.”
    Edwin chuckled and sipped on a tankard, all
the while maintaining Ulric’s eye contact. “She’s an accomplished
lady’s maid. Her last employer also admired her greatly as a
companion, as I’d been informed.”
    “And where did you find this girl, Edwin?”
Ulric asked, ignoring the tick that was forming in his left eye. A
part of him dreaded the answer he knew he’d be given.
    “Not far from here, actually. I found her in
an inn near the outskirts.”
    Ulric glanced at his friend for a good
couple seconds, masking his disapproval entirely. “Then I hope all
goes well.” He brushed an invisible lint from his coat and smiled.
“Uh, Edwin... I’d almost forgotten. There’s a matter in my study
that I would love your assistance with.”
    “Now?”
    “Perhaps later. Around noon?”
    * *
     
    B oredom was not a
befitting pastime for someone who, often out of necessity, had
allowed herself not be plagued by such a privilege.
    Eyeing the slim volumes of literature
chronologically arranged on one plank of the tall shelving, Audelia
did allow herself a few glances around the room. She’d been told
that this was the lord’s library. A room only himself and relatives
ever used on occasion, and that was so only because no one else
ventured there. Either that or no one else appreciated fine
literature, science and philosophy. It was a room that much
reminded her of