Dragonblade Trilogy - 03 - The Savage Curtain by Kathryn Le Veque Read Free Book Online Page B

the front
of her and faced her with his hands on his slender hips. “And it will certainly
not be the last,” he replied decisively. “Your beauty already outshines every
woman in England.  Putting you in fine clothing and jewels is like adding stars
to moon and sky; it simply enhances what is already breathtaking.”
    By the time he was finished, she
was blushing furiously.  When their eyes met, she grinned modestly and lowered
her gaze.  He laughed softly.
    “You have never heard such things
before, have you?” he asked.
    She shook her head, still
averting her eyes. “From the nuns of Jedburgh? I doubt it.”
    He laughed again and she dared to
look at him; he had a magnificent smile with big white teeth and a huge dimple
in his left cheek.  In fact, his entire face lit up when he smiled, changing
his features dramatically.  She was mesmerized.
    “Well,” he rubbed his cheeks as
his smile faded. “You had better become used to flattery. I have a feeling it
will not be the last time you hear it from my lips.”
    She continued to grin modestly,
feeling his heated gaze upon her.  Somewhat giddy, she went over to the bed and
tossed aside the tartan in the quest to find her shoes.
    “Have you broken your fast yet,
my lord?” she was trying to slip her shoes on with quivering hands; the man had
completely unnerved her with his glorious smile and sweet words. “I shall find
the kitchen and procure some food.”
    He shook his head. “Unnecessary,”
he told her. “I have come to take you to the hall.   There is food aplenty
there.”
    Shoes on her feet, she faced
him.  As he watched, the smile faded from her face.  She suddenly looked quite
upset as if the entire world had just come crashing down on her.  His brow
furrowed, wondering about the sudden change of mood, when she spoke.  The first
words out of her mouth explained everything.
    “The hall…,” she swallowed and
groped for words. “Would… would you please tell me where my mother is? How is
she?”
    His smile faded as well.  He knew
the question would come but he wished it hadn’t. He was enjoying the first
pleasant conversation they had ever had and didn’t want to spoil the mood.
Still, there was no use in avoiding the inevitable. She had to know the truth.
    He sighed faintly. “Your mother
is with God,” he murmured. “There was nothing I could do for her.”
    The tears welled as he watched. 
“She is dead?”
    “She is. I am sorry.”
    “Was… was she dead when you
returned to her?”
    Stephen thought of the gored
corpse and how her father had held it and wept. “She was,” his voice was soft
and low. “She is no longer in pain, my lady. She is at peace.”
     Joselyn turned away, struggling
not to sob out loud, but it was beyond her control.  Covering her face with a
hand, she wept deeply.
    Stephen watched her heaving
shoulders, feeling badly that he had brought such terrible news.  Truth be
told, he had brought her the new garments and other luxuries before she awoke,
hoping to soften the blow.  He was not as heartless as she had accused him of
being and he didn’t want her to think he was made of stone. It was no way to
start a marriage. Moreover, there was more bad news to come.
    “Your father and the rest of your
clan were removed from Berwick before dawn,” he reasoned that he might as well
tell her all of it so she could grieve for everything all at once. “They are
being escorted to Alnwick Castle where they will be held for trial. Your
mother’s body remains here for burial.”
    She wept as if her heart was
broken. “You sent my father away?”
    Stephen drew in a long, deep
breath. “He is the king’s prisoner, my lady. There was nothing else to do with
him.”
    “Please,” she went to him, her
hands folded in front of her in a pleading gesture. “Please bring him back and
I swear he will not cause any trouble. My father is old and unwell. I am
afraid… afraid that confinement in the vault will only