Hearts and Crowns by Anna Markland Read Free Book Online Page A

milord . But be aware that I noticed you at your father’s castle too.”
    He laughed loudly, drawing Ermintrude’s eye. “Of course you did. I’m Geoffrey the Handsome.”
    ~~~
    Two days later, Geoffrey accosted Peri in an isolated corridor. It was puzzling that he would be in this part of the palace where usually only lowly noblewomen were to be found. He came close, reaching beneath her veil to twirl his fingers in her hair. She pulled away. “ Milord Geoffrey. It’s not seemly. We are not married.”
    Geoffrey snorted. “Nor will we ever be, my sweet. I’m shackled to the haughty Maud, but that does not prevent us having fun.”
    “F-fun?” she stammered. Her sister did not know the meaning of the word and she had no brother. How did one have fun with a boy?
    She gasped as he tightened his grip on her hair and brushed the knuckles of his other hand over one nipple. Warmth flooded her. She feared her knees might buckle.
    “Isn’t that fun?” he teased.
    Her heart raced. He played a dangerous game. She had craved his attention, but this was foolhardy. She stepped away from him, fear pulsing in her throat.
    Anger clouded his eyes. “Does my touch offend you?”
    Tears welled. “ Non , milord , but you are betrothed to a queen.”
    Geoffrey laughed so loudly she was sure someone would come running. “Maud is an old woman. There won’t be any fun with her.”
    Peri’s wild imaginings of happiness with Geoffrey had been filled with smiles, kisses on the hand, sharing the heady perfume of a rose, walking by a lovely lake, whispering secrets. Fondling her breasts in a public place had played no part in her dreams.
    Voices intruded. Geoffrey gave a courtly bow and kissed her hand. “I shall find you again, my little Angevin.”
    With that he was gone.
    ~~~
    He dogged her for several days, oozing charm, growing bolder. She dreaded the sight of the jaunty cap that he never seemed to take off. It was a relief that he usually crossed her path when she was carrying the loathsome chamber pot. Then he waved her on with a smirk on his face. “ À bientôt , sweeting.”
    There were too many opportunities during the day when she was not fulfilling her duties as chambermaid and bientôt came all too soon . There seemed to be no escape.
    She shivered when he drew his finger along her lip. “I will be leaving on the morrow. Will you give me some token to take back to Anjou? Something to remember you by.”
    She racked her brain. “I have no token, milord .”
    To her consternation, he grabbed her hips, moulding his body to hers. The slight bulge always evident in his tight leggings pushed against her most private place. “I can think of the perfect token,” he whispered, his breath tickling her ear.
    Shame washed over her. She wanted Geoffrey’s courtly love, not a groping in shadowed hallways.
    She shoved him away and fled to the sound of his laughter.
    ~~~
    Ermintrude patted Philippa de Grosmont’s head. “Well done, child. You were right to bring this news to me.”
    Philippa preened. “I knew you would be concerned. After all, she is an Angevin, and it’s plain she has set her sights on Geoffrey the Handsome.” She lowered her voice, cupping her hand to her mouth. “They were acquainted with each other in Anjou.”
    Ermintrude watched the girl swish away down the corridor, saying a silent prayer of thanks for jealousy and meanness of spirit. Invariably over the years the combination had prompted ladies-in-waiting to tattle on each other. No doubt once Peridotte de Pontrouge was removed, Philippa de Grosmont would take her place in Geoffrey’s attentions. He pursued any young girl who crossed his path. But wasn’t that the way of youth? She sighed, remembering a certain young man when she was five and ten—
    She pressed her palms to her reddening cheeks. It would not do to have people see her face anything but fashionably pale. She must get her errant thoughts back to the present.
    Here was a chance to get