In Honor Bound by DeAnna Julie Dodson Read Free Book Online

the courtyard and then before both of their fathers in the great hall.
    "What's this, young man?" Westered had asked.
    "Philip, explain yourself," Robert had demanded and Westered had immediately taken Rosalynde from Philip's arms.
    "By my faith, she is drenched!"
    "I am sorry, my lord," Philip had said. "You must forgive me not keeping better care of you, my lady." Again he had pushed her shoe back onto her foot, this time deftly tightening the ribbon.
    "I thank you for the morning, my lady," he had called after her as her father carried her up the stairs. She remembered him looking up at her as he had in the courtyard the first time she saw him, that same smile on his face. That time he had taken her fancy. This time he had taken her heart. He had it still, she knew it deep inside herself, and now she could hardly bear the thought of him married to another.
    "Which of them was it?" Rosalynde asked when she could trust her voice, and her father smiled at the anxiousness in her eyes.
    "The younger one, Thomas of Brenden."
    "Oh," she sighed. "Not that it is anything to me," she added quickly and Westered turned her face up to his.
    "Is it still young Philip, sweetheart? After four years?"
    She nodded her head and the tears filled her eyes.
    "Is there none of the others who would please you, child? There are more than a few who have asked me for you."
    "Oh, no, Father, please." She clung to his arm and hid her face against his sleeve. "None of them is worth one of Philip's boot straps. Not five of them together."
    Over her head, Westered smiled. "Well then, they could hardly be worth my Rosalynde." He lifted her face again and kissed her nose, then he hugged her tight. "You shall have him, then, your Philip, if by any means I can get the king's consent."
    ***
    Once his bride was gone, Tom had been sent to Chrisdale, to the army there, and Philip found himself virtually alone. His heart was with Katherine, always with her, but he saw little of her except in times and places where they may not openly speak. She was busied with the endless complications of Margaret's official mourning and he had his own duties as well, so there was frequently no more than an eloquent glance between them, a quick, fervent clasp of hands, sometimes a stolen kiss, before they were again forced apart.
    Then, late one night, she came to him, her face stained with tears, her body trembling with fear and weariness. He did his best to soothe her into calmness, then he tucked her into his bed and went immediately to wake his father with the news she had brought.
    "No. I cannot think it." Robert drew his dressing gown more closely around his shoulders and looked from his son to his Lord High Chamberlain, bewildered, unable to believe there was yet more sorrow to be withstood. "Why should Lady Margaret destroy her own child? What possible gain would that bring her?"
    "I do not know why," Philip insisted, "only that she is guilty. She had her waiting woman, Merryn, prepare her some potion that brought the child too soon. Murder, if ever there was such a crime."
    "How is it that you know this, my lord?" Dunois asked with his usual calm.
    "I had it from one who knows, one who overheard the plotting."
    "I will speak to Lady Margaret of this," Robert said. "Dunois, send to her to come."
    "You cannot," Philip said. "She is by far too ill just now, but I know she was deliberate in this."
    Robert sighed. "So, Richard's child is dead, too."
    Philip nodded, his eyes full of commiserating sorrow. He knew his father had looked to have another Richard in Richard's son. Now even that consolation was gone.
    "This is a serious matter, my lord," Dunois said. "Who is this 'one who knows' you speak of?"
    "One of Margaret's maids," Philip admitted, not wanting to say more.
    "Her name?"
    "Philip?" Robert prompted.
    "Katherine," Philip said half under his breath, then he looked at the two older men with resolution. "Katherine Fletcher."
    Dunois raised one insinuating eyebrow.
    "I