Joining by Johanna Lindsey Read Free Book Online

hunted for food, never for sport.
    Jhone had empathy as well, not for animals, but for people. At least, it seemed as if she couldsense emotions much stronger than the average person could. That was one reason the anger that large men felt so terrified her. Because she felt that anger so intensely, almost as if it were her own, and that frightened her.
    That was why she had loved her husband, William, so much, and had asked her father to decline any other offers that might be submitted for her, for she was not ready to embrace marriage again. William had never felt anger. His disposition had been too light and carefree for him to ever take anything so seriously that ’twould cause him anger. And he had loved her dearly, which she had also felt most strongly. It would be nigh impossible to find another like William, so she wanted no other.
    After a few words and gentle touches to the other horse, Milisant turned to leave the stable. Jhone finally said, “Papa sent me to fetch you to the hall—properly dressed.”
    Milisant stopped with a snort. “Put on a bliaut for
him?
When you show me one made of nettles.”
    Jhone covered her mouth quickly, but not ere Milisant saw the grin. “Well, I do not have one like that, but I do have extras—since I know that you have already burned the last ones that Papa had made for you.”
    “Then you wear one and be me. I will not willingly go forth to speak with that churl.”
    It was not an absurd request. They had often, in the past, pretended to be each other. ’Twas a game they had played as children, and one Jhone had much enjoyed, since when she pretended to be Milisant, she also seemed to gainMilisant’s courage and daring, something she sadly lacked when she was herself. But they had not switched places for several years, and in this instance, to deal with de Thorpe, nay, she could not do it. He frightened her too much.
    “Mili, I cannot. He would have me trembling, and you do not want him to have that impression of you, do you? Besides, Papa would know, will be looking for just that.”
    Milisant scowled. “Then tell Papa you could not find me, that I left the castle. There is no reason for me to deal at all with de Thorpe, when I mean to have that contract set aside—as soon as I can find Papa alone to speak with him.”
    “Papa will be angry if I return to the hall without you,” Jhone predicted.
    “Papa is ofttimes angry with me. It never lasts.”
    Jhone was not so sure that would be the case this time. Wulfric de Thorpe was no ordinary visitor, after all. Their father would want him shown the honor due him as an earl’s son, the same as an earl would receive, nigh the same as was due the king. And
Jesu,
she had not even had a chamber readied for him yet!
    Jhone paled with the thought, and said quickly to her sister, “I will tell him, but he will not like it. So do not delay too long in speaking with him, Mili, and soothing his temper.”
    She rushed out of the stable then, leaving Milisant frowning after her and mumbling, “Soothe it? Since when do I do other than flame it?” And then she yelled after her sister, “You are the one who can soothe him, not me!” but Jhone was already beyond hearing her.

Seven
    Milisant went to
the armory for a bow—she was not going to risk entering the keep to fetch her own—and sneaked out the side gate where she could quickly blend with the woods. She was still churning with emotion, and none of it pleasant.
    A hare came forward to greet her and she stopped to scratch it beneath its chin. She had many friends in these woods and the meadows beyond that she had made over the years. Some she took into the castle, but most she could not. There were just too many.
    The animal sensed her dark mood, though, and quickly scampered off. She sighed and continued on, her steps soundless. When she was deep in the wood she stopped again and climbed a tree to settle on a sturdy limb. She had a bird’s-eye view of the surrounding area