Linda Needham by The Bride Bed Read Free Book Online

off the bargaining table this time around.
    And she was in the process of making sure there wouldn’t be a next.
    Lord, she was so tired of it all, the war and the unrest, and the loss. Being tossed from one man to another as though she were but a ball of cording.
    “Now, to bed with you both.”
    It took her a quarter of an hour to settle them into the bed they shared, still another to describe in detail every minute leading up to the marriage ceremony which, thank the Lord, never happened.
    “Did Lord Alex take you by the hair when hefound you, the way Rufus did?” Fiona took a sudden death grip on Talia’s hand, worry in her eyes.
    De Monteneau’s hands were too strong and rough to be as gentle as they seemed, to be trusted.
    “No, Fiona, Lord Alex didn’t hurt me.” And he’d never have the chance to.
    “There, I told you, Brenna!”
    A rap sounded on the door, followed by a whispered, rasping voice. “My lady! Be you there?”
    At Talia’s “come,” Quigley and Leod and Jasper all came scrambling into the room.
    “Shhhh…” she murmured, pointing to Brenna and Fiona. “To sleep, young ladies.”
    And then she funneled the tangle of muttering men out into the dim vestibule, her heart pounding in dread.
    “What is it, Quigley?”
    “His Lordship’s men have been pokin’ around the granary in the village.”
    “Aye, my lady,” Jasper said, “and we didn’t have time to move all of the booty from the last run.”
    Talia took a steadying breath. “What exactly was left in the granary? Do you remember? The barrels of dried fruit…that spice box…”
    Leod smacked his forehead. “Hell, that tapestry and the plate chest, too, from the earl of Hampton’s sumptuary wagon. We almost lost Wilson getting that.”
    Aye, and if she was ever caught with the great earl’s chest of silver plate…It was theft, pure and simple—a hanging crime.
    But she’d been so distracted by the new work in the tower cellars and with the threat of her wedding to Rufus, she’d lost track of the contraband.
    “How well is it all disguised, Quigley?” she asked, weary to her soul.
    “Well enough, my lady, if they don’t poke around too closely.”
    Doubtless De Monteneau would do more than poke.
    “And the excavation work in the cellars, Jasper? Did you get a chance to check on any of it?”
    “All but the barbican gate and the baketower. But I’ll see to them right away, now that I know the girls are safe with you.”
    “Just make sure the work is undetectable. We’ll have to leave off any digging for a few days while we study de Monteneau’s comings and goings. Meanwhile I’ll try to distract His Lordship from his snooping.”
    Quigley grabbed her hands between his cold and leathery ones. “Do be careful of him, lass.”
    “Don’t worry, Quig. Now go on back to the granary and be sure it’s all hidden. And take care.”
    “I’ll go with him, too!” Leod said, hitching up his sagging sword belt.
    They all ought to be safely in their beds, butthey seemed to thrive on chaos. And there seemed always to be plenty of that.
    “All right then. Keep an eye on things, but please don’t challenge anyone about anything.”
    “Well, ya heard ’Er Ladyship, men!” And off they hurried down the winding stairs, hobbling like ducks, grabbling at each other.
    Talia went back to settling her chattering sisters into their bed, wondering how best to keep de Monteneau from uncovering her secrets.
    Directness. Yes, that was the way. Up front and unflinching.
    When the girls finally fell asleep, Talia left quietly and stopped by her own chamber to change into dry slippers, and her heart spilled over with relief when she saw the full jug of wine and the pair of cups sitting beside the fire that had long since died.
    The wilting flowers on the pillow, the greenery winding up the bedposts.
    Her bridal bed.
    Her never-to-be-used bridal bed.
    And de Monteneau had just better get used to the idea.
    I have the right and the