Telepathy of Hearts by Eve Irving Read Free Book Online Page B

maid . He bellowed with deep heartfelt laughter as he spoke. “I am sure you told me she was too weak a maiden for your tastes, but it seems the Bull is no match for this young heifer. ” Richard Sline could hardly continue to speak as he laughed so heartily. “Mounting that filly will be quite the event. For a wilder pony you will never have ridden I ’m sure. Cover her, get her to bed to birth an heir and return to the whores. She is a daughter of the She- Wolves , and after all, those women have always been trouble. ”
    Matheus cared not. Answering Richard, he always had his sermon prepared. “She is undoubtedly so. But Richard , you know me. I enjoy a challenge. I will often climb to the highest bows of the apple tree. The sun has shone on that fruit longer, and the reward for my efforts is so much swee t er. ”
    For just a moment he closed his eyes, recalling the feel of her trembling in his arms, the scent and feel of her hair. The soft curve of her body —her dimples as she scorned him. Rosy cheeks and blushed lips … and those eyes.
    Yes, there is no doubt in my mind she is a fruit well worth climbing to the highest bow to pick .
    Matheus tried to put some control on his passion. He could see Richard looking at him quizzically. He slapped Richard on the back.
    Once again Sline spilled his ale. Shaking his head and protesting. “For the love of God man , am I not to enjoy a flagon of this goodly ale? ”
    â€œ Come, the King has requested we play knuckle bones with him. ”
    As they walked to the Great Hall, Matheus caught sight of his betrothed once more. Eleanor at her window reading a B ible. She held the book in her hands , close to her heart.
    His heart quickened, the stab of a stich forced a flinch. It wanted to be near to that heart just as much as his body wanted to be held by those hands. But more than anything , Matheus wanted to be loved by that heart, knowing she thought of him instead of her precious Edmund as he co u pled with her. He was jolted. Not one day had passed that he hadn ’t fe lt the grief of Elizabeth. h eavy on his shoulders, so l id and unyielding in his soul. Now not for the first time, he had been comforted by the thought of being in the arms of the wildest filly of Christendom. He laughed a little at this revelation. Loud enough for Richard to raise an eyebrow.
    * * * *
    The splendour and colour of an English Medieval Court was a feast for the stomach and a meal for the mind. Every hue of luxury thread and weave imaginable bedecked both nobl eman and noble lady, the needle work of the skilled e m broidered and the hand of the stone m ason carved.
    It was a scene of such grandeur and opulence that Matheus despised it . Both the Royal Houses of York and Lancaster will greet each other with false fancy only to spite them in speech whence their backs were turned The tra p pings of wealth were born e on the backs of the surfs. Chi l dren and women starved, whilst the nobles fed their hounds better.
    His mood darkened. Matheus ’s tanned , chiselled cheeks pulled to a twist and his brow pinched. As he strode through the Court , all looked to him with desire. M en wanted to be him and women yearned to be with him. The Houses might be feuding, but they were united in their reverence for the sheer stout- hearted power of the man before them . Confident and carefree as always, Matheus was blissfully unaware. That just added to his charm. There was no arrogance in the man, just the star- like shine of God- given talent and super i ority.
    He often said the sight of death is mighty sobering and to be relaxed in your own skin is the gift given to those of us the reaper deemed to spare in combat . We kn e w him but await ed the time he will know us better.
    There was a purpose to Matheus ’ prowl. He walked the c ourt in search of his quarry . H e delighted in the sight of his prey and made haste towards her.
    â€œLady Bruce. ”
    Taking