The Black Lyon by Jude Deveraux Read Free Book Online Page B

answer, so stunned was he. “I think, my brother, you have fallen in love with the girl.”
    “Love!” Ranulf sneered and then relaxed again. “I have thought of this but cannot credit it. She is a child. My daughter, Leah, would have been near as old as she.”
    “Well, you could always make her your mistress and when you tire of her, give her to one of your men for wife.”
    Ranulf turned a scowling face to his brother, but Geoffrey only laughed. “Then you must marry the girl. I can see she is eager for you, although I do not understand why. I am sure you will make a poor husband.”
    “I cannot marry her.” His voice was barely audible.
    “Ranulf, you must forget Isabel! Many men have unhappy first marriages. You were but a boy, and she several years older than you. You cannot live always in the past. This girl adores you, so marry her before another takes her. Of course she is but a baron’s daughter. Mayhaps the great Earl of Malvoisin will not lower himself to… You understand my words? If you do not take her, another will. What think you of the idea of another holding her, kissing her… Ranulf! Unhand me!”
    Geoffrey picked himself up from the dirt at Ranulf’s feet. “I go now to clean Sir Tompkin’s mail. You will think on my words?” He left his silent brother alone.
    *  *  *
    “Lyonene! I have repeated my question four times. Where is your mind?”
    “I am sorry, Father. What did you ask of me?”
    “It does not matter now. What is wrong with you this day?”
    “I think,” Melite said, looking at her husband over her sewing, “that the problem with our daughter stands outside on the lists.”
    William frowned. “Sir Tompkin?” His voice was incredulous.
    There was disgust in Lyonene’s voice. “Hmph! Sir Tompkin indeed! That fat old man!”
    “I’ll not have such disrespect in my house, girl.”
    “William, it is the Earl of Malvoisin who causes Lyonene so much trouble,” Melite whispered.
    “Ranulf de Warbrooke!” He looked at Lyonene’s bowed head. “You moon for the king’s earl?”
    Lyonene stood before the fire, stretching with a catlike grace. “Is he not handsome? Is he not the kindest, gentlest man? And does not his hair curl most splendidly?”
    William’s eyes widened to the fullest possible and his mouth fell open as he looked to his wife, who sat with a satisfied grin on her face.
    “Lyonene,” Melite said quietly, “go and comb your hair. Have Lucy build you a fire and stay in your room until dinner.”
    Lyonene did not question her mother’s highly unusual request, but just obeyed.
    “Now, wife, I pray you to tell me what happens in my own castle. My daughter is moonstruck for the Black Lion? She cannot expect aught to come of such a dream. She would be as likely to marry an earl as I would to marry the king’s daughter.”
    “You have yet to ask him.”
    “Ask him! Are you daft to think I would do such? He will laugh in my face. It is well enough to tell my friends an earl has visited me, but that I aspired to an earl for a son! Nay, I’ll not hear such laughter!”
    “William, have you not also seen that our earl ‘moons,’ as you say, for our daughter?” When he did not answer, she smiled. “Go and look to the lists. You will see the truth in my words.”
    Unbelieving, William walked to the shuttered windows, pulling one of the louvers down so he could see out. Ranulf sat on a bench, his head back against the wall, staring into space. As William watched, a few of the Black Guard turned puzzled stares to their master.
    William returned to the fire and sat down heavily.
    “I do not know that he will accept our daughter in marriage, but we may ask. Was there not an old story that the Earl of Malvoisin was once married to a baron’s daughter, a woman he loved?”
    William’s face lit. “It is so! When he was a lad, he caused great scandal by marrying the girl. King Henry was said to be greatly angered. There was a child born but five months