The Countess by Claire Delacroix Read Free Book Online

still been curious to know.
    He deliberately wondered what had happened to the count, for there must have been such a man for her to hold her title of countess.
    Had she expected to find her spouse established here already? Nay, no man would have surrendered the deed if he had planned to assert his claim first. And truly, the lady did not seem to expect a man to take her cause.
    Duncan surmised that the count no longer strode this earth, though his widow seemed untroubled by her loss. The lady clearly had claimed the man’s coin, for no expense had been spared in her retinue. What manner of widow would leave all she knew to make a new home abroad?
    And then he guessed. What if this coolly composed countess been the instrument of the count’s demise?
    Duncan’s heart stilled. There was an intriguing possibility and one that certainly meshed with the selfish motivation of noblewomen. If she sought refuge from the law, that would explain her determination to stake a claim in this remote place. It would explain her determination to enforce even a deed that had no value.
    He progressed no further in his thinking before a heavy hand landed on his shoulder.
    â€œAnd so?” Iain demanded, scorn dripping from his words. “You do not appear to have dissuaded them from making camp.”
    â€œThey will not persevere,” Duncan replied with a shrug, his thoughts still swirling with possibilities. “’Twill be but a day or two before they return to greater comfort.”
    â€œSo we are to wait? Like women or dogs?” Iain made no effort to hide his disgust. “That is no way to secure a claim!”
    Duncan granted his companion a disparaging glance, noting only then how his entire company watched this exchange as avidly as he watched the countess. “And what would you do?”
    â€œSeize what is ours and make good our claim to the land!” A rumble of assent passed through the men. “We are men, not children, warriors who fight for what is rightly our own. We should slaughter them in their beds, we should seize the women for our pleasure, we should take their treasures for our own.”
    Duncan surveyed his opponent and deliberately schooled himself to remain calm. “Aye? What manner of warrior slaughters women and children who cannot defend themselves?”
    The men fell silent as color flooded Iain’s face. “What manner of warrior stands aside while another seizes what should be his?” he retorted.
    â€œNaught has been said of standing aside.” Duncan’s anger began to simmer. “There is naught to be lost in a measure of prudence. Should we move now, we might well find an army bent on revenge arrive with the sun.”
    Iain’s lip curled. “Who would avenge this party?”
    â€œAny noble might, for ’tis clear these are nobles of wealth, undoubtedly with many connections at court.”
    â€œOne does not stir to war so readily as that.”
    â€œAnd what of the lady’s spouse?” Duncan cast a hand toward the arrivals. “Does this not bear the look of half a household? Where are the knights and squires, the marshal, the ostler, the smith?”
    Uncertainty dawned on the faces of his companions and Duncan watched as Iain noted the change.
    â€œNo man would let his women travel unaccompanied,” Iain snapped. “There will be no more.”
    Though Duncan suspected as much, he would be certain before he risked lives.
    â€œNo Gael would do as much, ’tis true, but ’tis too early to assume,” he replied with authority. “The man might well have paused to raise a cup with his patron, with the king or another.”
    Iain remained visibly unconvinced.
    Duncan continued with vigor. “He might have fallen ill, or lost a steed and thus be a day or two behind the lady’s arrival. ’Twould not be the first time. He might well assume her safe enough with so much of his household in