The Dragon Lord by Connie Mason Read Free Book Online

lord.”
    Dominic stared at the door in disbelief. The determined woman behind the door did not sound at all like the shy little Rose he had just wed. Had her sister’s warrior spirit found its way into Rose’s timid soul? A horrifying thought suddenly occurred to him.
    Had he been duped into wedding the sharp-tongued twin? If so, he would have the last laugh, for the marriage would not be legal. He had married a submissive maiden named Rose and would accept no other.
    His face set in determined lines, Dominic spun on his heel and returned to the great hall, where merrymaking was still in progress. He spied Sir Braden and stalked toward him.
    “A word with you, Sir Braden.”
    Sir Braden gave him a puzzled look.“What is amiss, my lord?”
    “A great deal,” Dominic said tersely. “You attended the wedding, did you not?”
    “Aye, my lord.”
    “Whom did I marry? Lady Rose or Lady Starla? Do not lie, for I cannot abide liars.”
    “You wed Lady Rose, Lord Dragon.”
    “Are you certain? Even I could not tell them apart.”
    “I have known them all of their lives, my lord. I could not possibly mistake one for the other. You wed Lady Rose.”
    “Has Sir Eric returned from the convent?” Dominic asked, still not satisfied. Something was definitely wrong, and he was determined to get to the bottom of it.
    “Nay, my lord. But Sir Cedric, Sir Eric’s lieutenant, is available to attend you.”
    “Fetch him for me.”
    Sir Braden hurried off and returned a few minutes later with Sir Cedric.“You wished to speak with me?” Sir Cedric asked.
    “Aye. I will ask you the same question I asked Sir Braden. Whom did I wed? Lady Rose or Lady Starla?”
    Sir Cedric gave him a startled look. “You wed Lady Rose, my lord. You announced your choice in the great hall, we all heard you.‘Twas indeed Lady Rose you took as your wife. Is there a problem?”
    Still unconvinced, Dominic made a dismissive motion with his hand. “Go, both of you. Send Father Nyle tome.”
    Dominic paced as he waited for the priest. When he arrived, looking like a ship under full sail, Dominic rounded on him. “Quickly, tell me the name of the woman I wed.”
    Father Nyle looked at Dominic as if he had lost his mind. “Lady Rose, my lord. Have you forgotten her name already?”
    “How do you know ‘tis Rose I wed and not Starla?”
    “Humph, I should know. I baptized them and have watched them grow to womanhood. Starla is the pious twin, the dutiful daughter, always on her knees in the chapel. Rose should have been born a man, for she has none of her mother’s or sister’s gentle ways. Is there aught else you wish, my lord?”
    “Nay, Father, you may go,” Dominic said gruffly. He refused to admit that he had been duped, for he still wasn’t sure what had happened. Perhaps Rose did need time to mourn her father, and mayhap he was imagining things, but he was sure as hell going to find out.

    Rose awakened the next morning refreshed after a good night’s sleep. She did not dwell overlong on Dragon’s reason for giving up so easily last night, for if she did, she would be too frightened to face him this morning. But now that her mother and sister were safely sequestered, she could be herself.
    Rose unlatched the door and walked into the sitting room, where a maidservant was engaged in building a fire in the grate. Rose greeted Tyra pleasantly and asked for food and a bath. Lady Emily arrived with a tray a short time later.
    “He is gone,” Emily whispered, pulling Rose aside so the servants carrying the tub and bathwater into the chamber would not hear.
    “Who is gone?”
    “Lord Dragon. He left before Prime. I was on my way to Mass when I saw him ride out.”
    “Did he go hunting or hawking?”
    “I know not. Lord Dragon and that foreign giant who guards his back left together.”
    “Do you know where Lord Dragon slept last night?”
    Rose wanted to bite her tongue after she asked the question. She cared not where or with whom Dragon