The Falls of Erith by Kathryn Le Veque Read Free Book Online Page A

Constance’s eye. She’s enjoying this , he thought.
    “But
surely given the proper circumstance, you would consider it.” It was more a
statement than a question. 
    Braxton
merely lifted his shoulders. He would not let the old woman get the better of
him, no matter what she was driving at.
    “It
would have to be a tremendously wealthy offer with much to my advantage.” He
made it clear that Erith did not qualify, nor did a fifteen-year-old bride.
“Moreover, I intend to travel to the Continent next year. I have a few
contracts that require fulfilling.  A wife and a House of my own do not suit my
purpose at this time.”
    Brooke
was listening intently to him, chewing loudly. Braxton thought she might have
put the grandmother up to this interrogation, but he could see from her
expression that she was completely oblivious to what was going on.  But
Constance was more than aware; she was shrewd. Though Braxton had effectively
cut her down, she considered the match over, but not the war.  She sipped at
her wine, making a face as the liquid slid down her throat.
    “Horrid,”
she hissed. “I do apologize for the quality of the wine, Sir Knight. It is not
up to our usual standards.”
    Braxton
didn’t say anything. He suspected this wine was the usual standard.  He
looked at Brooke. “Where is your mother? She was here a moment ago but left the
hall.”
    Brooke
shrugged, licking her fingers. “I do not know.”
    “Perhaps
you should find her and have her join us.”
     The
young girl dug back into her meal. “She does not usually eat the evening meal.”
    “Why
not?”
    “Because
there usually is not enough…”
    Brooke
ended her sentence with a yelp as Constance dug fingernails into the girls’
leg. The older woman smiled thinly. “She chooses to supervise the household so
that the rest of us may enjoy our meal.”
    Braxton
wasn’t an idiot. He thought he knew what Brooke had been prevented from saying
and he was equally sure that Constance was either in denial of how bad things
were at Erith or simply wanted to cover up the truth. He couldn’t tell which. 
However, neither woman seemed concerned at Gray’s absence. It was perfectly
normal to them. Irritation bloomed in his chest and he stood up.
    “Then
I shall find her and bade her join us,” his voice was low. “As she is the
hostess, it is only right she enjoy this bountiful feast.”
    Constance
and Brooke watched him march from the room, curiosity on their faces, but
Braxton didn’t look at either of them. He was more intent on finding Gray and
discovering why she had left so abruptly.  He had no idea why her flight should
bother him so, but it did.
    It
was cloyingly dark in the entry hall that led from the keep. To his left was a
small room, a solar of some kind he assumed.  He peered inside; it was empty
but for a chair and a table. He couldn’t see much else in the dark. Exiting the
keep, he took the repaired stairs down to the bailey, his gaze scanning the
yard. It was still for the most part, the ghostly moon creating weak light over
the landscape. 
    Wandering
toward the three small fires that his men had started near the southern wall,
his eyes continued to scrutinize the area.  It didn’t take him long to
determine that the lady was not out in the yard, so he turned once again for
the keep.  As he did so, movement on a portion of the wall that was not
crumbling caught his attention; a flash of a figure had disappeared into the
shadows.  Knowing that Erith had no sentries, he switched from feast guest to
trained warrior. Until he knew who it was, he would take no chances. He hadn’t
stayed alive this long by being foolish.
    There
was an open flight of stairs that led up to a functional part of the wall walk
where he had seen the figure. The problem was that he would be exposed the
entire time he mounted the steps.  He was without his armor, a disadvantage,
but his warrior instincts were in action and he mounted the steps