The Whispering Night by Kathryn Le Veque Read Free Book Online Page A

coming to comprehend something he'd never understood his entire life;
why men over the centuries had died for the affection of a beautiful woman.
Suddenly, it was blatantly obvious.
    He knew he had to get
away from her before he forgot everything he had resolved himself to over the
past several hours.
    "If you will excuse
me, I will not burden you ladies any longer with my presence,” he said. “Good
day to you."
    He walked away from
them, almost too quickly, but Derica's voice stopped him.
    "Sir Garren?"
    He paused, turned, and
would have had to have been a blind man not to see the expression on her face.
She looked as if someone had just stolen her best friend.
    "My lady?"
    "Have... have a
pleasant day as well."
    "Thank you."
    It was harder than he
could have imagined to turn and continue walking. But he had to.  In fact, he
had to do more.
     
     
             

 
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
    "Have I ever asked
this of you before, my lord?"
    "You have
not."
    "Then I would hope
you would take me seriously when I ask that you reconsider assigning me to this
task."
    "Of course I take
you seriously, Garren. But you have only been at Framlingham one day. How do
you know this mission is impossible?"
    "You must trust me
when I tell you that it is. I know my limitations and I am telling you that I
believe this mission will fall into serious jeopardy."
    "So you have told
me repeatedly. But what you have failed to tell me is why."
    Garren sat in William
Marshall's solar, gazing at the old man with the yellowed eyes, wondering how
he was going to explain this to him. Months in the making and he was running
from his assignment like a coward.  He'd never run from anything in his life.
    Outside, the night was
becoming early morning. He'd ridden for hours to get from Framlingham to
Chepstow and he was exhausted. But he'd never felt so strongly about anything
in his life, so much so that he was willing to yank William Marshall from bed
and beg him to reconsider the task at hand. 
    "Suffice it to say
that, for various reasons, it is not something I can do," he muttered.
"There are too many factors...."
    "Rubbish," the
Marshall snapped softly. "Tell me the truth. What has you spooked like a
skittish mare?"
    Garren looked at him,
wondering if he should tell him the truth, but knowing in the same breath that
he would sound like a complete idiot. Still, the Marshall deserved to know.
Garren was the best agent he had and had served flawlessly up until this point.
He knew he could confide in William but was reluctant to do so. With the truth
came admission.
    "Send someone to
infiltrate the servants," he said. "I need support on this task. I
fear that my attention may not always be where it should and I need assistance
that I can depend on should I be indisposed."
    William studied him a
moment, a wise man with many years of living and loving behind him. He
suspected he knew what the problem was. "Is it your bride?"
    "Aye."
    "You have expressed
reservation about this betrothal from the beginning. What is it that still
disturbs you?"
    Garren took a deep
breath, staring into the fire, trying to think of the right words. They came to
him in pieces. "I am not sure. There's something about her...."
    "Is she
unpleasant?"
    "Nay."
    "Fat? Lazy?"
    "Nay."
    "Then what?"
    Garren was hesitant.
"From the onset, I feared the woman would be a distraction,” he said
quietly. “I have never been comfortable with women, you know that, and I saw
the entire marriage element as unnecessary to this mission. I could have
infiltrated the House of de Rosa another way, for instance, as a bachelor
knight searching for a house to pledge my fealty."
    The Marshall nodded
patiently. "You suggested that, as I recall."
    "I did. But you
were convinced the marriage aspect was the most convenient and secure."
    "It still is."
He threw up his hands. "Garren, where is this leading? I do not understand
what the problem is."
    Garren sat a moment,
trying to piece together