To Kiss in the Shadows by Lynn Kurland Read Free Book Online Page A

an errand for him. I’ll need several things from the healer, if the man can provide them.”
    â€œAye, milord, as ye will.”
    Jason sent the woman on her way, then looked about him for something to sit on. Finding a small stool, he pulled it near the bed, sat, and searched back through his own lessons at a healer’s knee for what he should do at present. His lessons had been thorough, and most unusual, given from whom he’d had them. He smiled to himself at the thought. Perhaps the lady of Harrow had not spoken amiss after all. He could brew a love potion, cure warts and other afflictions, and slather on quite a salve of beauty, should circumstances require.
    As well as spew out a variety of quite potent curses, which was enormously tempting at the moment.
    But the saints pity him should he not be able to remember the simple herbs to aid the woman before him in ridding her body of what foul brew she’d ingested.
    He contemplated that list of herbs for what seemed to him an inordinately long amount of time. He was on the verge of going to seek out Kendrick himself when the door opened and a torch entered the chamber, carried by none other than his yawning brother.
    â€œLianna, where are you? I know that to have called me to you as I was about to retire can only mean that you’ve one desire of me—”
    Kendrick’s yawn ceased abruptly when he saw who was laid out on the bed.
    â€œWhat happened to her?” he said, coming to stand next to Jason.
    â€œTo Lianna?” Jason asked, looking up at his brother sourly. “To the woman you couldn’t see fit to introduce to me?”
    Kendrick looked at him blankly. “I was tormenting you. ’Tis my sworn duty as your elder brother to do so. Now, what happened to her? She was seemingly happy enough with the ladies. When I was summoned here, I thought perhaps she had a tryst in mind.”
    â€œWith you? Poor girl, I should hope not,” Jason said.
    â€œWhy not? Many women—”
    â€œAye, exactly. Perhaps this one has more sense than the others.”
    Kendrick flicked him smartly on the ear, then peered over his shoulder. “Why are you here then? And see you how she sleeps. What have you done, Jason? Bored her so deeply that she must sleep to escape you?”
    â€œKendrick, you fool, she was poisoned!”
    Kendrick gasped. “Nay! By whom?”
    â€œBy those who would have you, likely.”
    â€œStupid wenches. Surely no man is worth this—not even I.”
    At least in that his brother was showing some sense. Jason reached for Lianna’s hand and held it between his own. Her flesh felt as if it were on fire. Jason looked up at his brother.
    â€œGo fetch me herbs,” he said.
    Kendrick blinked. “Are you brewing love potions for her now?”
    â€œHealing ones, dolt.”
    â€œOne never knows, what with your teachers.”
    â€œBerengaria is a fine healer.”
    â€œOh, aye,” Kendrick agreed, “she is that. I daresay her two accomplices might have a different tale to tell about her varied talents and whether or not she is of the witchly ilk. Though I must admit Phillip was no worse for the wear for his time spent in their company.”
    Phillip, their older brother, had followed his bride on a merry chase, accompanied by none other than Berengaria of Artane, lately of Blackmour, and her two apprentices, one of whom had willingly gone north in search for—of course—the thumb-bone of a wizard.
    Whether she had found it or not was something of a family secret.
    Jason smiled faintly. “They were all that aided him in taming his bride, so I daresay he has no complaints. And now that you’ve convinced yourself my skills aren’t dark ones, go fetch me what I need.”
    â€œI’m not at all sure your skills aren’t dark ones,” Kendrick said with half a laugh, “but I will fetch you what you require, then I will return and