Trusted by Jacquelyn Frank Read Free Book Online Page A

Lalo answered the door. At least the man was on his feet and appeared to be well. But then that meant…
    “We are looking for the lady of the manor,” the king said.
    “She is in here,” Lalo said, stepping back so they could enter the small three room house. The king had to duck his head to keep it from hitting on the low ceiling.
    Lalo led the way to the bedroom where, upon their entering, Dakon’s mother and sister rose from where they had been tending the sick children in their beds. They recognized the king right away and Sarea’s eyes widened with surprise. Then they were tempered with anger.
    “My king,” she said tightly.
    “My king!” their mother said, dipping a low curtsy. “What brings you here to this small house?” Her shock was written in every line of her face. Garrick looked straight at Sarea.
    “We heard that there was fever here. I have brought you a medic.” He indicated the small man standing to his immediate left. The medic immediately moved into the room and inspected the sick children. Apparently all six of them were ill. Three to a bed. Sarea had been tending one bed, their mother the other.
    “I…I thank you my king,” their mother said, still astounded by his appearance and the idea that the king would personally see to the care of a lowly farmer.
    “When I was told your daughter had refused my invitation to night’s meal due to there being fever in the southlands I felt it necessary to come straight away with medics and supplies.”
    “I honestly don’t know what to say but…thank you!”
    “Nonsense. Dashu fever is nothing to trifle with and gentlewomen such as yourselves should not be exposing yourselves to it.”
    “But there are other farms who are also in need and your medic cannot cover all of them,” Sarea said in hard tones. “And it is our duty to see to the welfare of all who farm our lands.”
    “Your attitude does you credit,” the king said. “You are a woman of proper breeding. But I must insist that you come away with me to your manor house and allow the medic to do his work.”
    “Why? Are you afraid to be around these sick children?” Sarea challenged him.
    “Sarea!” her mother gasped, horrified.
    “More like I am afraid for you,” the king said quietly. “I lost the queen to fever, as you know. I would not have any woman go through what she went through.”
    Sarea immediately felt contrite. She had forgotten that the king had lost his wife in that way. She hadn’t been thinking of him as a person with emotions and feelings, only as a man who selfishly came to get what he wanted. Her.
    Oh she made no mistake about his true motivations. It was clear she was in trouble and that he wouldn’t release her so easily as she had thought. She had gotten his attention and now she and her family might end up paying for it. She regretted ever agreeing to helping her brother out on that score. And yet, she had never seen him so elated. So delighted to be alive and so full of hope for the future. She supposed she wouldn’t trade that away for anything. But if she continued to refuse the king, what then? What would happen to her brother then?
    Not to mention her father. He was of the Order. If he was kicked out of the Order it would kill him. The Order was his life. He lived to serve the king as one of his captains and had done so ever since he had been a young man. Oh, her father’s intelligence would lend him to any other career if needed, but it would take something out of him if he lost his life as a soldier.
    “Forgive me. I had not remembered,” she said contritely. “Come mother, let us accompany the king.”
    She heard the king release an audible sigh of relief and it struck her. He really was worried for them.
    “I have brought two medics with me. You but need to tell them which farms they are needed at and provide a guide and they will take over your duties,” the king said.
    Sarea’s mother, Julea, instructed Dakon on which farms were