Twilight Magic by Shari Anton Read Free Book Online Page A

smiled and held out his hand. After a few moments he sipped from his palm. “Rain is good for somethin’ leastwise.”
    Amused, Darian shook his head and pulled out a wine-skin, preferring heftier drink.
    A rustle of leaves and snapping twigs announced Emma’s return. She glanced at both him and the carter, then made her way to a log sheltered by a huge oak and sat down.
    “Not hungry?”
    She shrugged, loosening droplets to slither down her cloak. “Not particularly.”
    But the look she gave his bread told him differently. The thought occurred to him that she wasn’t eating because she hadn’t brought any food along and was too proud to ask for a morsel of his.
    Of course, he hadn’t remembered to bring food, either. William had sent the stable boy to the kitchens. Still, it seemed to Darian a woman would prepare better.
    “Did you bring nothing along?”
    “You did not give me much time to prepare.”
    “So you chose to bring all your fripperies instead of food.”
    Her eyes narrowed in indignation. “I will neither faint away nor starve. Tonight will be soon enough for me, at whatever inn you choose to spend the night.”
    Her expectations were rather high. She assumed they would halt for the night in a town large enough to sport an inn. If the weather worsened and the roads became streams, they might not be so fortunate.
    And she had been rushed.
    And the king had extracted his vow to take care of her. So he would while Lady Emma was still his wife. Which wouldn’t be for long, he hoped.
    He fetched another chunk of coarse bread and handed it to her. “Best you have something now. Supper could be a long way off.”
    At first he thought she might refuse, but she took the bread and nibbled on it.
    He watched her eat, admiring her straight, white teeth behind her lush lips. Her tongue darted to the corner of her sensually curved mouth to recover a stray crumb.
    In danger of becoming overly intrigued by her quick, pink tongue, Darian sat beside her on the log, careful to sit only close enough to permit a quiet exchange.
    “We agree this marriage is a farce. How do we obtain an annulment?”
    She stared at him as if coming to a decision before finally answering, “I believe we must present our case to a bishop, but which one might be best, I do not know. Nor am I sure of what reasons we could use. Unfortunately, if we petition for an annulment, the king and Bishop Henry are sure to learn of it. Neither will be pleased and may try to hinder our efforts.”
    She had a point. They couldn’t act too soon. But the time would come when they’d be free of one another and he could return to the life he preferred. But what of Emma?
    A solution of what to do with Emma suddenly hit him, making him wonder why he didn’t think of it sooner.
    “Perhaps you should go home and wait there until all is settled.”
    “To Camelen?” After a pause she shook her head. “That was my father’s home, and now belongs to my sister’s husband. ’Tis not truly my home anymore. Besides, I should rather be closer to London. I have yet to petition the king to release my youngest sister from Bledloe Abbey.” She shook her head harder. “Nay, I cannot go far. Kent is far enough.”
    Which meant he was saddled with her for the foreseeable future. He thought to ask why her sister needed release from a nunnery, but decided it wasn’t any of his affair.
    Too bad he couldn’t send her home, though. Not that her company would be overly hard to bear. Emma was easy on the eyes. She didn’t complain or make insistent demands—or hadn’t as yet. She impressed him as a woman who took what fate tossed her way and then dealt with it in a quick, effective manner.
    She was also easy to talk to, not an unpleasant companion with whom to share exile. An exile that would last too long, no matter if it were but for a few days. Except he shouldn’t have to suffer her company at all. Shouldn’t be noticing any of the lady’s finer