Lord Of Danger, Stuart, Anne [my miracle luna book free read txt] 📗

said with a deliberate drawl as he approached Lord Richard. The buxom serving girl who was attending to him scuttled away at Simon’s approach, crossing herself hastily.

“The bitch clawed me,” Richard said gruffly.

Lady Hedwiga didn’t look up, determined to ignore both of them. “Which bitch is that, my lord?” Simon inquired blandly.

“The woman who calls herself m’sister. Which I take leave to doubt is the case,” he added self-righteously. “I was never too certain about it in the first place, and the more I see of her, the more I’m certain she’s some other man’s by-blow. Her mother knew a good thing when she saw it, saw how honored Alys was, and sought the same for her bastard.”

“I gather Lady Alys was torn from her dying mother’s arms and locked in a convent for the next sixteen years of her life. It hardly seems that attractive a prospect.”

Richard didn’t even ask him how he knew of Alys’s past “It just goes to show how little you know of life, Grendel,” he said, as he dropped the herb-soaked cloth to expose his mauled cheek. Lady Claire had done a thorough job. “Claire’s mother got rid of her infant, knowing she’d be well-provided for, and then went on with her life of frivolity. It isn’t to be wondered that she lied.”

“Where is she now? If you have real doubts you might ask her—”

“She’s dead these ten years past Died of a pox, I suppose, though I don’t really know. Nor care.”

“Brother Jerome is concerned.”

“Brother Jerome’s always concerned,” Richard said in a peevish voice. “He should know well enough to leave me be. He’s to look out for the women—they’re the sort that need his infernal interference. Not me.”

“I believe that’s exactly what he is doing,” Simon said blandly. “He is concerned for your sisters.”

“She’s not…”

“She is, my lord,” Simon broke in with steely firmness. “One has only to look at the two of you side by side to recognize it. Only blood kin could have such similar beauty.” He wasn’t averse to outrageous flattery if it served his purpose, and Richard was vain enough to swallow it whole. “I know not what evil demon made you think she was anything other than your sister, but that wicked suggestion has not served you well.”

Richard would need a scapegoat, as Simon well knew. He could only hope that onus wouldn’t fall upon some poor innocent who would undoubtedly be put to death in order to assuage Richard’s conscience, or at least his reputation, but that was the very least of his worries. Life was hard, and death was always close at hand.

“Demon,” Richard muttered. “You say it truly, Grendel. It was the work of Satan and his helpers, of that there is no doubt. I will think hard on it, and see if I can remember who first suggested such a thing.”

He would think hard on it, all right, and decide which of his household was the most inconvenient. If he had a score to settle, an old injury to soothe, it would be dealt with quite handily.

Simon glanced over at Hedwiga’s bowed head, her pursed lips and wattled chin all that showed in her averted profile. Richard would have given anything to rid himself of his lady wife, but her family were too wealthy and powerful for him to get away with it. He was stuck with her, a barren, carping creature, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Simon didn’t even pause to consider why he should exert himself to rescue the beauteous Claire. He disliked thinking that he had a sentimental streak in his body, and he considered Lady Claire to be a spoiled creature of far less interest than her older sister.

But he had a… passing fondness for Lady Alys, and Alys wished her sister protected. Which was reason enough, Simon supposed.

“It’s a fortunate thing that Thomas du Rhaymer came in search of his charge,” he continued. “He saved you from committing a very great sin.”

Lady Hedwiga’s head jerked slightly, but she didn’t turn or otherwise betray that she was listening.

“Sod him,” Richard muttered with real invective. And then he laughed. “Aye, Saint Thomas will meet his reward in heaven, no doubt. He’s not interested in any from the Lady Claire.”

The deed wasn’t done until Richard claimed her as his sister. “You chose well,” Simon persisted. “You may count on Sir Thomas to keep your sisters safe.”

“Alys needs no protection from you, does she? She’d hardly the type to make a man lose his head. Unlike the younger one,” he added broodingly.

“A man may lose his head over a great many things,” Simon murmured. “I’ve yet to see a woman who was worth it.”

It was the right approach. Richard laughed. “You’re a wise man, Grendel. I’ve chosen well for my chief advisor. No woman’s worth the trouble they can cause. See to it that Sir Thomas keeps a closer watch on both my sisters.”

Simon bowed. “As you wish, my lord.”

He was halfway down the hall when Hedwiga’s nasal, carping voice came to him, raised in anger. Richard’s mumbled replies were less audible, and Simon found he was smiling. Lady Hedwiga would punish Richard, far more thoroughly than any of Brother Jerome’s penances.

Not that he could count on Richard’s forbearance to last any length of time. Claire was a choice temptation, and Richard had never been one to deny himself. He was forestalled only.

There was only one remedy, and that was to distract Richard from his lust. Richard’s appetite for power was stronger than any of his other insatiable needs, and concentrating on his machinations might keep him busy. To save one young woman, he needs must sacrifice a child. He shrugged. Sacrificing that child-king had been a probability from the very beginning. He wouldn’t allow himself to dwell too long on the unpleasant prospect. When a nasty job had to be done, it was best to get it over with.

His workshop, however, was not the best place for such