Conquests: Hearts Rule Kingdoms by Emily Murdoch

Author:Emily Murdoch [Murdoch, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781492235309
Google: QUiAngEACAAJ
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Published: 2013-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty Two

The sound of a horse’s hooves became faster and louder, and eventually Melville had no choice but to pay attention to their approach.

“Avis darling?”

Avis shook her head, unwilling to return to society.

“Come on.” Melville gently lifted her up, and gave Avis enough time to pat down her flyaway hair before the horseman arrived.

Melville smiled at her wryly, acknowledging his displeasure that their time together was about to be interrupted – but he groaned aloud when the rider came into view, and he recognised the crest and livery. It was a messenger from King William.

“Melville?” Avis muttered quietly. His face had grown dark, and she was sure that he had recognised the loyalty of the man that approached them.

Melville answered briefly before the man was in earshot.

“The King.”

As Melville rose to greet the rider, he did not notice how Avis turned pale. She had not seen King William since that day, that day when her entire life had changed. Although it was obvious that this rider was not the King, she could not help but feel that her privacy was once again being attacked by that unwanted warrior. Would she ever be free of him?

The rider dismounted, and walked straight to Melville, who recognised him at once. His horse shook itself after a long and difficult ride, and began to lazily eat the luscious grass that surrounded them.

“Jean?”

The rider nodded, and then stumbled. Melville caught him, and immediately helped him to sit on the pile of rugs beside Avis, who shrunk back in fear. The man was clearly exhausted. Melville’s thoughts immediately exploded, imagining all manner of different scenarios, each with terrifying consequences. The King captured, the King in hiding, the King back in Normandy…

But then he noticed Avis. She was clearly uncomfortable with this man here, and it was unlikely that the rider would speak in her presence. General disdain for the intelligence of women led most men to conduct their business away from the gossiping ears of women. And besides, despite his posturing, he knew that Avis was still considered by most to be an Anglo-Saxon. Someone not to be trusted. Although Melville did not hold to those ideas – how could he, with such a mother – he knew that for both Avis and Jean, it would be easier if she were not here.

“Avis.” He spoke gently, and she turned to him, trying to ignore as best she could the panting man whose presence had put her so on edge. “Would you do me the courtesy of going to speak to the villagers below? I would know that they are being fairly treated, and want for nothing.”

Avis smiled at him. She knew that the request was merely a pretence to remove her from this difficult situation, but she was relieved. The presence of this unknown Norman had taken from her all of her calmness, causing tension to run throughout her body, and there was no other polite way for her to simply leave them. Avis was only just beginning to trust Melville – a new stranger, a Norman stranger, was too much.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.