Falcon’s Love by Denise Lynn

Author:Denise Lynn
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Medieval
Publisher: 0
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Marguerite tore the torch from the sconce and raced back up to the chamber using the corridor she and Darius had just descended. Any attempt to make her way through the throng of people frantically gathering in the Great Hall would have been of no use. It would be easier to gain their attention from the upper level.

After closing and locking both the stone door and the wooden door to the corridor, she paused to catch her breath. The Earl of York was no friend to Thornson. His brief visit upon her arrival years ago had made her aware of that fact. Instead of joining her and Henry in a festive celebration of their marriage vows, the earl had taken it upon himself to bring the party within a hairsbreadth of war—simply because Henry did not support the king.

Considering the sizable forces of both York and Thornson, it would have been a war that lasted years. Fortunately, Henry had swallowed his pride, backed down and sworn not to openly defy King Stephen.

Earl William had either missed the word openly, or had realized that he’d never be able to stop Henry from supporting Empress Matilda. Either way, Henry had taken his support into the shadows and the earl had not returned to Thornson.

Until now.

Why, after all these years, had he decided to pay a visit? If he had wanted to take control of the keep, would he not have done so immediately following Henry’s death?

It was not as if he did not know about the passing of Thornson’s lord. Especially since rumor said Henry had taken the arrow on the outskirts of York. All had assumed the arrow had come from one of the earl’s men.

Surely, being a lord in King Stephen’s court, the earl knew Darius had been sent to hold Thornson. Is that why he’d come? To see to it that Darius performed his duty? As far as she knew, all of the Faucons were loyal servants to the king, so a taskmaster to oversee them would not be needed.

Why now of all times? How would they get the shipment out tomorrow night? Keeping Darius and his men diverted was going to be hard enough. How would she keep the earl from discovering what was afoot at Thornson, too?

Her heart lodged in her throat. Had he heard word about the shipments north? No. Dear Lord, let that not be so.

Marguerite slapped at the skirt of her gown and rose. She could sit here all day wondering and worrying for naught, or she could make herself useful.

She glanced at the ornate door and sighed. Like it or no, she would need to move back into this chamber. It would not do for the earl to discover one hidden room and go searching for more.

Darius would undoubtedly move into the chamber with her. But for the most part he would be occupied with the earl. And if by chance he did find the time to go snooping for other secreted rooms, she could more easily fabricate a tale for his ears than for Earl William’s.

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