Justice of the Root by Abby Gordon

Author:Abby Gordon
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2019-12-06T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen York

Unwilling to wait for the rain to stop, Celeste changed into her riding clothes after sending Stephen to have Vesper saddled. Her father had gone to meet with the other elders at the Gray manor. This was her chance to find Edward, beg him to explain things, to help her understand. Pulling on her long brown coat as she left her room, she hurried down the steps, ignoring Joan’s call. Stephen helped her mount.

“If’n you can wait, miss, I’ll go with you,” he told her.

“No, Stephen,” she shook her head, fingers tightening on the reins. No point in him getting in trouble if I do. “I won’t be long. I just need to get out of the manor for a bit.”

Before he could protest, she turned Vesper’s head and urged her out the gate. Despite the drizzle, the mare eagerly picked up her pace. As if sensing my need for Edward. Why was he that way? He was so arrogant, so sure I’d simply believe him and not have a loyalty to my father. That angered her, until she recalled the fragments of conversation she had overheard that summer. Could Richland have something to do with this? He mentioned seeing Northumberland and Westmoreland? And why would someone from the Wash come to the north? What grows here wouldn’t do well there. And it wasn’t to see the training. He was here only the night.

Now, a frisson of doubt crept into her mind. The idea that her father and uncle might indeed be involved in treason terrified her. Immediately she rejected it. Impossible. There’s simply no way they would do anything so horrible.

The guard at Talbor Manor didn’t challenge her but the expression on his face made her tremble. She knew that look. It was the look Edmund had on his face whenever he saw her. Or any woman. Thank heavens Father mentioned Edmund would be at the meeting as captain of the York company. I don’t need to worry about being nice to him.

“Edmund’s not here,” a voice from the left told her.

Turning her head in that direction, she saw Geoffrey. Godfrey’s grandson, she recalled with a start. A fire had burned the former captain’s home, killing his family, except the youngest. And the boy’s mind had been soft ever since. The anger in the eyes didn’t come from a boy soft in the head though. There was an intelligence that was quickly hidden as the boy dropped his head. When he lifted it again, the expression was the usual dullard one he posed with. Celeste frowned and guided Vesper closer.

“I’m not looking for Edmund,” she said quietly. “I wanted to speak with Edward.”

“Why?” he asked bluntly.

“Because, I—” she shook her head. “Where is he?”

“Why should I tell you?” the boy shrugged indifferently. “You don’t care nuffin’ for him.”

“That’s not true,” she told him urgently. “Please. Where is he? Can you tell him I’m here?”

“Maybe he don’t want to talk with you,” Geoffrey sneered, glaring at her. “Considerin’ you threw him over for the bastard.

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