Lady of Conquest by Tamara Leigh

Author:Tamara Leigh [Leigh, Tamara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Medieval
Published: 2015-06-03T21:00:00+00:00

SHE WAS no more Elan Pendery than he was Bacus, Edwin determined, certain the elder Pendery would not tolerate such behavior from his daughter who must wed with her virtue intact. But whatever the name of this woman who was surely several years older than Pendery’s daughter, of three things he was certain—she was of the nobility, was not inexperienced, and was a pretender through and through.

She scooped up a handful of water, sipped it, and let the rest trickle between her fingers as she straightened. When she turned back, she smiled prettily.

And thus, they regarded each other.

“Methinks you are a brooder, Bacus.” She closed the distance between them, leaned up, and lightly kissed him. “Still, I may be in danger of falling in love with you.”

Liar, he wanted to name her. Instead, he forced a smile.

She tsked, set herself back on her heels. “You could at least lie and tell me you feel the same.”

Not for the first time, he wished he had not taken what she had given. The little bird might have pretty feathers, but he sensed the beak and claws of a hawk.

“How is it you came alone to the wood?” he asked, determined he would speak no more of what had transpired between them. “I would not think your father would allow it.”

“He would not,” she said with such pleasure it allowed a glimpse of the child beneath the woman.

Might he have been wrong in believing she was a score of years aged? “Who allowed it?” he asked.

“The guard at the postern gate. We have an understanding.”

Lovers, then. “I am sure,” he said derisively.

She wagged a finger. “Not that kind of understanding, Bacus.”

“Then?”

She adjusted her veil. “As I am fond of freedom, so he is fond of fine drink. One for the other, you see.”

Norman greed, Edwin labeled the man’s conduct. No lady ought to be allowed to leave the castle without escort. “The man should be flogged and clapped into irons for making such a bargain. No Saxon would allow what he did.”

She laughed. “He is Saxon,” she said, reminding him the Penderys had resided on English soil when it was still English, their association with the Saxons going back more than twenty years.

“A Saxon turned Norman,” he said.

“One or the other, it is no concern of yours. Unless…” She touched a finger to his flesh above the V of his tunic. “…you are in danger of falling in love with me.”

Though Edwin knew she could prove a useful pawn regardless of who she was to the Penderys, in that moment, there was nothing he wanted more than to send her away. Of course, when he held all of Trionne come the morrow, they would meet again.

“You are back to Trionne?” he asked, turning toward her horse.

She drew alongside him. “Unless you would like my aid in locating your mount.”

There was teasing in her eyes. Certes, she knew there was no horse that needed finding, that he lied the same as she, but still she showed no fear.

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