Lord of Midnight by Beverley Jo

Author:Beverley, Jo [Beverley, Jo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, General, Historical, Fiction
ISBN: 9781101554821
Google: qs4zme_V33YC
Amazon: B006Z43Z1Q
Publisher: Signet
Published: 1998-01-01T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Claire woke the next morning to her wedding day, nervous, but doubtless only in the way that any bride was nervous. By the time she’d gone to bed the night before nothing had been discovered about Ulric’s strange death. She was determined, however, not to let it cloud her day.

She’d rather the culprit had been found, and the matter settled. As far as she knew, all Eudo had discovered was that Ulric had arrived in the middle of the feast, and probably slipped into the hall to eat. No one seemed to know where he’d sat, or who he’d spoken with. No one could imagine who had killed him in the garden.

Eudo seemed to think it would never be solved.

She realized she was half off the bed and squinted sideways to where Margret lay hogging the center, fast asleep. With the crowding in the hall, this big bed couldn’t be left with only one. Lady Huguette was snoring quietly on the far side.

It felt nice. As it had been all her life. Three to a bed.

Tonight, however, it would be different.

Two to a bed.

Naked and entwined.

She heard noises outside the window, horses and men shouting. Slipping out of the bed, she hurried to see what was happening. For a moment she thought everyone was leaving! But then she relaxed. The men were going hunting.

A good idea. Fresh air and exercise before another day of feasting, and if they returned with fresh meat, that would be useful, too.

The floor was a tangle of maids, and Prissy stirred and sat up. “Oh, lady. Are you awake?”

“No. I’m sleepwalking.”

Prissy chuckled and got up to help her dress. Soon everyone was up, and the day had begun. Renald had made no requests for this day, so Claire felt free to go and help organize the new feast. Thank heavens most of the cooking was done, apart from fresh bread.

All the women were willing to help, too, so soon everything was ready and they could sit and chat, waiting for the men to return so the ceremony could go ahead. “You seem very calm,” said Margret. “I was in a fine state by now.”

“I remember. Up and down. Changing gowns. Fretting that Alaine wouldn’t arrive.”

“At last you don’t have to worry about that.”

“No.” It caused a tiny pang, that this was his home not her father’s. But then she remembered the benefit. That she could stay here all her life.

There were other blessings too. Her grandmother was secure here, and her mother almost back to her happy self, comforted by the presence of all her friends and by being free of worry.

She didn’t know about Thomas since he’d gone with the hunt, but she felt sure even he was more at ease.

Truly, she was blessed.

When they heard distant horns, most of the women leaped up to run into the courtyard to watch the men return and to see what they had brought back.

Laughing and triumphant, they rode in, small creatures slung from saddlebows, and a deer across a packhorse.

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