Maiden Bride by Maiden Bride (v2.0)

Author:Maiden Bride (v2.0) [Bride, Maiden]
Format: epub
Published: 2010-12-24T00:07:48.099000+00:00

Gillian stared out the window, watching the ribbon of road long after Aisley and Piers had disappeared from view. She did not even stir when Edith came in quietly and set a cup of spiced wine down beside her.

"Come now, my lady. 'Tis not like you to mope," the old servant said, but Gillian did not respond to the gentle scolding.

"At least come down and have a look at the lord. He is a bit battered and bruised, and wants seeing after. His head took a knocking about on the tiles and no doubt pains him. He needs you, my lady. Perhaps you can make up something for him?"

Privately Gillian was surprised that her husband's head had not cracked the floor; it was certainly harder than stone. And even if she had not been forbidden to treat the sick, she knew, he would take nothing from her hand. She remained silent, gazing out over the rich demesne, which was like a shiny apple, bright and appealing, but home to the meanest of worms.

"As much as I hated to see my Aisley go, lady, it was not our lord who sent them away," Edith said, in a pleading tone. "That red devil she married is known for his frightful tempers, and he was the one who took her off, not our own lord." Gillian practically had to bite her tongue to keep from arguing over the blamelessness of Nicholas de Laci. No doubt Edith would excuse him anything short of murder.

The old servant sighed. "Well, you must at least come down to supper, or His Lordship will not be pleased." Gillian felt herself stir at that, but she kept her mouth shut. "Make no mistake, he is in a foul mood already, and if you do not do as he bids—"

Gillian whirled around, only to catch a gleam in the old servant's eye that startled her. "You are trying to goad me, Edith!" she cried. "Well, it will not work. I am not going down."

The servant put her hands upon her hips. "And just what shall I tell him? You know what a sour humor he has been in lately."

"Ha! You'd think he was a paragon, to hear you talk of him!" Gillian said, but she regretted the words instantly. Edith was grieving over Aisley's departure, too, and she was just trying to do her best. Gillian felt a flicker of anger in the breast that had known little besides heaviness today. Did her husband never think of anyone but himself? He made everyone around him unhappy, from his sister to the lowliest peasant. And might he be damned for it!

"I want no supper. Tell him that I am unwell. I will attend to myself and retire to my pallet," Gillian said. And tonight sleep might come to her early, she realized, for she knew no fear.

After last night, Gillian was assured that her husband would never come to her bed.

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.