Margo Maguire by The Perfect Seduction

Author:The Perfect Seduction
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

“He will come ’round…if you stay.”

“I cannot.” Not if she wanted to retain her chastity, for she had no doubt that if she stayed, Edric would succeed in seducing her. The idea of which both terrified and intrigued her. She longed for the experience Edric could give, but knew ’twould mean naught to him, while her own heart was at risk.

She returned to the bed and placed her hand upon Bryce’s ankle. “I should go back to Aidan. I’ll bid you good night and send your guard back to you.”

“He’ll be waiting outside my door.”

But Alf was not there. Kathryn stuck her head into Bryce’s chamber and informed him of the guard’s absence.

“Not to worry. He’s probably at the privy and will return soon.”

Kathryn decided to pay a short visit to Berta before returning to the nursery. Carrying one small candle for light, she climbed the stairs and easily found the woman’s bedchamber by the sound of quiet weeping within. After a light knock on the door, one of the housemaids opened it.

The old woman saw her and tearfully beckoned her to the bed where she lay with the curtains open, wearing a long-sleeved bed gown and a hood. Kathryn did not believe the woman had left the bed since the funeral. Her face was unwashed, her hair a mess…“Oh, praise be to God. I thought I was alone here.” She dabbed at her nose with a bit of cloth and resumed her quiet weeping. “My poor Cecily.”

“Are you all right, Berta?”

“Of course not. My poor child is dead…Dead and buried, and I’ve nowhere to go.”

Kathryn came close and crouched beside the bed. “Have you thought of returning to Cecily’s family?”

Berta looked sharply at Kathryn. “But of course. Do you think the Saxon dog will send me back?”

“I’m sure he will,” Kathryn replied, “though it might be best if you avoided calling him a dog.”

“Bah! He does not understand us. He cared naught for Cecily and all her delicate needs.”

How could he, when Cecily apparently did not know how to make her requirements seem like anything but unreasonable demands. “I understand she wanted to return to her father’s estate.”

Berta’s weeping began anew. “Her father admonished her to make her peace with her husband, that d—scoundrel.”

Kathryn sighed. “Are you well enough to travel, Berta? If so, I will ask Lord Edric to provide you an escort to Lord Gui’s estate.”

Berta clasped her hands around Kathryn’s. “Oh, please! If you would do so, I will be eternally in your debt!”

“Think naught of it,” Kathryn said. “Lying here despondent serves no one. ‘Twill be better for all if you return to Norman lands.”

Kathryn picked up her candle and took her leave. She made her way down the stairs and headed toward the nursery, quickening her step when she heard strange sounds coming from inside. When she pushed open the door, Kathryn was met by the sight of a man in dark clothes, pulling Gwen around to face her as he held a knife to her throat.

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