Sybill by Jo Ann Ferguson

Author:Jo Ann Ferguson [Ferguson, Jo Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780944276136
Goodreads: 982932
Publisher: Tudor Publishers
Published: 1987-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

When the latch lifted on her door, Sybill saw her fear reflected in her dressing table mirror. Owen had allowed her this sanctuary, but it appeared that no longer would be the case. Clara scuttled to the far side of the room. She had come to hate Lord Foxbridge almost as much as her mistress did. Since the wedding, the servants cowered in fear before the strange metamorphosis of their kindly master.

Slowly Sybill rose and turned to face the door. Her ornate gown whispered with the same stiff sound as her voice. “Good evening, Owen.”

“Are you still dressing?” he demanded without a greeting. He had enjoyed browbeating Breton in the library for the past hour. As he did with Sybill, he could control the man through unspoken threats. “I am ready for dinner.”

His tight smile broadened. “Then you have no need of her presence. Leave us, girl.”

“Aye, m’lord.” Clara bowed quickly and moved toward the door. Carefully she did not touch the wide sleeves of his shirt. To do that would guarantee punishment. Mac was urging her to leave the Cloister, but she did not want to abandon Lady Foxbridge to her lazy maid and evil husband.

Closing the door, Owen walked across the room, which was much smaller than his own bedroom. His eyes picked out the changes Sybill had made. That her taste was refined did not surprise him. Her father had done an excellent job raising her to be the wife of a lord. He smiled as he wondered what Hampton would say if he knew what his cowardly death had brought his daughter. When he passed the overstuffed chair, he scooped up a bit of material with a thread and needle dangling from it. “Baby clothes, Sybill?” he asked in his most mocking tone.

“It should be no surprise to you. I am planning on having a baby in the spring. I don’t suppose you might have forgotten that.”

“Sharp-tongued tonight, aren’t you?” He laughed. “I should tell Breton how lucky he was not to take you to wed.”

She moved so a chair was between her and his eyes, which seemed to center their cold stare directly on her middle. It irritated him that her pregnancy was not visible. She became more determined to keep others from learning what soon would be obvious to everyone past the walls of this suite. “What do you want, Owen?”

He realized he was no more successful at baiting her than he had been in the past. It was a shame. He had been able to reduce Edith quickly to his will with a few choice words. Sybill was far more resilient. “I don’t want you to let Christopher know of your condition.”

“Excuse me?”

“You understand me!” he snapped.

“But why? I thought you would want me to tell him about the baby immediately.”

He took her hand and pulled her to him. When he would have put his arms around her, she struggled to elude him. She cried out in pain as hands gripped her upper arms.

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