Claire Delacroix by The Rogue

Author:The Rogue
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2012-10-18T06:30:38+00:00

I managed to look disappointed, if perplexed.

Her voice dropped to a hiss. “Is it not true, Ysabella, that he left you cold in your nuptial bed all those years ago? Is it not true that he tired of you even in that fortnight? One might ask who had abandoned who.”

I met her gaze steadily, refusing to rise to her bait and doubly glad Merlyn had confided the tale of his father to me. I spoke with a sweetness I did not feel. “But Ada, if he had no regard for me, then why did he leave Ravensmuir to my hand?”

“Clearly, it was a mistake.”

“Do you call Fitz a liar?”

“Perhaps my lord Merlyn did not mean to die.” She turned back to the meat and said nothing more. I could fairly hear her thinking, - without doubt, she knew more than what she had already revealed.

I rose, feigning interest in the kitchen’s contents. I touched this and that, sniffed the bread appreciatively, picked up one utensil after another. She watched me covertly, her expression oddly reminiscent of that of her brother, and feigned fascination with the hind. Her back was straight and stiff, her disapproval of my presence more than clear.

What had Merlyn done here on his visits? Why had he come?

My pride stumbled over the fact that Merlyn had been as close as this to Kinfairlie, repeatedly, and he had not sought me out until now. These tidings fed my annoyance with Merlyn and his secrets.

That annoyance did not, however, aid me in discovering all of what Ada knew. I prepared to grant Ada a hearty prod.

“You are right in one matter,” I said, my tone mild. “For no man intends to die before his dotage, nor indeed do most choose the day. But beyond that, I think that you are wrong. Merlyn would see nothing writ which he did not mean and in fact, he came to see me on the day before he died...”

“He did not!”

“He most certainly did. Ask any soul in Kinfairlie.”

She turned to the meat, her determined expression revealing her intent to do just that.

I continued merrily upon my course of lies. “He tried to persuade me to return here, to live as his wife once again. I cannot imagine why he delayed in making such an argument, but it is clear that our marriage was of great import to him....”

“He never wished to have you return!” Ada cried. “He was glad to be rid of you! He was glad to have matters resolved so easily.”

I shook my head, leaving silence for her to fill.

Ada fumed. “He was tricked, plain and simple, he was tricked into making his will thus, tricked by that cursed Rhys Fitzwilliam who always showed an unholy favor for you. My lord Merlyn was tricked as he lay dying and had not the strength to know what he did.”

“We embraced warmly when he came to me again. His will merely reflects his intent.” I sat down and wiped an invisible tear. “How sad that he was beset by bandits just when he rode to join me abed.

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