The Fifth Wife by Sahara Kelly

Author:Sahara Kelly
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2016-03-19T22:00:00+00:00

*~~*~~*

Much later that night, as he and Dev retired to the room they were to share, the two of them were silent for a while.

“I still can’t believe it.” Dev emerged from the depths of his nightshirt to glare at Charles. “What the fuck kind of man does that to his daughter?”

Charles settled himself on the sofa, having lost the toss of a coin for the bed. “I have no idea, Dev. It’s incomprehensible. But I will state here and now that should I ever find myself in a dark alley with Mr. Derby, it will give me great pleasure to teach him the error of his ways.”

“I concur. I’d like a few minutes with him myself.” He tentatively clambered onto the bed and smoothed out the sheets before lying down. “Ouch. Lumps. Want to trade?”

“No thanks. Besides, I’m closer to the fire.”

“Damn you Charles Fontaine.”

“That’s Lord Penvale to you, plebeian.”

“Oh yes, and about that.” Dev fidgeted with the pillow. “Do you believe that Derby did actually engineer the death of Hannah’s sister?”

“It sounds a bit far-fetched, doesn’t it?” Charles stared at the fire.

“It does. Though I’m thinking that it would be a good story to use if trying to intimidate another daughter.”

“That’s a very good point. I hadn’t thought of that.”

“Good thing I’m here then. Someone has to have the sensible ideas. You’ve got ideas but most of ‘em revolve around your fiancée rather than the strange events of the last few days.” Dev chuckled. “Don’t mistake my meaning—that’s as it should be, of course.”

“You’re an ass.” Charles grinned.

“Face it, lad. You’re done for. Hooked. Finished. Rolled up, foot and guns.”

“Yes, I rather hope so.”

Dev sighed. “Well there go our days of carousing.”

“What days? We haven’t caroused in—I don’t know how long.”

“We were overdue. Now it’s too late.”

“I repeat my earlier comment. You’re an ass.”

“Probably. But at least I have my ears on straight. What about this whole Viking talisman thing? Is there any truth to it, d’you think?”

Charles took a few moments to consider the matter. “I can’t say. We both know that so many of these tales ripple their way through generations and pick up all kinds of absurdities along the way.”

“Agreed. I rather liked the one about the priceless jewel smuggled to our shores inside a horse.”

“That would be the Dallyfrith Dung Diamond?”

“Yes.”

They shared a moment of silent appreciation. Dev moved on. “So this talisman. This taufr, I think Hannah called it?”

“She has the birthmark, Dev. And yes, it is two interlocking triangles. So there is merit in the description.”

“What’s the plan then?” Dev yawned. “Do we have one?”

Charles pulled the quilt higher and turned into the pillow. “Not as far as the talisman goes. Not yet. I’ll need to go through the Penvale stuff. Boring as hell, but it must be done.”

“Great plan.” Dev’s wry voice emerged from the depths of the bed.

“I like the one I have for Hannah better.”

“Oh yes?”

“Yes.” Charles grinned to himself. “I’m going to marry her as soon as I can.

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