Anne Herries The Fugitive Countess (pdf)

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couldn t do it without her.
Marietta clenched her hands, her nails cutting into her palms. She would prefer to die
than live as the Bastard s wife, but she might not be given the choice. He could force a
priest to do his bidding and he could force himself on her once she was his wife, for she
was not strong enough to prevent him.
She had seen anger in his eyes as he looked at her, but also the gleam of lust. He wanted
her. And he needed her. The will her husband had lodged at court must have upheld her
husband s wish that she should be in charge of his fortune until his son was of age. Rouen
had taken the castle by force, but he could not touch the vast fortune in gold that her
husband had lodged with the King s goldsmiths for safety. It seemed that the Comte de
Montcrief had outwitted his bastard after all. Much of her son s birthright was safe but
to keep it that way Marietta would have to pay a terrible price.
She fell to her knees beside the bed, head bent as she prayed for help.
If only Anton of Gifford had believed her innocent! She was certain that he would have
come to her aid.
Please, please help me, she whispered, and it was no longer to God that she prayed.
Now she was remembering the face of the charming youth who had rescued her from
certain death, and despite the way he had looked at her the last time they met she was
comforted.
Chapter Five
Anton s men were close enough behind the abductors to discover that a party of men and
one woman had taken a ship for France the previous morning, but the tide was against
them. It would not turn again until the evening.
Damn them! If he harms her I swear I shall kill him! Anton s frustration at being held in
port was tearing him apart. He stood looking out across the sea, his face like thunder. I
cannot bear the thought of her at his mercy.
Courage, my friend, Miguel said, clapping a hand to his shoulder. We shall bring her
back if she lives. If she is dead, by his hand or theirs, they shall all pay for it.
There are but ten of us, and he must have a hundred fighting men, Anton replied in
clipped tones. I shall not let you all die trying to storm the walls of such a fortress. We
should give our lives for nothing.
The man Sandro says he knows a secret way into the castle.
Is he with us? I had not noticed. Anton glanced round at the men who had dismounted
and were waiting for his orders.
You have been too preoccupied. The lady s maid stayed behind, to care for the child, but
Sandro followed you from the start. We would all of us give our lives to serve you,
Miguel said.
But I shall not waste lives in vain. If there is a secret way into the castle some of us will
go in when the enemy sleeps& His face twisted in an agony of remorse. I must find her
alive. I must. If she died because of my neglect I could not forgive myself&
Marietta lay fully clothed on her bed. She had not undressed, even though one of her own
nightgowns had been brought to her and the serving woman had offered to help her. The
woman s name was Veronique, but she was new to the castle and Marietta did not know
her.
Thank you, but I can manage alone.
She dismissed the woman and drank the cup of wine she had been given. A piece of
coarse bread and some cold bacon had been sent with the wine. Her hunger drove her to
eat what she could, even though it sat uneasily on her stomach.
The walls of her chamber were still hung with the tapestries she had worked herself. All
the possessions she had abandoned when she fled were as she had left them, though her
lyre had been smashed. She had thought the Bastard might have rent her belongings to
pieces, but he had left them undisturbed all but the lyre, which he must have known
was her prized possession.
She touched the silken surface of the wood, which had been smashed apart, then shook
her head. What did such things matter? She had left the lyre behind when she fled
because her thoughts had been only for her child. His safety and well-being were still of
paramount importance.
She paced her chamber, torn between hope and despair. Where was Charles? Did Claire
still have charge of her baby? Had he been taken from her perhaps to become the
King s ward, as often happened when there were lands and money involved? The King of
England would know that Charles was the rightful heir to a fortune and he might do
something for her son speak to the King of France on his behalf. She herself was
beyond help, but it did not matter if her son was safe.
Marietta s lips moved in prayer. She could bear anything if her son were safe!
She stiffened as she heard a key in the lock, and then the door of her chamber opened.
She saw a large shadow enter and froze, because she knew instinctively that it was the
Bastard. He came towards the bed, the sound of his steps heavy and uncertain. The smell
of strong wine hung over him and she guessed that he had drunk deeply at table.
Marietta kept her eyes closed as she sensed and smelled him near. He was looking down
at her. Would he throw himself on her? Ravish her? Her stomach churned as the fear
curled inside her. She would fight him, but she knew that he would take her for he was
too strong for her.
Thought to escape me& The Bastard s words were slurred with drink. Mine
now& always wanted& beautiful but a bitch&
Marietta tried not to move as she felt his breath on her face. Her only chance was
surprise. If he thought she was sleeping he might be careless, giving her an opportunity to
escape. She felt the touch of his hand on her hair. He lifted strands of it, sniffing it as if to
inhale the perfume.
Witch& he muttered. I ll make you pay. Not tonight& must be wed& only way to get
the gold. Need your signature& won t give me the gold without it&
He was moving away, unsteady on his feet. She heard him knock into a stool and curse,
then the door opened, closed again, and a key turned. Marietta had her answer. It was as
she d suspected. The Bastard needed her to get his hands on the Comte s fortune. He
believed that once she was his wife he could force her to do anything, but she would
rather die than marry him! She was locked in for the moment, but somehow she had to
escape&
The lord says you must come down and you are to wear your best gown, the serving
woman said the next morning. He is waiting for you in the hall, lady.
Tell your master that I cannot come, Marietta replied, giving a little moan. I am sick
and must rest. My head aches so much that I can scarce stand.
If I tell him that he will beat me.
Then tell him I will not come. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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