Battle-Torn Bride. Anne O'Brien

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      BATTLE–TORN BRIDE

      Anne O’Brien

       Prologue

      “I loved you. I looked for marriage with you. Yet you betrayed me, Richard. You betrayed our love.”

      “Betrayed? What is this …?”

      “I think you never loved me at all. It was simply a Twelfth Night flirtation to be cast aside by Candlemas.”

      “Beatrice … how can you think that? My heart is yours—has always been yours.”

      “I expect you forgot me as soon I was out of sight.”

      “Never that. You dishonor me!”

      “If that is so—if you truly loved me—how could you abandon me to a marriage with a man such as William Somerton? You have broken my heart, Richard Stafford.”

       Chapter One

       July 1460: Great Houghton Hall, a golden-stoned manor house.

      Lady Beatrice Somerton followed one of her serving maids, who was skillfully balancing tankards and a flagon of ale on a heavy tray, into the Great Hall. Two more of her servants, hastily borrowed from their kitchen duties, came behind her with platters of bread and cheese and slices of cold meat. Another with a dish of mutton pasties. In the Hall were some half a dozen gentlemen, sitting or standing, engaged in deep conversation. Newly arrived, their clothes and boots were covered with dust from a morning’s hard riding. It could be noted from their swords and slim-bladed daggers that they were well-armed.

      Their conversation, of a political content and subject to some ribald comment, dried as the lady entered. She was clearly the mistress of the house despite her lack of years. Young and slight of figure she might be, but she bore herself with unmistakable dignity and calm authority. Her manner was forthright, her whole demeanor used to obedience from those who served her. The gentlemen who were seated on bench or stool rose to their feet. Bowed with respect and not a little admiration. Lady Beatrice Somerton was quite beautiful and a force to be reckoned with.

      “Be at ease, gentlemen.” She swept them with a smile. “I think ale will be welcome here.”

      “Very. We are grateful, my Lady Somerton.” One of the gentlemen stepped forward to bow before her with practiced gallantry. A most attractive lady and not as one would have expected in this household, having met the lord, Sir William Somerton. This lady was many years his junior.

      The lady directed her maids who began to pour the ale, watched as they placed the platters, put out pewter plates and knives on the oak table. Looked round to ensure that all was in order.

      “If you require anything more, sirs, Betsy will remain within call.” She nodded to the maid at her right hand who dimpled with pleasure and expectation.

      Then Beatrice turned to go—but where? To her own chamber or out into the garden, she supposed. She would not be required to attend her husband and his most important guest who were now closeted, alone, in the parlor. That had been made very clear. Any further needs of the visitors could safely be left in the capable hands of the steward, Master Lawson.

      Another gentleman entered the vast room with its beamed roof and gleaming paneled walls, after seeing to the deployment of the armed retinue that had accompanied them to Great Houghton. Drawing off his gloves, removing his hat, he placed them on the coffer by the door, then ran his hand through dark hair, which waved around an arresting face. Approached the table with its promise of a long draft of ale to wash away the dust of summer roads.

      And came to a halt in the center of the room.

      As, at exactly the same moment, did Beatrice Somerton.

      His face was suddenly smoothed of all expression, the thought of the ale wiped from his mind. His body went still. His hands tight-fisted at his side.

      Her eyes widened, lips parted in shock. The blood drained from her face to leave her skin as pale as the lace decoration on the bodice of her velvet gown. Her fingers tightened on the edge of the empty tray that she would have carried back to the kitchen.

      Tension wound the emotions between them to near breaking point, as taut as an expert Glamorgan archer would stretch the waxed-hemp bowstring as he prepared to loose an arrow with deadly accuracy. Surely the tension was obvious to everyone in the room as a living breathing thing? Except that, as Beatrice was faintly aware, the conversation behind her ebbed and flowed as if nothing were amiss: the visitors continued to concentrate on the food and ale and their own comforts.

      At last the lady and gentleman found words. But not of any importance or significance for those who might overhear. Nothing to indicate the rapid leap of pulse, the thud of heart against ribcage, the surge of heat through the blood. It was as if their wits had been stripped away in that one moment of meeting.

      “My lady. I had not thought …”

      “Lord Richard. I did not know …”

      Beatrice dropped the tray she was still holding onto the table beside her with a loud clatter. She discovered that she had been holding her breath. When the day dawned it had promised nothing new, nothing out of the way. No occurrence to disrupt her uneventful life, day after day, here at Great Houghton. Surely there should have been some warning. Some indication, some premonition. In the weather perhaps—a СКАЧАТЬ