Read Online Chosen for the Marriage Bed by Anne O'Brien - Free Book Online

ability. She would dress well for the marriage as befitted a Malinder bride. She would challenge Mistress Anne’s determination to hurt and wound. She would certainly show no weakness before her or respond to her barbed arrows. If battle lines had been drawn between them on the previous day, Elizabeth now silently declared war.
    And it was in this mood that she found herself cornered by Jane Bringsty, who sought her mistress out with deliberate and heavy foot steps, intent on good advice and herbal potions.
    ‘There’s one thing that you should do before you spend many more nights under this roof, my lady.’ Jane handed over a small pot of a slimy green sub stance with an un pleasant smell. She saw the frown immediately forming between Elizabeth’s brows. ‘Use it and don’t fuss. It will bring nothing but ease.’
    Without comment, because it was the simplest thing to do—and true—Elizabeth obediently began to smooth the salve of pennyroyal into her hands and fingers, her mind occupied with the bright memory of Richard Malinder’s cool mouth against her damaged skin.
    ‘What is it that I should do before I stay here longer?’ She drew in her breath at the hot itch as her fingers grew warm.
    ‘Get rid of that woman—of Mistress Anne Malinder.’
    Elizabeth’s eyes flew to her servant’s face, to see there not the mild mischief as she had expected, but some thing deeper, more severe.
    ‘I think we are in agreement, Jane,’ Elizabeth replied carefully. ‘I cannot like her. But she’ll be gone back to Moccas as soon as the wedding ceremonies are over.’
    ‘Tomorrow would not be soon enough. A little belladonna administered in her wine. Not enough to cause harm, but—’
    Elizabeth’s expression became stern. ‘No, Jane. You will not. I don’t fear her.’
    ‘Well, you should. She’s a danger.’
    ‘Have you been scrying again?’ Elizabeth’s demanded, her fingers stilled.
    ‘What if I have?’ Jane bustled about the chamber, folding the borrowed cloak, then returned to fix her mistress with a stare. ‘But I did not need to. Nor do you if you’ll be honest with yourself. Mistress Anne is easy to read. I have your best interests in my thoughts and actions. She does not.’
    ‘What did you see?’ Curiosity got the better of Elizabeth, even as she silently reproved herself for encouraging such dabblings.
    ‘Not much, but enough to know.’ Satisfied, Jane took the pot of salve from her mistress and replaced the stopper. ‘The dark man who would wish you ill is still there.’ She clicked her tongue. ‘Enough of him. Anne Malinder is red-gold and venomous, her green eyes glossed with sly envy and jealousy. She wants him. If you take my advice, a quick bout of sickness would persuade that lady to remove herself to her own home, far away from you and his lordship. I wager she’d not be interested in feasting and dancing with pains in her limbs and in her belly.’
    It was an engaging picture. For a second Elizabeth enjoyed it. Then stared aghast at Jane’s suggestion and her own momentary compliance. ‘Hear me, Jane. I’ll not have it.’
    ‘You’ll regret it!’ Jane’s lips closed with a snap.
    ‘Do you suggest that Lord Richard would not have the power or inclination to with stand Anne Malinder?’ A flame of disappointment began to flicker in Elizabeth’s stomach.
    ‘What man was ever so foolish as to resist so fine a figure and so blatant an invitation?’ Jane Bringsty stood with hands fisted on broad hips, sure of her argument. ‘Have sense, my lady. She dresses as if to attend a court function with a remarkable show of throat and bosom for so chilly a season.’
    ‘Perhaps.’ The image of Anne in a glory of patterned emerald velvet and fur crept unbidden into Elizabeth’s mind. ‘Her manner of dress is her own choice.’
    ‘Powdered aconitum root would do the trick,’ Jane continued, unconvinced. ‘It would give her the shivers as if she has the ague. She’d soon wrap up