Read Online Eternally Bound (Thistles & Roses) by Eliza Knight - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Eliza Knight
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turning genuine. Perhaps instead of being annoyed that she had to wear the voluminous gown, she should try for excited. Do as these two sisters did and simply enjoy herself.
“But remember that you must always maintain propriety. Her Majesty cannot abide a tart.”
“I shall endeavor not to be a tart,” Max said with a little laugh.
The sisters smiled, but then Mary turned serious. “I know we jest about it, Lady Maxwell, but in all seriousness, do be careful. You’ve heard of what she does to those who go too far, have you not?”
Max flicked her gaze toward the queen’s bedchamber doors and shook her head. How many were listening in on their conversation?
“Well, let us just say that the least she’ll do is banish you from court—the worst is sending you to your maker.”
Max shuddered. Suddenly, dancing and flirting did not seem so much fun.
But then Mary and Elizabeth joined hands and twirled in a circle as if they’d not just been talking about being put to death. “It’s been months since we’ve had a banquet!”
Sebastien fumed in a darkened corner of the great hall as they all awaited the queen and her ladies to join them for the banquet. The cunning Baron Dalston had agreed that he wanted to be a part of the queen’s explorers, but had denied Sebastien what was rightfully his, stating that the relics had been gifted to his daughter as part of her dowry, and he’d not go back on his word in regards to them.
Damn the man!
He’d not even had the bollocks to admit that he’d stolen the ring from Sebastien’s father and the sword no doubt, too. The bastard!
Now that the baron knew Sebastien wanted the relics back, he couldn’t very well go and steal them. If they went missing, he’d be the first person Dalston suspected.
How clever Sebastien had thought himself when he’d been able to convince the queen of his new plan. And now he was stuck, without the relics and his mother growing madder by the day. Just that morning he’d found her in nothing but her nightshift, standing outside on her balcony and leaning precariously over the edge, whispering to herself about soon being with her dead husband.
If he’d not gone to see her when he had, she’d have plunged to her death. He had to get the relics. The sooner the better.
And if he had to marry the chit to do it, then by all means, he’d marry her.
Already his lawyers were drawing up papers and scheming for a way to approach the queen about a special license instead of having to wait until the banns were cried for three consecutive Sundays. As it was, when the betrothal contract was signed, Sebastien planned to have Lady Maxwell’s dowry given to him then.
He’d not planned to marry. Didn’t want to marry, in fact, for quite some time, but there was no other choice. Not that he had options anyhow. He had to get those relics before his mother caused her own death.
Lady Maxwell Thornton . A right hellion. Though she’d been able to tightly control herself the day before in the gardens. He doubted she’d be so controlled around him if her father was not within her company. Nay, he knew for certain she wouldn’t. He’d had a dose of her tongue in her father’s study and the woman had not held back then.
As he mused on his current state, the guards made their announcement of the queen and her ladies. The women filed into the great hall in myriad colors, jewels and finery. Lady Maxwell was toward the back of the ladies, standing between Mary and Elizabeth Talbot.
Sebastien clenched his jaw. His future wife.
Admittedly, she was beautiful. Mesmerizing. At least he enjoyed looking at her.
The queen moved to her throne and then waved her hand toward the musicians in the gallery above who began a tune. As the ladies lined up to dance, Sebastien forced his feet to move. He would be the first to dance with Lady Maxwell and no other.
She caught his gaze as he approached and the dread he saw there did not help him in his cause
“But remember that you must always maintain propriety. Her Majesty cannot abide a tart.”
“I shall endeavor not to be a tart,” Max said with a little laugh.
The sisters smiled, but then Mary turned serious. “I know we jest about it, Lady Maxwell, but in all seriousness, do be careful. You’ve heard of what she does to those who go too far, have you not?”
Max flicked her gaze toward the queen’s bedchamber doors and shook her head. How many were listening in on their conversation?
“Well, let us just say that the least she’ll do is banish you from court—the worst is sending you to your maker.”
Max shuddered. Suddenly, dancing and flirting did not seem so much fun.
But then Mary and Elizabeth joined hands and twirled in a circle as if they’d not just been talking about being put to death. “It’s been months since we’ve had a banquet!”
Sebastien fumed in a darkened corner of the great hall as they all awaited the queen and her ladies to join them for the banquet. The cunning Baron Dalston had agreed that he wanted to be a part of the queen’s explorers, but had denied Sebastien what was rightfully his, stating that the relics had been gifted to his daughter as part of her dowry, and he’d not go back on his word in regards to them.
Damn the man!
He’d not even had the bollocks to admit that he’d stolen the ring from Sebastien’s father and the sword no doubt, too. The bastard!
Now that the baron knew Sebastien wanted the relics back, he couldn’t very well go and steal them. If they went missing, he’d be the first person Dalston suspected.
How clever Sebastien had thought himself when he’d been able to convince the queen of his new plan. And now he was stuck, without the relics and his mother growing madder by the day. Just that morning he’d found her in nothing but her nightshift, standing outside on her balcony and leaning precariously over the edge, whispering to herself about soon being with her dead husband.
If he’d not gone to see her when he had, she’d have plunged to her death. He had to get the relics. The sooner the better.
And if he had to marry the chit to do it, then by all means, he’d marry her.
Already his lawyers were drawing up papers and scheming for a way to approach the queen about a special license instead of having to wait until the banns were cried for three consecutive Sundays. As it was, when the betrothal contract was signed, Sebastien planned to have Lady Maxwell’s dowry given to him then.
He’d not planned to marry. Didn’t want to marry, in fact, for quite some time, but there was no other choice. Not that he had options anyhow. He had to get those relics before his mother caused her own death.
Lady Maxwell Thornton . A right hellion. Though she’d been able to tightly control herself the day before in the gardens. He doubted she’d be so controlled around him if her father was not within her company. Nay, he knew for certain she wouldn’t. He’d had a dose of her tongue in her father’s study and the woman had not held back then.
As he mused on his current state, the guards made their announcement of the queen and her ladies. The women filed into the great hall in myriad colors, jewels and finery. Lady Maxwell was toward the back of the ladies, standing between Mary and Elizabeth Talbot.
Sebastien clenched his jaw. His future wife.
Admittedly, she was beautiful. Mesmerizing. At least he enjoyed looking at her.
The queen moved to her throne and then waved her hand toward the musicians in the gallery above who began a tune. As the ladies lined up to dance, Sebastien forced his feet to move. He would be the first to dance with Lady Maxwell and no other.
She caught his gaze as he approached and the dread he saw there did not help him in his cause
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