Read Online If Love Dares Enough by Anna Markland - Free Book Online
Authors: Anna Markland
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as Sir Gerwint.”
The two men clasped hands.
***
“These tallies seem correct, Torod, but, in truth, I’m not a man of figures myself,” Hugh lied. It was evident Torod couldn’t read. “I’ll send my steward, Barat Cormant, here to Melton to peruse your accounts.”
Torod scowled and rubbed his fingers back and forth over his mouth. “I can assure you all is in order,” he replied with hostility.
“I’m sure, but it’s important Cormant become familiar with the revenues and expenses of the manor if he’s to administer it for me. I’m a greedy man, Torod. I want to make sure I’m getting my due. As a fellow Norman, you understand that surely? You and Renouf.”
“Hmph!”
“ Par example , these entries here for imported wines, they seem—excessive. Perhaps I have no sense of the cost of such things, and of course a Norman who fought at Hastings should be entitled to enjoy only the finest wines, but Cormant—now, that’s a different thing.”
Torod shifted his weight and scratched the stubble on his pockmarked chin. “Sir Renouf will explain everything to your satisfaction.”
Gripping the gloves he held in his hand, Hugh resisted the urge to throttle the man. “ Oui , I want to tell King William how grateful I am he has endowed me with manor houses that return a handsome revenue. When will Renouf be back?”
The taut features of Torod’s ugly face tightened further, betraying his unease. “We expect him in a sennight.”
Hugh feigned surprise. “Mmm. I shall probably have returned to Normandie by then. However, Cormant is nearby at East Preston. He can easily come over to Melton any time he wishes. You’ll be sure to let Renouf know of our arrangements? Does he go to visit family in Normandie? Perhaps he’s close to my castle at Domfort? I could visit him.”
“Hmph! I’m—I’m not sure where his family is.”
“You didn’t come from Normandie with him?”
“ Oui —but not from his ancestral home.”
“I see.” He flicked his gloves against Torod’s shoulder. “Make sure my men have Velox saddled for me. I’m bound for East Preston forthwith. Have you seen Lady De Maubadon? I’ll bid her adieu .”
“She’s in the gallery.”
“ Merci . I’ll find my own way.”
***
When Hugh entered the gallery, Devona’s heart thudded as it had every time she’d set eyes on him. He was such a beautiful man, handsome, fit, noble and compassionate. She touched the pulse at her throat, hoping its agitation wasn’t visible. She could easily have fallen in love with such a man, before—
“Devona, I have but a moment to bid you farewell.”
Boden ambled over to Hugh and sat at his feet, looking up at him. “Try to be on the beach in the hour before sunset. I’ll acquire a boat and meet you there. Your grandfather has told me about a cave. You must speak to him today.”
She came to her feet, dropping her embroidery. “A cave? Yes there’s a large cave, near the end of the beach. But what—”
Suddenly Torod strode into the room. “Your horse is ready,” he said rudely, his suspicious eyes darting from Devona to Hugh and back. Boden growled.
Hugh tapped his gloves against his thigh. “ Merci Torod. Adieu, Lady De Maubadon. Thank you for your hospitality. Goodbye Boden. Take care of your mistress.”
He patted the dog’s head, bowed to Devona and departed.
***
Hugh went back to East Preston by way of Kingston Gorse, where he arranged to return later in the day and borrow a rowboat from the Norman family who lived there.
He enquired of the Norman lord of the manor, “How long do you estimate it would take to row to the cliffs below the manor at Melton?”
Sir Stephen Marquand looked at him curiously. “Melton? Depends on the tides, and the wind, and how many rowers you have.”
“Two burly men, at low tide.”
Sir Stephen pursed his lips. “Perhaps a quarter of an hour.”
Hugh bowed. “Thank you. I’ll return later. I will remember this favour.”
He
The two men clasped hands.
***
“These tallies seem correct, Torod, but, in truth, I’m not a man of figures myself,” Hugh lied. It was evident Torod couldn’t read. “I’ll send my steward, Barat Cormant, here to Melton to peruse your accounts.”
Torod scowled and rubbed his fingers back and forth over his mouth. “I can assure you all is in order,” he replied with hostility.
“I’m sure, but it’s important Cormant become familiar with the revenues and expenses of the manor if he’s to administer it for me. I’m a greedy man, Torod. I want to make sure I’m getting my due. As a fellow Norman, you understand that surely? You and Renouf.”
“Hmph!”
“ Par example , these entries here for imported wines, they seem—excessive. Perhaps I have no sense of the cost of such things, and of course a Norman who fought at Hastings should be entitled to enjoy only the finest wines, but Cormant—now, that’s a different thing.”
Torod shifted his weight and scratched the stubble on his pockmarked chin. “Sir Renouf will explain everything to your satisfaction.”
Gripping the gloves he held in his hand, Hugh resisted the urge to throttle the man. “ Oui , I want to tell King William how grateful I am he has endowed me with manor houses that return a handsome revenue. When will Renouf be back?”
The taut features of Torod’s ugly face tightened further, betraying his unease. “We expect him in a sennight.”
Hugh feigned surprise. “Mmm. I shall probably have returned to Normandie by then. However, Cormant is nearby at East Preston. He can easily come over to Melton any time he wishes. You’ll be sure to let Renouf know of our arrangements? Does he go to visit family in Normandie? Perhaps he’s close to my castle at Domfort? I could visit him.”
“Hmph! I’m—I’m not sure where his family is.”
“You didn’t come from Normandie with him?”
“ Oui —but not from his ancestral home.”
“I see.” He flicked his gloves against Torod’s shoulder. “Make sure my men have Velox saddled for me. I’m bound for East Preston forthwith. Have you seen Lady De Maubadon? I’ll bid her adieu .”
“She’s in the gallery.”
“ Merci . I’ll find my own way.”
***
When Hugh entered the gallery, Devona’s heart thudded as it had every time she’d set eyes on him. He was such a beautiful man, handsome, fit, noble and compassionate. She touched the pulse at her throat, hoping its agitation wasn’t visible. She could easily have fallen in love with such a man, before—
“Devona, I have but a moment to bid you farewell.”
Boden ambled over to Hugh and sat at his feet, looking up at him. “Try to be on the beach in the hour before sunset. I’ll acquire a boat and meet you there. Your grandfather has told me about a cave. You must speak to him today.”
She came to her feet, dropping her embroidery. “A cave? Yes there’s a large cave, near the end of the beach. But what—”
Suddenly Torod strode into the room. “Your horse is ready,” he said rudely, his suspicious eyes darting from Devona to Hugh and back. Boden growled.
Hugh tapped his gloves against his thigh. “ Merci Torod. Adieu, Lady De Maubadon. Thank you for your hospitality. Goodbye Boden. Take care of your mistress.”
He patted the dog’s head, bowed to Devona and departed.
***
Hugh went back to East Preston by way of Kingston Gorse, where he arranged to return later in the day and borrow a rowboat from the Norman family who lived there.
He enquired of the Norman lord of the manor, “How long do you estimate it would take to row to the cliffs below the manor at Melton?”
Sir Stephen Marquand looked at him curiously. “Melton? Depends on the tides, and the wind, and how many rowers you have.”
“Two burly men, at low tide.”
Sir Stephen pursed his lips. “Perhaps a quarter of an hour.”
Hugh bowed. “Thank you. I’ll return later. I will remember this favour.”
He
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