Read Online Love at First Sight by Sandra Lee - Free Book Online Page B

imagination, brought on by exhaustion and hunger. She would think on her no more.
    “Sperville!” Delamaure roared as his sons drew up at the foot of the bed.
    A dull thud issued from the wardrobe, followed by the chamberlain’s appearance. “Your lordship?” He hurried forward.
    Delamaure released his hold on his sons. Balling his hands into fists, he planted them on his hips. “I would hear your description of my attire.”
    Spindleshanks frowned and squinted, then his red-rimmed, sleep-deprived eyes rounded. His jaw worked, but no sound was forthcoming.
    “I see you, too, are
speechless,”
the baron gritted.
    “Milord, I—”
    “The great Baron of Skyenvic,” Delamaure mocked, sounding exactly like the chamberlain. “Poor blind bastard wanders about dressed like a court jester, yet the king continues to honor him with a fief. How charitable. What think you, Sperville? Will my appearance frighten away Vikings? Mayhap they will drown in gales of laughter.”
    Spindleshanks winced. “Forgive me, sir. There is no excuse for my lack of attention.”
    Guilt gnawed at Golde’s inwit. Delamaure had done his best to dress himself. ’Twas no fault of his he could not see. “Mayhap Sir Sperville could arrange your garments in a manner that would not require sight,” she suggested.
    The baron turned in her direction, his nose wrinkled with distaste. “I need not direction from a woman who smells worse than dead fish. Mayhap Sir Sperville could arrange a bath for you.”
    Golde sucked in her breath. The baseborn mucker. And here she’d felt guilty for bringing his poor choice of garments to everyone’s attention. Once again, she’d forgotten her vow to avoid emotional entanglements with her culls.
    “My delicious aroma,” she responded evenly, “is a result of confining myself to a steam-drenched bedchamber on your daughter’s behalf. Doubtless, Satan has made similar heated arrangements on
your
behalf in anticipation of your demise.”
    Dropping his fists to his sides, Delamaure’s jaw knotted. “Sperville, I will not tolerate this. You will get that magpie gone this instant.”
    Golde leveled an icy stare at the baron. She’d be strung up and gutted before she’d spend another moment in his company. And a pox on the senseless disappointment that crept over her promiscuous body at the thought of leaving. “I need not Spindleshanks’ assistance to take leave. Indeed, I am capable—”
    Abruptly the lord hooted. “Spindleshanks!”
    Golde crossed her arms over her chest. “I fail to find amusement—”
    “Spindleshanks!” he gasped, clutching a bedpost. “A more appropriate name I have never heard. Mayhap you were right, Sperville. I begin to see some merit in the woman.”
    At the indignant expression on the chamberlain’s face, Golde was unable to keep a smile from her lips. Sir Sperville glared at her as if she’d just forced him to eat a toad.
    Sniffing, the chamberlain spun about. Heels clomping on the wooden floor, he strode to the wardrobe, where he snapped his fingers over his head. “Roland. Fetch his lordship some suitable attire.”
    Listening to the sounds of the unseen Roland rummaging about in the anteroom, Golde struggled to contain her merriment. Unable to resist pricking the chamberlain further, she begged sweetly, “My apologies, Sir Sperville. I meant no insult. Your figure is most dashing.”
    “Your rude sobriquet does not disturb me in the least,” he sniffed.
    Golde pretended concern. “Come, sir, you appear much like a hen whose egg has been pronounced rotten.”
    The baron clutched his belly and doubled over while his sons giggled. Sperville cast a disdainful look in their direction, and raising his nose, disappeared into the wardrobe.
    Without warning, Ronces screeched, “To arms!”
    Golde near jumped from her skin. Grimacing, she watched the boys launch themselves atop the bed.
    Faith! Was the baron deaf as well as blind? His demon sons made racket enough to raise