Read Online Midnight Magic by Shari Anton - Free Book Online Page A

instead of shooing her out of the room, given the girl more hugs and chances to speak her mind, this horrible situation might not have come to pass.
    Sweet mercy, she couldn’t imagine Alberic would truly hang Nicole, but neither could he allow an attempt on his life to go unpunished, no matter that his attacker was a mere slip of a girl.
    Gwendolyn entered the lord’s bedchamber directly behind Nicole and Odell, who still held tight to his captive. Behind her she heard Emma, and farther behind the sound of heavy boots.
    Knowing she had but a moment before Alberic entered, Gwendolyn scrunched down to confront Nicole, whose face had gone paler still. Unshed tears glittered in her eyes, yet she fairly glowed with rebellious anger.
    Gwendolyn had to admire Nicole’s bravery. However, now was the time for a bit of humility and admission of wrongdoing if the girl expected any mercy from Alberic.
    “Nicole, we talked about the difference between death on the battlefield and murder. I thought you understood.”
    “He killed William.”
    Emma gasped. “Dear heaven above!”
    A chill ran down Gwendolyn’s spine, dread nearly overcoming her ability to speak. She managed to blurt out, “What?”
    Nicole’s bottom lip trembled. “I overheard a kitchen scullion tell Cook. Lord Alberic killed William.”
    Gwendolyn clung to shards of reason. “You know better than to listen to servants’ idle talk.”
    “Ask him. If he denies it to you, he lies!”
    She heard the snick of the latch, knew Alberic had heard Nicole’s accusation. When she finally gathered the courage to look up, she needed only to see his grim expression to know Nicole told the truth.
    Alberic was responsible for William’s death.
    Alberic had known this day would come and was prepared for the sisters’ shock and horror and anger. What he hadn’t seen coming, not in his wildest dreams, was the youngest of them getting her hands on a dagger and daring to attack him.
    He’d disarmed her easily enough, but if she hadn’t shouted at him, reviling him, giving him ample warning, he might now be prostrate on the hall’s floor with a dagger stuck in his belly.
    This second attempt on his life was far more unsettling than the first. A man letting loose an arrow with intent to kill an enemy, he understood. A girl wielding a dagger with murder in her heart defied all sense.
    Unlike the rogue archer, Alberic doubted he could hang Nicole, but wasn’t sure what else to do with the child.
    Gwendolyn rose slowly, her condemning glare feeding the unwarranted guilt he thought he’d put aside at the vigil. He was very careful not to let it show now.
    “You killed William.”
    An accusation seeking confirmation.
    He crossed the chamber and tossed the dagger on the heavy oak pedestal table, then poured himself a healthy dose of wine, trying to decide how to answer her, or if he should answer at all. ’Struth, he owed the sisters no explanations or apologies for all that had occurred at Wallingford.
    “I happened to be the last man to cross swords with William, is all. No more, no less. Your brother died, I did not.”
    Gwendolyn’s bosom rose and fell in indignation, a movement so sublime he couldn’t help but appreciate the upward thrust of those softly rounded mounds.
    “Is that why the king awarded you Camelen, for slaying William?”
    Of all the fool notions. “Nay. There were other reasons.”
    Which he didn’t intend to reveal just now, if ever. He saw no good reason to inform Gwendolyn of the king’s mistaken notion that awarding a barony to the earl of Chester’s bastard would warrant Chester’s loyalty. Best to keep focus on why they were all gathered in his bedchamber.
    “Odell, you may release Nicole if I have her assurance she has no other weapon on her person.”
    “Wish I did,” the girl muttered.
    Emma stretched out a hand. “Be thankful you do not.”
    Freed, Nicole went to her elder sister just as someone rapped hard and sharp at the