Read Online Music for My Soul by Lauren Linwood - Free Book Online Page A

had been an escape for her before she could make her way to France. Though she enjoyed everyone’s company, she did not want any lasting attachments—especially not those of a romantic nature. She was a married woman, despite having left Henri. She would keep those vows, even after she entered the convent.
    She frowned, puzzling on how to let him down gently. He’d been a good friend to her, never asking about her past. When others had done so, he’d always stepped in and helped change the subject or asked a favor from her, leading her away from prying questions.
    Theirs had been an easy friendship. That was why his look of tenderness and soft words caught her by surprise. His hand held hers easily yet firmly. Madeleine slowly withdrew from his grasp. She crossed her arms and sighed.
    “Oh, Royce, so ‘tis come to this,” she whispered softly.
    The gleam of interest in his eye was unmistakable. Royce looked at her as a man looked at a woman for whom he had tender feelings. He moved in to kiss her.
    Madeleine’s heart lurched. Fear set in, but she shrugged it off. This was just Royce. Not all men beat a woman for the slightest infraction, she told herself. Not all men forced relations. Not all men—
    “Madeleine!”
    She bolted to her feet as Osbert came toward them. The jovial mummer fairly galloped across the green meadow, his round face red from the exertion.
    Osbert laid his hand upon her shoulder. “’Tis Gwenith, I’m afraid. She calls for you.”
    Fear beating rapidly in her chest, Madeleine picked up her skirts, and without a backward glance at Royce, ran across the field to where their tents were pitched away from the stalls filled with goods. Gwenith had been sick for awhile. She couldn’t have taken a turn for the worse. She couldn’t have.
    Stomach knotted, Madeleine hurried into their tent. Gwenith, her face ashen and haggard, managed a weak smile upon seeing her.
    Madeleine dropped to her knees next to Gwenith’s pallet. Taking her friend’s hand, she gave it a gentle squeeze while pushing aside the curls that had fallen across her face.
    “’Tis a real mess I’m in, Maddie, that’s fer sure,” Gwenith managed to get out before being seized by a fit of coughing. The coughs wracked through her thin body.
    Madeleine held tightly onto Gwenith’s hand until the spasm passed and then poured her a cup of cool water from the pitcher nearby.
    “Sip on this, Gwenith,” she said in soothing tones, helping her friend to sit up. A trickle dribbled down Gwenith’s chin, and Madeleine wiped it away with her sleeve.
    “I’m fine now, Maddie. I promise.” Gwenith’s eyes were huge in her pale face, even more wan than usual. “I just wanted to visit with ye a minute, that’s all.” Another fit of coughing erupted.
    Madeleine ached with every cough.
    Finally, Gwenith calmed down. “Ye’ve been with Royce?” her friend asked, the corners of her mouth turning up slightly.
    “Yes, I have,” Madeleine begin. “I’m afraid ‘tis more than friendship on Royce’s mind this day. If Osbert hadn’t come to fetch me, I fear Royce might have said something he later regretted. Or kissed me.”
    Gwenith searched Madeleine’s face. “Ye just now discovered his interest in you, Maddie?” she asked in disbelief.
    She stared at her in surprise. “You knew his intentions were romantic?”
    Gwenith chuckled. “Only me and a dozen other mummers, my sweet.” She bit her lip to hold back her laughter. “’Twas obvious from the time I brought you back with us, Maddie. He’s smitten hard. The only wonder is it took him so long to speak his mind.”
    Madeleine eased from her knees and sat on the floor. “I never saw this coming, Gwenith. And to keep the gossip straight, Royce has made no such declaration.”
    Gwenith pursed her lips. “As if I’d gossip about ye, Maddie.” She stroked her friend’s hand. “But I’m sure Royce spoke with his eyes and his heart if not his lips.”
    Madeleine sighed.