Read Online Once a Bride by Shari Anton - Free Book Online

death.
    In her head she knew her unwise preference for Roland hadn’t brought on Hugh’s death, but her heart whispered of divine punishment.
    Isolde sat up on her pallet. “Milady, ye do not think to try to warn them, do ye? ’Twould be foolhardy and dangerous.”
    Jarred out of her musings, Eloise glanced down at her father’s note. Since finding it, several plans had presented themselves, each as daring as the next, and probably as doomed to failure. Even if she could find a way to sneak out of Lelleford, she doubted she’d locate her father easily, then be able to sneak back in.
    As she saw it, her duty was here, with Lelleford’s people, and her father wouldn’t appreciate her putting the holding at further risk.
    Roland believed himself in charge of her home. He needed to be watched closely, prevented from abusing his power. Besides, the better time to warn her father might be after Kenworth and his forces left, when the gates were no longer guarded so heavily and her father might be easier to find.
    “Nay, I doubt I could leave the castle without anyone noticing. And if the patrols are not able to find him, I doubt I would have better luck. Best I trust my father to do what he feels right.”
    As she must do what she felt right. Which was why she’d allowed Isolde to see the message, knowing the maid would keep the secret because of her brother’s involvement. On the morn she would tell Simon about her father’s plan and seek his counsel on what course of action to take, if any.
    No one else must be allowed to see or hear of the message. Already she’d been careless with it, almost allowed it to fall into enemy hands.
    Eloise slid out of bed and padded across the room. She picked up the pair of tongs from the circular brass plate on which the brazier’s lion-paw feet stood. With the thick parchment firmly clasped in the tongs, she touched a corner to red-hot coals. The edge browned and curled, smoldered and smoked, but didn’t flare.
    Isolde coughed and waved a hand before her face.
    “ ’Tis a most wicked stench, milady.”
    That it was, and would get worse as the substantial sheet made from animal hide burned.
    “Open the shutters.”
    Thunder yet rumbled in the distance, but the worst of the storm had passed, the heavy rain of earlier diminishing to a light shower. A gentle breeze blew a few raindrops into the chamber, and would carry both smoke and stench back out with it.
    Determined to hurriedly destroy the message, Eloise again touched parchment to coals. Again the edge browned and curled. Then the breeze fanned the edge and a tiny flame sparked.
    Fascinated, Eloise watched the fire creep ever closer to her father’s written words, waving smoke away from her face, hearing Isolde’s cough.
    From the passageway came the bellow of “Fire!” The door crashed open, startling her into spinning around. Roland stood in the doorway, his eyes wide with panic.
    Isolde screeched. “Milady, the rush mat!”
    Eloise jerked her attention back to the burning parchment. A piece had broken off, landing on the mat at her bare feet. Before she could collect her thoughts, Roland sped across the room, grabbing the washbasin on his way.
    She backed up and gasped as water hit her chest and arm. The dregs he tossed at her feet.
    One would think an army pounded up the stairway from the noise in the passageway. Simon rounded the doorway. He carried a bucket, as did several others.
    Eloise felt her embarrassment rise clear from her toes. She’d meant to reduce one piece of parchment to ashes. Roland’s intensely disapproving expression accused her of trying to burn down the entire castle.
    Isolde’s hands covered her face. Simon pursed his lips and shook his head. As Eloise wished she could fly out the window to escape, from down the passageway came a roar.
    “What the devil goes on here?”
    The earl. Ye gods.
    Roland’s chest heaved, then he blew out a long breath and tossed the basin onto the bed. “Simon,