Read Online Purebred by Georgia Fox - Free Book Online Page B

apple. Alonso placed his mouth
over the print of her teeth and took a large, greedy
bite.
    It did not matter what she meant. It
was a 'yes’. That was enough for him, because he already knew she
was a woman who found it much easier to say 'no'.
     
    * * * *
     
    He was, of course, quite thick-headed,
she thought. The man might not realize that her simple word meant
she intended to meet him later in the stables.
    As she slipped across the yard an hour
later, rain beating on the hood of her mantle, she feared he would
not be there. Perhaps he went to her chamber instead. Would that
not be a comedy of errors? But there was not enough room on that
remaining apple peel to explain herself and with Jeanne's footsteps
approaching her chamber she'd had no chance to shout down to him.
She had to keep this secret from her maid, for what Jeanne didn't
know could not cause her harm.
    Oh, what was she doing? This was
madness. Sheer madness.
    If the Baron found out it would be the
end of this "servicing" and very likely the end of her heartbeat. A
few months ago she had not felt as if there were many reasons to
cling to life, but now, suddenly she had several of
them.
    She walked quickly through the rain,
her head down. But she did not run. That might draw attention to
her and make folk look twice. Fortunately, in this dismal weather
most residents of the manor took shelter in the great hall where it
was warm, so she succeeded in crossing from one side of the yard to
the other without meeting a soul who stopped to curtsey or even
look at her face.
    By the stable wall she paused to sniff
the wild climbing roses that thrived there. Today they held
raindrops that nestled amid their petals and made the leaves shine.
When wet their fragrance seemed even softer, more poignant somehow.
Here in this place of war and dirt and violence, that such a thing
of beauty should survive always amazed her.
    Once inside the stables she paused and
inhaled a great breath of hay and horse. Familiar smells that
reminded her of childhood on her father's castellany, when she hid
in the stables to avoid her chores. And her prayers.
    A row of horses peered out at her,
some neighing when they recognized her, perhaps hoping she brought
them a treat as she often did. She loved horses. Fine, noble
creatures and not at all the dumb beasts many thought
them.
    Was that when her opinion of Alonso
d'Anzeray had first begun to change, she wondered — when she saw
him take such diligent care of his horse? He took the same care of
her now too.
    "My Lady Isobel, is that a smile on
your face? Sakes be, I never thought to see one on your sullen
lips!"
    He was sitting in the hayloft, his
legs dangling above her head. She could reach up and pull him down
by his muddy boots. How could he see her smile from up
there?
    "I am glad you came," he said. "Very
glad." And a wide smile split across his wickedly handsome
face
    How easy it was for him to say when he
was happy or sad, she mused. He did not seem to mind showing his
feelings, yet she'd always been taught to keep hers well
hidden.
    Isobel asked if there was anyone else
there and when he assured her they were alone, she mounted the
rickety ladder to the hayloft. The hood of her cloak fell back as
she looked up at him. "I hope you realize what a risk we both
take."
    His smile did not falter. "I'm not
afraid of Louvet."
    "But he could put an end
to...things...as they are now."
    He took her hands and pulled her down
beside him in the warm hay. "You mean to say you do enjoy your
nights with me, woman? That you would miss me if I was sent away
from you?"
    She swallowed, nervous
suddenly.
    "There is no one here but me," he
whispered, still smiling. "You may admit your weakness for this
uncouth mercenary and no one but the two of us will ever know. So
you can deny it later if need be."
    "Oh, hush!"
    Suddenly he leaned in and kissed her
on the mouth. Isobel was one and twenty years of age and had never
been kissed on her lips. Never. Not by