Read Online Sapphire - Book 2 by Elizabeth Rose - Free Book Online Page A

his left side and his
uncle, next to her. Because of the way they were seated, Sapphire
had to share a cup and trencher with Roe. She was secretly happy
for this and only hoped she’d be able to concentrate during the
meal.
    “My lady, would you care for some spiced
wine?” Roe held the goblet out to her and when she reached for it,
his hand brushed against hers before he pulled it away. A wave of
excitement rushed through her from his mere touch, and she lowered
her gaze to the table instead of looking directly at him. She took
a sip and handed it back, his hand reaching out and rubbing against
the top of her left hand as he took it from her.
    Her eyes shot upward by his action, and their
gazes interlocked – desire as well as intimacy passing briefly
between them.
    “He didn’t even give you a ring?” he asked
under his breath.
    “No time, I suppose, as the wedding was very
rushed.”
    She surveyed the tray of food the servant laid
upon the table. The Carver stepped forward with a sharp knife in
his hand and nodded first toward Lord Sexton and then to
her.
    “If I may carve the meat, my lord and lady?”
The Carver stood with a large platter holding lamb roasted with
vinegar and salt. Sapphire enjoyed lamb on occasion, but her
favorite was the Doucettes – a pork and egg pie seasoned with
pepper and sweetened with honey.
    “Aye,” said Roe, and she felt as if the man
had addressed them as a married couple. As if she were the lady of
the household, even though his mother took that position since Roe
was not married. She liked the feeling and wished it were
true.
    The Carver sliced the baked meat in front of
them and placed some on the trencher, old stale crust of bread used
to hold the food, which lay between them.
    “That’ll be all, thank you,” said Roe with a
nod, and the man headed down the table to carve for his mother and
uncle as well.
    Roe spoke as he dished out peas and root
vegetables as well as added to the trencher a piece of Sapphire’s
favorite pie.
    “I would have given you a ring worth talking
about,” muttered Roe under his breath. The priest overheard him and
joined in the conversation.
    “Lady Sapphire, how are you enjoying married
life to the baron?” asked the priest. “After all, you have married
someone of a higher rank than just a lord and should be very happy
at the results of your betrothal.”
    “Actually,” said Sapphire, clearing her
throat. “My father betrothed me to Lord Roe Sexton, but his uncle
thought him dead and married me off to the baron
carelessly.”
    “Is this true?” The priest looked over to
Roe.
    “It is, I’m afraid,” Roe answered. “But had I
known I’d been betrothed,” his hooded eyes perused Sapphire,
drinking her in, making her feel a bit uncomfortable with the
priest so near, “then I would have hurried home and it would have
been my wedding instead.”
    “What a shame, what a shame,” said the priest,
shaking his head.
    “Would that be grounds for an annulment?”
asked Roe, and Sapphire could hear the hope in his
voice.
    “Well, I believe it could, however since Lady
Sapphire agreed to the marriage, the request might not be granted
by the pope.”
    “Well, what would be considered worthy of
being granted an annulment?” asked Sapphire.
    “If one of the two in question was already
married, I suppose. Or if the woman could not bear the man an
heir.”
    “Really?” asked Sapphire. “Then I want an
annulment, as I have not been able to give my husband an heir, and
he has stopped sleeping with me because of it.”
    “Oh my!” The priest blessed himself and said a
whispered prayer.
    “What do we do?” Roe asked Father
Geoffrey.
    “Well, Lady Sapphire’s husband would have to
be the one to request the annulment, posing his complaint about you
being barren.”
    “He’d never do that, I am sure.” Sapphire took
a bite of food and looked down to her trencher. Things seemed to be
going from bad to worse.
    “I would like to drink