Read Online So Speaks the Heart by Johanna Lindsey - Free Book Online Page B

musical, but he remembered little else about her. Embarrassed, he turned away from her appraising look.
    Brigitte cleared her throat. “Do you know what you have done to me?”
    â€œI know,” Rowland answered in a croaking voice. “What difference?” he added a bit more confidently as he strapped on his sword. “I cannot say it has been a pleasure. Frankly, I do not remember taking you.”
    She was not sure she had heard correctly. “Not remember?”
    â€œI was drunk,” he said flatly, there being nothing he could do but admit the truth.
    She began to cry softly, and Rowland glanced around as though for help. He looked toward the door longingly, but just then she began laughing, and Rowland turned back to her. “Are you mad, wench?” He sounded bewildered.
    â€œPerhaps I owe you thanks. After all, what is disgrace compared to what you have saved me from? Lord Wilhelm will not want me now that I have been raped by a drunken knight.”
    Rowland had no time to reply, for Druoda burst into the room just then, Hildegard on her heels. Druoda was in a towering rage, which she turned on Brigitte.
    â€œSo! It is true! You have ruined my plans for you by giving yourself to this man!” Druoda screeched. “You will live to regret this, Brigitte!”
    â€œI did not give myself to him, Druoda,” Brigitte said firmly. “He dragged me in here and raped me.”
    â€œWhat?” Druoda exploded, her face turning a deep shade of red.
    Brigitte got to her feet slowly, holding her mantle before her in modesty. She turned to Rowland. “Tell her how I came to be here.”
    Rowland looked hard at Brigitte and then at Druoda. He began to see that he had made a mistake, had assumed too much at the very least. Not one to let others take the blame due him, he admitted, “It is as the wench claims. I found her near my room, and I assumed that she was meant for me. Hosts usually do send me a…”
    â€œBut what were you doing here?” Druoda cried, and Brigitte, thinking quickly, offered a partial truth.
    â€œI came for food, since I ate little yesterday.”
    â€œFood?” Druoda was having a difficult time believing all of this.
    Brigitte pointed to the floor. “There it is, in that bag where I dropped it.” She prayed Druoda would not look inside, for the amount of food there was much more than Brigitte would need for one meal.
    But Druoda was not concerned with incidentals.
    â€œWhy did you not scream, Brigitte? You wanted him to take you so you could ruin my plans for you!”
    â€œNo, that’s not so!” Brigitte cried, equally frightened and indignant.
    â€œWhy did you not cry for help then?”
    Brigitte lowered her head and whispered slowly, “Because I fainted.”
    Rowland burst into laughter. “There is no harm done, mistress, if the wench cannot remember. Why, it is as though it never happened.”
    â€œNo harm!” Druoda screamed. “She was a virgin and promised to another.”
    â€œA virgin!” Rowland gasped. This had not, apparently, occurred to him.
    What in blazes had he gotten himself into?
    His shocked reaction gave Druoda pause. “How could you not know that?”
    â€œI was too…too drunk to take notice, that is how!” Rowland said brusquely, furious with himself all over again.
    â€œThat does not alter what you have done,” Druoda moaned bitterly.
    Druoda began pacing the floor, ignoring the others. She ought to have killed the girl long ago, but it was too late now, for her disappearance would be questioned by the disappointed bridegroom. And what to do about him? He would not marry Brigitte now, for he wanted only a virgin.
    But she had to get rid of Brigitte, and quickly, before Quintin returned.
    â€œDruoda.” Hildegard stood next to her and whispered, “Give her to the knight and your problem is solved.”
    â€œHow?”
    â€œHe