Read Online The Silent Touch of Shadows by Christina Courtenay - Free Book Online Page B

near Hatfield. I want you to go there and find out more about him. As much as you can. And fast.’
    ‘Very well, my lord. I’ll set out immediately.’
    ‘Excellent.’ Sir Gilbert untied a leather pouch from his belt and handed it to Walter. ‘This may help to loosen tongues. And Walter, take a good, strong horse. I’ll try to keep Sir Roger here until your return. I want him where I can keep an eye on him.’
    If Walter was surprised at his task, he hid it well and, to Sibell’s annoyance, neither did he ask his master why he had developed this sudden interest in the young knight. With a bow he turned to leave.
    ‘Walter?’
    The servant stopped and looked over his shoulder and Sibell held her breath, hoping for an answer after all. ‘Yes, my lord?’
    ‘Thank you, and God speed.’
    Sibell let out the air she’d been holding in, suppressing the feeling of disappointment. She tried to tell herself it was none of her business, but Sir Gilbert’s words refused to leave her mind. Why was he so interested in Sir Roger? Did he mean him harm? And why should it matter to me?
    She waited until the men had left, then quickly made her way out of the stables. So quickly, in fact, that she collided with something very solid in the doorway. Shaken, she looked up, expecting to be taken to task for eavesdropping. She blinked.
    ‘Oh, it’s you, Sir Roger. I thought you were   …’ She bit her lip to stop the words from tumbling out, then sank into a curtsey to cover her confusion.
    ‘Mistress Sibell. This is a pleasant surprise.’ He took her hand and quickly pulled her up. ‘No need for that.’ He smiled. ‘We’re old friends, are we not?’
    ‘I   … I   … if you say so.’ She drew in a deep breath and wished that she could speak two words with the man without blushing. He must think her a complete nodcock. ‘I thought you long gone from here,’ she said, then wished she hadn’t. She didn’t want him to realise she had been thinking of him at all.
    ‘Indeed, I should have been on my way, but Sir Gilbert invited me to stay a few days.’ He grinned. ‘Do you wish me far away then?’
    ‘No, er, no, of course not. I mean   … it doesn’t matter to me. You must come and go as you please.’ She stopped to take in another huge gulp of air. It was no good. She’d had no practice in the art of flirtation, whereas he had obviously done nothing else all his life. She sighed. ‘I must go and find a groom. Lady Maude is lending me a horse. I bid you good day, sir.’
    ‘I hope to see you soon again, mistress.’ He bowed, but before he did she saw the twinkle in his eyes. For some reason that made her cross. Wasn’t the man ever serious? Or was he hiding something behind this carefree façade? If only he hadn’t been so charming. If only she knew why Sir Gilbert was worried by his presence.
    Thoroughly out of sorts, she went in search of a groom.

    Melissa’s surly landlord seemed to have given up on trying to evict her immediately, so she felt it was almost a shame she wouldn’t be staying until the end of the month as she’d said she would, just to spite him. Still, she didn’t trust him and it was a relief to know she wouldn’t have to deal with him for much longer.
    ‘I shall expect you to return my deposit in full since we haven’t damaged anything,’ she told him. She couldn’t ask for the rent back, as that was paid monthly, but he owed her the deposit at least.
    ‘The sooner you’re gone, the better, and I’ll be making a deduction for the heating,’ he muttered, true to form, but she fixed him with a fierce glare that seemed to startle him.
    ‘Don’t you dare! The contract clearly says that the heating is your responsibility and my lawyer informs me I can sue you for not keeping the flat warm enough.’ This was an outright lie, as she hadn’t consulted anyone, but she figured Mr Donne didn’t need to know that. He blustered for a bit, but finally agreed to give her a cheque for