Read Online The Sword and the Sylph (Elemental Series) by Elizabeth Rose - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Elizabeth Rose
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Banesmoor has announced the marriage of his daughter, the Lady Christabel to Sir Braden of Manterra. The wedding would be held in the church of Saint Agnes, in three week’s time . . .” Braden couldn’t bring himself to finish reading the announcement. Suddenly it all seemed so real. While he should be elated, he felt a sadness deep inside instead.
“Lord Solomon has taken a strong liking to you, Sir Braden. And he fears his daughter is becoming unruly since the death of his own wife last winter when she passed from ill health. Lady Christabel is past marrying age , as she is already just over two decades. He wants grandchildren desperately. He’s already instructed his daughter that he desires many, many grandsons to make his bloodline as well as his defenses even stronger.
“Many, many?” asked Bra den, looking at the wedding bann, thinking that his life was about to change drastically. “I feel as if I don’t yet know Lady Christabel as we have not spent any time together.”
“Exactly why Lord Solomon suggested you take his daughter on an outing this afternoon. Right after you take her riding, as she always loved to ride when our old stablemaster was here.”
“Do you mean Vance, the traitor?”
“Aye, that is the man of which I speak. Lord Solomon is counting on you to bring the traitor back from Calila as well, so he can make an example of what he does to spies.”
Suddenly, the whole idea of marriage and what he’d gain didn’t seem quite as inviting. And when he sat down at the dais and saw the look his betrothed gave him, he knew he had his work cut out for him. And though he fancied the wealth and title and all that went with the dowry of the marriage, he sincerely doubted that he could ever get this ice princess to smile. Oh, what, he wondered had he gotten himself into?
* * *
Portia-Maer stood cloaked in invisibility just behind Braden’s chair at the dais. She’d been watching him make a fool of himself, trying desperately to court the Lady Christabel all through the meal. He obviously felt uncomfortable, as she noticed that he kept looking over his shoulder and frowning. He’d tried more than once to talk to the lady, but she seemed to be shunning him.
“Lady Christabel, you are looking beautiful on this fine day,” he said, taking a sip of wine from his goblet and then handing it to her to drink as well. They shared a trencher of food between the two of them, and for some reason this bothered Portia.
“Thank you, Sir Braden, your courtesy is appreciated.” She drank from the cup and handed it back.
“Your eyes are like stars and your hair like sunshine from the heavens,” he spouted out foolishly. Even Portia could tell he wasn’t sincere. There was no way Lady Christabel was going to believe that!
“Sir Braden, you can save your words for someone who cares. My marriage to you is at my father’s command, so don’t waste your breath. I would do what is required of me, but I have no desire to be courted.”
Portia giggled, happy to see the woman rejecting him. Braden turned sharply and she clasped her hand over her mouth quickly to hush herself.
“Did you hear something?” he asked.
“This hall is noisy and in the middle of a meal with minstrels strumming their lutes,” Lady Christabel answered. “Whatever do you mean?”
“I . . . I guess ’tis nothing,” he said, picking up a piece of fruit and popping it into his mouth. “Your father has suggested I take you riding this afternoon, and after that we would go on an outing. I would ask the cook to pack up a meal we can share upon a blanket placed on the grass.”
“I see,” she said, without any enthusiasm at all.
Portia couldn’t help herself, the playful fae blood in her veins needed to cause mischief. She leaned over and gently blew in to Sir Braden’s ear.
“He sat up straight, wiping at his ear , once again glancing over his shoulder, right at her. Portia was only too glad she was cloaked in
“Lord Solomon has taken a strong liking to you, Sir Braden. And he fears his daughter is becoming unruly since the death of his own wife last winter when she passed from ill health. Lady Christabel is past marrying age , as she is already just over two decades. He wants grandchildren desperately. He’s already instructed his daughter that he desires many, many grandsons to make his bloodline as well as his defenses even stronger.
“Many, many?” asked Bra den, looking at the wedding bann, thinking that his life was about to change drastically. “I feel as if I don’t yet know Lady Christabel as we have not spent any time together.”
“Exactly why Lord Solomon suggested you take his daughter on an outing this afternoon. Right after you take her riding, as she always loved to ride when our old stablemaster was here.”
“Do you mean Vance, the traitor?”
“Aye, that is the man of which I speak. Lord Solomon is counting on you to bring the traitor back from Calila as well, so he can make an example of what he does to spies.”
Suddenly, the whole idea of marriage and what he’d gain didn’t seem quite as inviting. And when he sat down at the dais and saw the look his betrothed gave him, he knew he had his work cut out for him. And though he fancied the wealth and title and all that went with the dowry of the marriage, he sincerely doubted that he could ever get this ice princess to smile. Oh, what, he wondered had he gotten himself into?
* * *
Portia-Maer stood cloaked in invisibility just behind Braden’s chair at the dais. She’d been watching him make a fool of himself, trying desperately to court the Lady Christabel all through the meal. He obviously felt uncomfortable, as she noticed that he kept looking over his shoulder and frowning. He’d tried more than once to talk to the lady, but she seemed to be shunning him.
“Lady Christabel, you are looking beautiful on this fine day,” he said, taking a sip of wine from his goblet and then handing it to her to drink as well. They shared a trencher of food between the two of them, and for some reason this bothered Portia.
“Thank you, Sir Braden, your courtesy is appreciated.” She drank from the cup and handed it back.
“Your eyes are like stars and your hair like sunshine from the heavens,” he spouted out foolishly. Even Portia could tell he wasn’t sincere. There was no way Lady Christabel was going to believe that!
“Sir Braden, you can save your words for someone who cares. My marriage to you is at my father’s command, so don’t waste your breath. I would do what is required of me, but I have no desire to be courted.”
Portia giggled, happy to see the woman rejecting him. Braden turned sharply and she clasped her hand over her mouth quickly to hush herself.
“Did you hear something?” he asked.
“This hall is noisy and in the middle of a meal with minstrels strumming their lutes,” Lady Christabel answered. “Whatever do you mean?”
“I . . . I guess ’tis nothing,” he said, picking up a piece of fruit and popping it into his mouth. “Your father has suggested I take you riding this afternoon, and after that we would go on an outing. I would ask the cook to pack up a meal we can share upon a blanket placed on the grass.”
“I see,” she said, without any enthusiasm at all.
Portia couldn’t help herself, the playful fae blood in her veins needed to cause mischief. She leaned over and gently blew in to Sir Braden’s ear.
“He sat up straight, wiping at his ear , once again glancing over his shoulder, right at her. Portia was only too glad she was cloaked in
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