Read Online Written in the Stars by Patricia Rosemoor, Sherrill Bodine - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Patricia Rosemoor, Sherrill Bodine
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his chamber. He dampened the fire
to embers and snuffed all but a few candles.
Out of the darkness she materialized. He lifted one of her hands, squeezing it between
his palms. “You saw true. My father is eager to continue the festivities for the wedding.
The alliance must be forged. Elizabeth and I are to attend the fair this night.”
Florea’s thin lips curled. She nodded. “Present her with this.”
He took the nosegay of tight purple flowers and blood red berries he didn’t recognize.
Curious, he raised it to his nose, breathing deeply.
The fragrance surrounded him, filling his senses with bliss. He chuckled. “A love
potion?”
“Tell Elizabeth it will keep away the stink of the animals and the foul smell of others
at the fair. In truth it will cause her to see the world in brighter colors and be
open to the feelings of others around her. To you, Carlyle.” Florea stroked his arm.
“Dazzle her with your charm, of which you possess much.” She pressed closer, her words
soft yet firm. “The old gods have shown me that on the day after the morrow, you must
take her to the sacred place. There you must show Elizabeth your true self and she
will discover that which is within her.”
Excitement coursed through him and it was not the nosegay which made him burn with
love for this old woman.
“Thanks to my Flower.” He gently kissed her cold, dry lips. “Because of the love you
bear me, I shall at last possess all the power I deserve.”
…
As the duke had declared, the star-filled sky was a bright canopy for the fair as
Alice and Elizabeth entered the festivities. Behind them paced Carlyle and the red-haired
soldier Elizabeth now knew was Tom Chatham, Will’s lieutenant.
It should be Will here with me. Why did he choose to forfeit these bittersweet hours
we could share?
“I say again, I see no reason to carry the thing. The sights, sounds, and smells of
the fair are the fun of it.” Alice, sensible to her fingertips, gazed with narrowed
eyes at the nosegay Elizabeth carried.
With her tired mind and stricken heart Elizabeth had not been clever enough to come
up with an excuse when Carlyle had offered it.
She held the nosegay at arm’s length and also eyed it with disfavor. “It is pretty
enough. What is it that bothers us so about it?”
“The berries!” Alice shouted and then glanced behind her, as did Elizabeth. The men
were in discussion about the strength of the troops and appeared not to have heard.
“Good.” Alice sighed. “Would not want to embarrass Carlyle, but those berries look
like the sort Granny Cybil once showed us to always avoid.”
Elizabeth studied a blood red, irregularly shaped berry. “I remember. The ones which
make you see the world false.”
“Couldn’t be, of course. Yet.” Before Elizabeth could stop her, Alice whisked the
nosegay from her hand, disposing it neatly in a bucket of slop at the edge of a shed
holding sows. “If it is the berries, those will be the happiest pigs in the kingdom.”
As they were being buffered by fairgoers and vendors shouting out their wares, Carlyle
did not seem to notice the loss of her gift.
Satisfied, Alice turned her attention to the atmosphere of gaiety surrounding her.
To Elizabeth, her senses sharpened by confusion about these magical powers she seemed
to possess and a growing rebellion against her fate and Will’s, the fair spread out
before her like a nightmare prism of animals and people trying to sell her everything
from false gold to puppets to hot pies. The aroma of strong beer and sizzling food
caused her stomach to gently stir in distress.
She stiffened her resolve and lifted her chin when Alice hesitated at the toy stall.
Her face was as bright as a new penny. She picked up a rattle, gave it a good shake,
and chuckled at the loud, jarring retort. “This can serve for my sister Jane’s new
babe.” She slid Elizabeth a sly look. “Jane
to embers and snuffed all but a few candles.
Out of the darkness she materialized. He lifted one of her hands, squeezing it between
his palms. “You saw true. My father is eager to continue the festivities for the wedding.
The alliance must be forged. Elizabeth and I are to attend the fair this night.”
Florea’s thin lips curled. She nodded. “Present her with this.”
He took the nosegay of tight purple flowers and blood red berries he didn’t recognize.
Curious, he raised it to his nose, breathing deeply.
The fragrance surrounded him, filling his senses with bliss. He chuckled. “A love
potion?”
“Tell Elizabeth it will keep away the stink of the animals and the foul smell of others
at the fair. In truth it will cause her to see the world in brighter colors and be
open to the feelings of others around her. To you, Carlyle.” Florea stroked his arm.
“Dazzle her with your charm, of which you possess much.” She pressed closer, her words
soft yet firm. “The old gods have shown me that on the day after the morrow, you must
take her to the sacred place. There you must show Elizabeth your true self and she
will discover that which is within her.”
Excitement coursed through him and it was not the nosegay which made him burn with
love for this old woman.
“Thanks to my Flower.” He gently kissed her cold, dry lips. “Because of the love you
bear me, I shall at last possess all the power I deserve.”
…
As the duke had declared, the star-filled sky was a bright canopy for the fair as
Alice and Elizabeth entered the festivities. Behind them paced Carlyle and the red-haired
soldier Elizabeth now knew was Tom Chatham, Will’s lieutenant.
It should be Will here with me. Why did he choose to forfeit these bittersweet hours
we could share?
“I say again, I see no reason to carry the thing. The sights, sounds, and smells of
the fair are the fun of it.” Alice, sensible to her fingertips, gazed with narrowed
eyes at the nosegay Elizabeth carried.
With her tired mind and stricken heart Elizabeth had not been clever enough to come
up with an excuse when Carlyle had offered it.
She held the nosegay at arm’s length and also eyed it with disfavor. “It is pretty
enough. What is it that bothers us so about it?”
“The berries!” Alice shouted and then glanced behind her, as did Elizabeth. The men
were in discussion about the strength of the troops and appeared not to have heard.
“Good.” Alice sighed. “Would not want to embarrass Carlyle, but those berries look
like the sort Granny Cybil once showed us to always avoid.”
Elizabeth studied a blood red, irregularly shaped berry. “I remember. The ones which
make you see the world false.”
“Couldn’t be, of course. Yet.” Before Elizabeth could stop her, Alice whisked the
nosegay from her hand, disposing it neatly in a bucket of slop at the edge of a shed
holding sows. “If it is the berries, those will be the happiest pigs in the kingdom.”
As they were being buffered by fairgoers and vendors shouting out their wares, Carlyle
did not seem to notice the loss of her gift.
Satisfied, Alice turned her attention to the atmosphere of gaiety surrounding her.
To Elizabeth, her senses sharpened by confusion about these magical powers she seemed
to possess and a growing rebellion against her fate and Will’s, the fair spread out
before her like a nightmare prism of animals and people trying to sell her everything
from false gold to puppets to hot pies. The aroma of strong beer and sizzling food
caused her stomach to gently stir in distress.
She stiffened her resolve and lifted her chin when Alice hesitated at the toy stall.
Her face was as bright as a new penny. She picked up a rattle, gave it a good shake,
and chuckled at the loud, jarring retort. “This can serve for my sister Jane’s new
babe.” She slid Elizabeth a sly look. “Jane
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