LordoftheKeep Read Free Page A

uncle
back into Gilles’ presence.
    “It seems, old man, that you come early to seek a wedding.
Emma says she is not with child. I am reluctant to dictate solutions to events
that have not some tangible consequence.”
    Simon spluttered his indignation. “My Lord Gilles, she is
ruined. She has no dowry. How am I to make a marriage for her when she has
given away her only possession worth anything? Who would have her now she has
spread her thighs for some nameless man? All know she is no longer a virgin.
You asked her before this company, and she has admitted her shame. She is
worthless. ‘Twill cost me dear to keep her bastard, too.”
    “Well, old man, you certainly made sure every man, woman,
and child is aware of her loss of virtue by presenting this case. If you had
held your tongue, no one would have been the wiser.”
    Every one of their words cut Emma deeply. Pain flared and
blossomed, swelled and grew to ugly proportions. Soon the pain would be there
for all to see, for surely in another moment she would weep .
    Wait for the proper moment , her lover had said.
Surely, this was that moment? Tears in her eyes burned to be released as she
fought the urge to turn to her lover and demand he speak for her.
    She offered up a silent prayer for the judging to end. She
wanted nothing more than to escape to the forest, to silence and peace.
    “Demand his name, my lord. I demand compensation.”
    The old man cowered as Gilles rose on the dais. His crimson
mantle flared about him, angry in its own inanimate way. His black eyes flashed
a warning. Emma silently prayed her uncle would heed it, else they might find
themselves in the lord’s prison. Simon scuttled back as Lord Gilles stepped
from his place to stand before them.
    “So, we come to the crux of the matter. Compensation. I have
asked you to hold your tongue. I am at the end of my patience. Speak again and
it will be you I punish, you who will pay compensation.”
    Gilles moved to stand before Emma with arms crossed on his
chest. A single shaft of afternoon sun pierced an arrow slit high above,
casting a sparkling flame to radiate from the blood-red ruby on his left hand.
    “I will not force you to name your lover. Yet I know few men
of quality who will have you without your virtue intact.”
    He spoke intimately to her, so only she could hear his
words, spoke softly as if to spare her further torment and yet, torment her his
words did. She bled inside.
    “Emma, did you not realize the consequences when you took a
lover? What manner of man would leave you to face a judgment such as this?” He
swept out his hand to the company before crossing his arms again. “Why did you
give away your most precious possession?”
    Emma found herself unable to speak. This close to him, she
could not hide from his intent scrutiny. She could not hide from the terrible
twist of realization his words forced upon her. What manner of man would
leave her to face this humiliation? Her lover could have come forward. He
could have saved her from this humiliation—claimed her before the company,
admitted the vows they’d spoken. He could have stayed Simon’s fist. She must
lie to Lord Gilles and to any other who chanced to ask the same questions as he.
    “Speak. Why did you give away your most precious
possession?”
    She slowly shook her head.
    “Answer me, Emma.” His voice gentled, but there was a power
in his words that made her unable to refuse him.
    She swallowed the lump in her throat and met his eyes. “You
have answered your own question, Lord Gilles. You see—I had nothing else to
give.” So saying, she bowed her head.
    They stood in silence for a few moments. “Pray God your
lover holds your gift in high esteem.” His voice was harsh.
    He resumed his seat, once more at that impossible distance,
ready to pronounce her fate. As he moved away, she felt the loss, as if his
power had included her, had given her the strength to explain, to stand here
before this company,