The Pendulum Read Free Page A

an hour ago, the brooch was stolen."
    There was an odd note in her father's voice, but Airin had no time to contemplate the meaning before the earl said,
    "Stolen?" He gave a single shake of his head. "That is unfortunate."
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    The Pendulum
    by Tarah Scott
    "For the thief," Deryll said.
    "You caught him?"
    Deryll leaned against the doorjamb. "I will."
    "Then you do not have this ... brooch. That will make it difficult to compare with my brooch."
    Airin gasped.
    "Not at all difficult," Deryll said. "I know the brooch's every detail. Once I see yours, I will confirm it is mine."
    Jason threw his head back and laughed. "By God, you have bullocks. Everything I have heard about you is true."
    Dread tingled the back of Airin's neck. Her brother-in-law was too confident.
    "Harold," Jason called.
    A servant appeared behind Deryll. He paused and glanced up at Deryll, who seemed oblivious to his presence. Airin stifled an urge to laugh. The rogue knew the servant wished to enter, but purposely refused to move. Harold turned sideways, pressed his back against the doorjamb, and slid past Deryll with barely an inch to spare. Airin ducked her head. By the saints, mayhap the bloodthirsty knight killed opponents by causing them to die laughing.
    From the corner of her eye, she spotted the red satin pouch Harold held and her head snapped up. The servant stopped before Jason, handed him the pouch, then backed away. Jason loosened the pouch's drawstring, upended the bag over her bed, and shook the contents free. All amusement vanished as she stared at a silver brooch identical to the one she had tried to steal
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    The Pendulum
    by Tarah Scott
    She picked it, turned it over, and examined the back. A small but deep scratch marred the lower right edge where the links widened. Airin rubbed a finger across the scratch. Rough bits of metal caught at her thumb. She turned the brooch over and studied the two curls that butted. As with the Scarlet Knight's brooch, one was a fraction smaller than the other.
    Airin looked up at Jason, the man who had killed her sister. Despite her bravado, she feared she would be unable to bring him to justice. She shifted her gaze to the man she had determined as a child to marry. He had been twenty when he left, she but twelve. Not one missive had passed between them. As a girl, she had been hurt; as a woman, she understood the dream had been hers, not his.
    Only six months had passed since her sister's death. Since Jason would be forced to allow a six-month betrothal in order to satisfy the mourning period, she would have time to prove him guilty of murder.
    "'Tis my great grandmother's brooch," she said.

    * * * *
Someone moved toward her. Airin started as if waking from a dream.
    "I shall care for you as I did your sister," Jason said. He stopped beside the bed and grasped her hand.
    Warm hands. She had expected fingers of ice. He raised her hand to his lips and she thought of her sister's ghost roaming Beaton Hall. It mattered not that Airin would now wander those corridors alongside her; she awakened many a 21

    The Pendulum
    by Tarah Scott
    night in Huntley Castle to Madeline's demand for recompense.
    Being betrothed to Jason would place her in his home—and his bed, if need be—where she would find proof of his guilt.
    And lose all hope of Deryll ever wanting you , an inner voice whispered. Airin startled. Where had that come from?
    Deryll pushed past Jason, drawing her attention onto him.
    The earl tensed, then released her as the knight thrust out a hand. Airin pursed her lips, but placed the brooch in his palm.
    Her fingers brushed his and a tingle spread through her. She jerked her hand back before realizing it.
    Deryll gave her a curious look, then scrutinized the brooch.
    He ran a finger over the scratch. "'Tis newly formed."
    Jason's jaw tightened.
    "Nay, my lord," Airin said. "It is just as my great grandmother described."
    His gaze slid onto her and, for the first time, Airin detected surprise in