your
search. Written by the Countess of Somerset, it mentioned ‘the
babe' several times, and was dated the Monday next after
Martinmas, 1457, November of that year.
"That is why I told you of the Countess that day we were
interrupted. I would have looked further, but it was dark by
then, and when I tried to get another torch, I got caught, and—"
"Spare me. I don't want any of your excuses."
His brows knit. "Excuses? Nay, explanations—"
"However you claim to have come by the information, it still
smacks of conspiracy with Elizabeth."
His eyes bulged. " Conspiracy ? With that she-devil?
Nay! Good God, Dove, how could you ever think—"
"What else can I think, when you went to such pains to be helpful ,
only to lead me into a trap which nearly caused my death?"
He looked truly horrified. "Dove, you can't possibly believe—"
She folded her arms across her chest, giving him credit for
being a good mummer if nothing else. "I can, and I do. So please
tell me, why would you risk so much doing what you claim,
breaking into the Queen's own apartments and searching her
papers?"
"I wanted to help you in your quest for your family, of course,"
he said firmly.
"Why?"
"Because I want you to know who you are. I want to help you. And
now that I'm going to be your husband, I can help you all the
more. And give you the family you've always longed for, I hope.
"While it is true I am an orphan with no siblings, I do have
connections, and Richard is like a brother to me, as well as to
you. Now Richard and Anne have a child on the way, and, well,
everything is changing. We need to change with the times.
Perhaps even have the same bright future they have one day, in
the not too distant future?"
His pleading look nearly melted her. Somewhere in her heart she
knew he was telling the truth. But at the same time, how could
she ever trust so worldly a man?
"I believe in your quest, Dove, like no one else. I would never
do aught to hurt you. You must believe that!" he begged when she
remained silent.
She arched her brows. "The truth is, from the moment we met, I
don't know what to believe. In fact, all of this is almost too
good to be true."
"It's real, I swear it."
"We meet in a rose garden, Richard tells you to woo me to take
me off his hands. The Queen warns me you are a backstabber and
whore monger of the first order one minute, and wants me to
marry you the next."
Valentine scowled fiercely. "The devil, you say! Whore monger!
Why—"
"Richard even warned me that if I didn't snap you up fast, there
are plenty of maidens here who will be more than happy to do so.
Is that how you've been conquering the wild north, my Lord? With
your mighty sword?" she sneered.
His look was one of complete outrage. "Damn it, Dove, why are
you being like this?"
"Because I've finally learned what kind of world I live in, am
trapped in, and I despise it."
He reached out one hand in supplication, but she slapped it
away.
His breathing grew ragged. "You see betrayal at every turn, my
dear, and mayhap, having been brought up with the Woodvilles,
that is not surprising. But I give you my word, I was only
trying to help you find the family you seemed to so desperately
long for."
She gave an arrogant toss of her head. "Well, after that last
disaster, I shall find my true parentage on my own, without your
help."
He raised one hand in a gesture of surrender. "Very well, Denys,
I shall not interfere once we are married. I shall just do my
best to make you happy."
" Happy ?"
she hissed. "Having to fear poison in every cup or dish?"
CHAPTER
THREE
Her betrothed's eyes widened. "Poison? Nay!" Valentine's tone was
one of anguished horror at her accusation that he was marrying her
only in order to kill her. "Nay, Dove, I want you to be my wife,
not my sacrificial victim!"
She squared her shoulders, determined to be obdurate. "So you say,
but I nearly
search. Written by the Countess of Somerset, it mentioned ‘the
babe' several times, and was dated the Monday next after
Martinmas, 1457, November of that year.
"That is why I told you of the Countess that day we were
interrupted. I would have looked further, but it was dark by
then, and when I tried to get another torch, I got caught, and—"
"Spare me. I don't want any of your excuses."
His brows knit. "Excuses? Nay, explanations—"
"However you claim to have come by the information, it still
smacks of conspiracy with Elizabeth."
His eyes bulged. " Conspiracy ? With that she-devil?
Nay! Good God, Dove, how could you ever think—"
"What else can I think, when you went to such pains to be helpful ,
only to lead me into a trap which nearly caused my death?"
He looked truly horrified. "Dove, you can't possibly believe—"
She folded her arms across her chest, giving him credit for
being a good mummer if nothing else. "I can, and I do. So please
tell me, why would you risk so much doing what you claim,
breaking into the Queen's own apartments and searching her
papers?"
"I wanted to help you in your quest for your family, of course,"
he said firmly.
"Why?"
"Because I want you to know who you are. I want to help you. And
now that I'm going to be your husband, I can help you all the
more. And give you the family you've always longed for, I hope.
"While it is true I am an orphan with no siblings, I do have
connections, and Richard is like a brother to me, as well as to
you. Now Richard and Anne have a child on the way, and, well,
everything is changing. We need to change with the times.
Perhaps even have the same bright future they have one day, in
the not too distant future?"
His pleading look nearly melted her. Somewhere in her heart she
knew he was telling the truth. But at the same time, how could
she ever trust so worldly a man?
"I believe in your quest, Dove, like no one else. I would never
do aught to hurt you. You must believe that!" he begged when she
remained silent.
She arched her brows. "The truth is, from the moment we met, I
don't know what to believe. In fact, all of this is almost too
good to be true."
"It's real, I swear it."
"We meet in a rose garden, Richard tells you to woo me to take
me off his hands. The Queen warns me you are a backstabber and
whore monger of the first order one minute, and wants me to
marry you the next."
Valentine scowled fiercely. "The devil, you say! Whore monger!
Why—"
"Richard even warned me that if I didn't snap you up fast, there
are plenty of maidens here who will be more than happy to do so.
Is that how you've been conquering the wild north, my Lord? With
your mighty sword?" she sneered.
His look was one of complete outrage. "Damn it, Dove, why are
you being like this?"
"Because I've finally learned what kind of world I live in, am
trapped in, and I despise it."
He reached out one hand in supplication, but she slapped it
away.
His breathing grew ragged. "You see betrayal at every turn, my
dear, and mayhap, having been brought up with the Woodvilles,
that is not surprising. But I give you my word, I was only
trying to help you find the family you seemed to so desperately
long for."
She gave an arrogant toss of her head. "Well, after that last
disaster, I shall find my true parentage on my own, without your
help."
He raised one hand in a gesture of surrender. "Very well, Denys,
I shall not interfere once we are married. I shall just do my
best to make you happy."
" Happy ?"
she hissed. "Having to fear poison in every cup or dish?"
CHAPTER
THREE
Her betrothed's eyes widened. "Poison? Nay!" Valentine's tone was
one of anguished horror at her accusation that he was marrying her
only in order to kill her. "Nay, Dove, I want you to be my wife,
not my sacrificial victim!"
She squared her shoulders, determined to be obdurate. "So you say,
but I nearly
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