To Kiss in the Shadows Read Free Page B

unscathed.”
    The man laughed. “By the saints, what a fanciful bit of fluff. Now, if bogles and ghosties are your fancy, rather you should concentrate on his younger brother. ’Tis Jason who consorts with warlocks and other such horrors. I daresay Kendrick, poor lad, hasn’t the stomach for such things. Rather, he no doubt finds himself more comfortable in the pleasant and undemanding company of women.”
    â€œThen he’d best not come here,” Lianna muttered, “for this collection of shrews is anything but undemanding.”
    â€œPerhaps with luck he’ll avoid them,” he said. “And you, lady, are you able to avoid them?”
    Lianna wove her needle into the cloth to hold it, then rubbed her eyes with a sigh. “If only I could—”
    A sudden commotion at the door made the man spring to his feet and pull the hood of his cloak close around his face. Lianna looked over her shoulder to find Maud and her companions sweeping back into the chamber as if they’d been royalty. And royalty, Lianna knew, was what they most certainly were not. Indeed, they were lower in station than her mother had been—making them lower in station than she herself was.
    Yet another reason for them to hate her.
    Maud looked at Lianna’s companion. “This is a woman’s solar, you fool. Who gave you permission to enter?”
    â€œ ’Twas a mistake, my lady,” the man said, bobbing his head respectfully.
    â€œOr did you invite him?”
    Lianna realized Maud was glaring at her only because she felt the heat of the other woman’s gaze. Perhaps the gossips had it wrong. Jason of Artane might have consorted with witches and warlocks, but he was likely just a man and possessed no unearthly powers. Maud, however, seemed to be fair burning a hole in Lianna’s head with her gaze alone, which led Lianna to wonder about whom the woman really consorted with in the dead of night.
    And by the time she’d thought that through, she found Maud’s clawlike grasp encircling her wrist. Maud hauled her to her feet.
    â€œHow one as ugly as you could entice a man, I don’t know,” Maud said harshly, “but you’ll not sully my solar with your whorish ways. This will teach you your place.”
    Lianna watched as Maud’s other hand came toward her face. She’d never been struck in her life, and she could scarce believe it was going to happen to her now. The other thought that occurred to her was that this wasn’t Maud’s solar. It was the queen’s solar, but since the queen was not at the keep, the right of the place likely should have gone to the woman of highest rank.
    Which, as it happened, was Lianna herself.
    Maud’s hand continued toward her face. Lianna winced in anticipation of the blow.
    A blow which never came.
    Lianna opened her eyes, realizing just then that she’d closed them, only to find Maud’s hand caught in another larger and stronger grip.
    â€œDo not,” commanded the man.
    â€œAnd who are you to stop me?” Maud spat.
    The man flipped his hood back with his other hand and smiled pleasantly.
    â€œKendrick of Artane!” squeaked Linet. “By the saints, Maud, ’tis him!”
    â€œSilence, you silly twit!” Maud hissed. “I know that.”
    Lianna’s first act was to gape at him in astonishment. Then she latched onto the urge to slink back into a comer and hope that Kendrick would forget her and everything she’d said about him in the past quarter-hour. She pulled her other hand from Maud’s slackened grip and backed away, feeling her cheeks grow suddenly quite hot. By the saints, she had thoroughly insulted the man—and to his face, no less!
    She was spared the humiliation of having to look at him, however, because he stepped in front of her and spoke to the other women.
    â€œPerhaps I might escort you ladies to supper. I understand His Majesty plans to