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she had loved to the point of madness.
"She shall not have him!
Turold is mine! " she scrched, her dagger held high and glinting in the sun
for the space of a heartbeat.
Aldyth screamed. There were shouts from several of the men, and a bellowed
warning from Urse.
Urse lunged for Maud. Ranulf leaped at her, too, but the madwoman was too
quick. Before anyone could intervene, before Turold could realize that he,
not Aldyth, was in danger, Maud plunged the blade into his back.
Turold's eyes bulged and he tried to turn and fight off his attacker, but it
was already too late. Maud cackled insanely as she twisted the knife.
Blood spurted from Turold's mouth. There was a horrible gurgling sound, and
he pitched forward.
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The clerk approached and touched a hand to Turold's neck. He straightened
after a moment.
"He is dead."
Godric sagged against the stout trunk of the oak, weak with relief.
Turold had been silenced.
All was quiet in the oak grove except for Maud's pitiful sobbing as she
crumpled in a heap by the dead man. It was as if she finally realized what
she had done. At an order from the king, two stout men-at-arms bound her and
led her away.
The king turned back to Ranulf.
'"Twould seem your accuser is dead, my lord," he said with an upraised brow,
as calm as if he saw murder done every day.
"Aye, your grace."
"Yesterday, when he came forward to claim the woman beside you, he hinted of
treason," murmured the king, "but I had not then the time to hear him."
Ranulf took a deep breath.
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"It seems he paid a heavy price for his lies, your grace, even if he never
got to voice The king watched him, unblinking. Godric, in his perch in the
tree, held his breath.
Then he heard the king chuckle.
"Yes, you could say that, my lord.
But you still have much to explain, Lord Ranulf.
What of this Aldyth of Sherborne at your side? She has told ua how you
saved her from her brutal pursuer. How chivalrous, Lord Ranulf. But how
energetic of you. Once we belL wed you were more interested in the latest
fashion or a fi hox than in going to great trouble to win one of the and
shrugged with a trace o/hisotd, languidness.
"What can I say, your grace? I am by a pair of jade green eyes." He put a
pro- about Aldyth's shoulders, pulling her closer.
grace, I would have this woman to wife, with your to consider, rubbing his
bewhiskered "I'll have to think about it, my lord. This campaign has been a
sore drain on the royal treaand there may be those of my nobles who would be
pay more for her.
Beaumont, for example. Wouldn't ym, my lord of Beaumont? "
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'][leaumont leered at Aldyth, his eyes lingering at her "Aye, your grace.
I'd be a fortunate man to ... have her," he said with a wink, leaving it
ambiguous as to whether he meant with or without marriage.
Ranulf's hand went to the spot where the hilt of his sword should have been,
but he was unarmed. Godtic saw a muscle in his temple working as he fought
for control. "No matter how much ready coin any of your nobles have, they
did not save the life of your squire yesterday," Ranulf said, with ironic
emphasis on Perfin of Petersfield's supposed role.
"You promised me a boon, your grace, and I would dare to claim it."
The king threw back his head and laughed at his vassal's daring.
"Very well, my lord. I am a man of my word, and so you shall have her to
wife. And I think I shall not need to question your loyalty again, shall I?"
"No, your grace," Ranulf answered, but he was looking deeply into Aldyth's
eyes.
A week later, when Ranulf was recovered enough to walk with only a little
stiffness in his gait, they were married-again, thought Aldyth with
amusement--in front of the king.
Now, as she lay in their second marriage bed, basking in the glow of
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satisfaction after Ranulf had just made love to her, he arose and brought out
a letter. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]