steel blade as long as his body. Os glanced down at the ladyâs short sword and quickly put the weapon behind his back. âMy lord. I can explainââ
âNo, let me.â The charming lady pushed him aside with more strength than he expected. âMother, Father. Itseems that Thomas and I will not suit after all.â She walked over to where Thomas stood and elbowed him lightly in the ribs. âThomas has agreed that we make better friends than enemies, aye? And friends help one another and keep one anotherâs
secrets.â
Os felt his mouth drop open as Ela took both of Thomasâs hands in hers. âThis explains so much,â she said with what sounded like relief. âShall we call a truce?â She stared deep into Thomasâs narrowed rabbity eyes until the man nodded, then she made a motion of locking her mouth tight and tossing away the key.
âAye. A truce.â Thomas looked from her to the elder Montehues and gave a short bow. âI will take my leave. For now. Ela, my dear, you will be mine.â Then he turned to Os.
âYou
, I promise to destroy.â
Os raised his hand in a mock salute. âUntil we meet again.â
Thomas stuck his knuckles to his mouth and sucked, then bent to pick up his fallen sword. Glaring at them all, he backed out of the large hall and down the stairs to the front steps. He was a man without honor, which made him dangerous.
Ela seemed unconcerned as she chattered excitedly to her dumbfounded parents. âYou should have seen how Os handled ThomasâThomas attacked without warning, and Os, he
pushed
me behind him to keep me
safe
. Isnât that lovely?â Ela grinned at her mother, who patted Elaâs hands.
âLovely, darling.â
âBut hardly necessary,â Lord Robert growled. âGirlâsbeen using that short sword since she was as tall as my knee.â
âWhat was the matter with Thomas? He looked ill. Shouldnât you have helââ Lady Deirdre paused and slid her gaze over Os. âHelped him before letting him leave?â
âLetting
him leave? He wanted to take our guestâs head off. That is hardly good manners. If it wasnât for Os saving me, well â¦â Ela sent him a shy smile that made him smile in return. âAnd he knows the legend that descendents of Boadicea can heal.â
Lord Robert gave a great snort, then bellowed for Jemison. âBring aleâlots of it.â He glared at Os. âDamned if I donât miss my boys. Girls. I donât understand them.â
âPapa! What is to understand? You didnât want me to marry Thomas de Havel, and now I am not.â
Os had been turning the facts as he knew them over in his mind. It was plain that the family was hiding something, although theyâd seemed sincere in not knowing anything about Boadiceaâs spear. The earl wanted the spearâbut Ela, a beautiful maiden of Boadiceaâs direct lineage, might be a fair substitute.
He would send word to Albric and Warin to join him here, and they could offer an armed escort to Norwich Castle. Surely the girl had a maid who could come along as a chaperone.
Ela was lovely, and heâd make certain that she was treated with honor and respect by all. Especially himself.
Lord Robert led the way to the solar, and the bailiff soon had the fire stoked to chase the early evening chill from theroom. Osbert gripped his mug of ale, thinking again how close Ela had come to danger. Thomas was undisciplined and emotionalâa bad combination. His manipulative tendencies and dark desires would have made sweet Ela miserable for the rest of her life.
Heâd known priests, and aye, even fellow knights who chose one anotherâs company over a womanâs, but never before had he seen a man with such foul intent.
âI think you are hiding something. Again,â Lady Deirdre said to Ela. âBut I donât careâthatâs
Zara Chase
Michael Williams
C. J. Box
Betsy Ashton
Serenity Woods
S.J. Wright
Marie Harte
Paul Levine
Aven Ellis
Jean Harrod