The Hourglass

The Hourglass by Bárbara Metzger Page A

Book: The Hourglass by Bárbara Metzger Read Free Book Online
Authors: Bárbara Metzger
Tags: Romance
Ads: Link
now is fine. In fact the celebration was growing far too lively for my taste.”
    Lively? Was that what it was? Ardeth had found death far more peaceful. He relaxed against the cushions, glad to be away. “At least we agree on that.”
    Genie fussed with her gloves. “I am concerned about the heirloom that you lost. Should we really be giving up the search?”
    “Oh, I have rewards posted everywhere. If the bauble is close by, someone will find it and return the thing for the money I promised.”
    “Will they recognize it? I thought you were not sure of its description.”
    He unfolded a sheet of paper with a small picture on it, with the reward offer written in four languages.
    “But it is just an hourglass. Our governess used one to time lessons. Surely that cannot be so valuable.”
    “The size is deceptive. The piece is actually a gold and glass brooch. Although the sands do shift, they do not keep accurate time as you know it.”
    Once again he’d managed to rattle her. “As I know it? Doesn’t everyone mark hours and minutes the same way?”
    “I have seen clocks of dripping water, sundials, and monoliths,” he said, avoiding her actual question. “You might say this timepiece has a sentimental attachment far beyond its usefulness.”
    “I see. Was it your mother’s?”
    Coryn the boy had been fostered out to a brutal warlord at such an early age that he could not recall having a mother, although he must have. “No, it was a more recent acquisition .”
    Genie was still troubled. “But how will you know it from all the replicas people are bound to bring you in hopes of winning the reward?” She handed back the sheet of paper. “It appears easy to duplicate, especially if it does not work correctly.”
    “Nay, it is impossible to copy, and no one will part with its match. I will know the original. You must trust me on that.”
    It seemed to Genie that she had already taken a great deal on faith. What was one more irreplaceable hourglass that did not work? Her husband was definitely daft. She might as well humor him, Genie decided, so she asked, “Have you left the crow behind to search?”
    Ardeth looked around, noticing for the first time that the gremlin was missing. “No, I have little control of the beast, ah, the bird. I am sure he will turn up.”
    He sat back and closed his eyes, ending the conversation and leaving Genie to wonder about a man who cared so much for a scrap of broken jewelry, and so little for his constant companion. She could not help wondering also what that meant for her and this hasty marriage.
    Genie could not nap despite her weariness and the well-sprung coach. She sighed and wriggled around, trying to find a more comfortable position, which must have disturbed Ardeth. He rapped on the carriage roof, ordering Campbell to pull up, then got out and mounted Black Butch.
    Now Genie had to fret that she had offended her new husband. If this marriage journey was a sea voyage, as he’d said, her ship was already leaking. Genie sighed again and gave up worrying. At least she was not hungry or homeless, and that was enough for now. She fell asleep this time, without Ardeth’s dark presence to disturb her mind.
    He came alongside the coach near dusk and tapped on the window. “I am sorry to awaken you, but we are near the harbor. We’ll set sail in the morning, so we could sleep aboard the ship, but we will find more amenities at an inn. You see, I am learning, asking which you prefer.”
    Genie chose the inn, thinking that they were bound to have separate chambers there. Who knew how many cabins were on the ship? Who knew how committed the earl was to his promises?
    Ardeth rode ahead to make arrangements.
    At the inn he’d selected, he sent a rider back to direct the coach. Upstairs, he ordered baths, dinner, rooms for the servants, stalls for the horses. The innkeeper hurried to serve without even hearing his name or title, once he’d seen the earl’s gold. Ardeth could have

Similar Books

Ejecta

William C. Dietz

Ruby

Ashlynn Monroe

Split Just Right

Adele Griffin

Trust Me

John Updike

Love at High Tide

Christi Barth