Yolande touched her wedding ring and glanced along the village track in case Geraint was coming. She felt strangely naked without her bow and quiver. She had left them, with both Geraint’s and Katherine’s strict instructions, safely in the side chapel of High Woodhead’s church, propped beside the new, chained grave.
“Lay them by there for later, if need be,” Geraint had said.
Katherine had agreed. “Let them lie, my daughter, at least for now. You have passed your final trial.”
I am not sure of that, holy one, not passed at least. What Sorrel did I wished to do.
The rest was good, she could agree with Katherine on that. She could see Theo and Joan happy, the new wooden church of the forest rising up, Walter discovering he could plough with oxen loaned from High Woodhead, the children playing where the labyrinth had been. The men and women of the former forest Jerusalem strolled arm in arm of a spring evening, their faces brimming with joy. They had not picked a name for the revitalized settlement yet, calling it merely “the place”, but she had no doubt they would in time.
And Geraint and I will be welcomed whenever we go there. The thought warmed her like the setting sun.
Off in his garden plot behind the church, Father Eudo dug and turned earth. A dog barked somewhere in the village. Yolande pressed a thumb to her stomach, hoping to trace the new life there, and tried not to think of Peter and poison, turning her mind instead to strawberries. Would Geraint have more when he returned?
A jangle of a horse harness did not make her turn, but a rousing, “On, boy,” had Yolande turning toward the church gate. Straight ahead, ambling along, was an ancient horse with an indifferent gait but pulling a covered wagon for all that.
Perched on the front of the wagon, Geraint snapped the harness and called again, “On, boy, on. Oh, God Almighty, I’ll be quicker by foot.” He leaped off the wagon and ran through the gate to her, groveling a low bow and grinning. “Our new home. What do you think, wife?”
Yolande caught the horse, which obligingly stopped at once. This was what Geraint and the smith and carpenter had been building. And it was excellent, which was why she should not laugh.
A snigger escaped her lips and Geraint stopped mid-caper. “You do not like it?”
“Show me around,” Yolande said, still striving not to chuckle.
Instead, her wild, wonderful husband swept her into his arms, threw her up, caught her then carried her to the back of the wagon, pointing out marvels as they went.
“There is a bucket for slops, another for water, pots and pans, a nice big bed inside, a box for a crib, hanging space, strong hide-and-leather top, lanterns. Have I missed anything?”
“Yes, my kiss,” said Yolande and she reached up and helped herself.
“You like it?” Geraint asked again, when they came up for air.
She stroked his chin. “I love it.” She kissed him again, right between his frowning brows. “Love it, cariad.”
“Hey, that is my word, and why are you laughing?” He set her carefully on the seat of the wagon. “Are you sure? If you do not…”
Yolande licked her lips and flicked one of her plaits. Later she would tell her anxious husband that she laughed for sheer delight. Heartened by the way she could stop his chatter, she leaned forward, allowing the snug seams of her gown to do their own talking.
“I think we should make sure the bed is comfortable,” she said.
Geraint cupped her chin. “It will be a pleasure to find out.”
“Remember to tether the horse first, husband.”
“I will, wife, I will.”
About Lindsay Townsend
Lindsay Townsend is a multi-published historical romance and romantic suspense author living in England. She loves writing about the ancient and medieval worlds, and when not writing she enjoys reading, listening to music, walking in the countryside and spending time with her husband.
Lindsay welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Lindsay Townsend
The Amorous Chatelaine
The Lord and Eleanor
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
www.ellorascave.com
Dark Maiden
ISBN 9781419941702
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Dark Maiden Copyright © 2013 Lindsay Townsend
Edited by Carrie Jackson
Cover design by Dar Albert
Electronic book publication June 2013
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Table of Contents
Chapter One: Dark Maiden
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six: Dark Desires
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen: Dark Spring
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Dark Maiden Page 21