Haunted Knights (Montbryce~The Next Generation Historical Romance) Read Online Free PDF Page A

as sisters, yet we cannot acknowledge their existence.”
    Lucien clenched his jaw. “For now we must remain silent.”
    ~~~
    Marc Lallement sat next to his wife in the Hall and watched her distress grow. Servants stood ready to serve the midday meal, but Lucien and Vincent were not yet seated in their places. Maudine would not give the signal. The servants coughed nervously, shifting their feet, which he knew only intensified her rage. He was surprised she had not already dispatched one of them in search of her sons. They had passed the five minute mark, he was sure.
    He raised his goblet to his lips, but hastily put it down when his wife glared at him.
    He was bone weary of the conflict. Guilt tore at his heart. His sweet Maudine had become a shrew. He had worried about her sanity after the episode with the knotted belt. The birth of a second daughter who was mute had overwhelmed her wits. He was becoming obsessed with ways to rid her of her torment. He pushed from his mind the terrifying possibility that ending her life was one of them.
    It had been madness to agree to their incarceration in the first place. He had been so besotted he had allowed not one, but two of his children to be imprisoned in their own home. Had he feared losing the dowry estate of Kingston Gorse if his wife had repudiated him?
    Rosamunda and Paulina were beautiful young women. If only Maudine visited them, she would see. But she refused to discuss it. As far as she was concerned, her daughters were dead.
    He worried for his sons, increasingly aware of their censure and discomfort. He thanked God at least two of his children had been born whole. When the boys were infants, it was less likely they might accidentally reveal the truth. Now they were young knights who travelled throughout Sussex. They visited sons of neighbouring Norman families, often practising swordplay and other tactics. Many of their friends had sisters.
    Maudine thrust out her chin as their sons entered the Hall. Lucien bowed to his mother. “ Maman , I’m sorry—”
    Maudine held up her hand, her mouth puckered into a tight line. “Sorry is not good enough. You are both aware of my expectations. What are we supposed to do, sit here and wait, not knowing when you plan to arrive?”
    The servants examined the oaken beams, or the planked floor, or their feet as their mistress’s voice became more and more shrill.
    Vincent and Lucien stood with heads bowed. Marc’s heart broke for them.
    Finally, she ceased her tirade and beckoned to the cook. Their sons took their places in silence. Rabbit stew was hastily heaped onto the trenchers placed before the Lallements. The servants stepped back. Maudine glared at them, inhaled the aroma of the dish before her, then nodded. They retreated.
    She turned to look at the men of her family. “You may start now.”

    Marc’s gut was in knots. His appetite fled as he watched the juices of the stew trickle into the stale bread of his trencher, but if he did not eat he would never hear the end of it. He tore off the edge of the trencher and bit into it, tasting the bitter gall of his own cowardice.

CHAPTER FIVE
    East Preston, Sussex, England
     
    After the journey from Normandie, Adam hoped to ease his weariness with a long soak in the big wooden tub. Denis had tried hard to keep up his spirits on the way, but it had been an effort to concentrate on what he was saying.
    Adam had dreaded the reaction of the servants at East Preston when they became aware of his deafness. They meant well and were devastated at his affliction, but he hastily took his leave of them after ordering up the tub.
    If they followed the example of the servants at Belisle, they would now walk round on tiptoe, averting their eyes whenever they came into his presence. Or they would bellow at him in the belief it made a difference.
    Thank God his other physical torment was not visible to them. His previous determination to remain chaste until his marriage did not mean he had