Lord of the Manor Read Online Free PDF

weren’t common names among peasants. If he were right, if these two had ties to Norman nobility, then why were they on the road with no escort, disguised as peasants? Where was her husband, the boy’s father? Or their male guardian?
    ‘Twas really none of his affair. Lucinda must have her reasons, and he had no wish to become involved in her life. His offer of an escort was simply a kindness extended to a woman in need, no more.
    A beautiful woman.
    Raven hair, woven into a single plait, hung low and shining against her gray gown. Her features were sharp, but not harsh. The tilt of her chin and cool set of her mouth warned a man to expect no warmth from her, but her husky, honey-warm voice beckoned a man to search for her heat.
    He shouldn’t have touched her. Then he wouldn’t know that her lips were warm, her cheek soft, her waist slim, her hands gentle. He’d been on his horse at the head of the company, she in the wagon at the very end of the line, and he’d been achingly awareof her the whole time. He wouldn’t now want her if he hadn’t touched her.
    Richard took a deep breath and glanced about the campsite. His men had eaten and would soon make up their sleeping pallets or take their turn at guard duty. Tomorrow would bring another long day on the road. If he hoped to join Stephen at court day after next, his company could waste no time.
    In typical fashion, Stephen had rushed from Wilmont with little preparation, leaving Richard to haul chests of clothing, extra food and drink and Wilmont’s gifts to the princess. Likely, Stephen now enjoyed the luxury and freedom of having Wilmont’s chambers in Westminster Palace all to himself. Richard didn’t doubt that Stephen had found a willing wench—or noble lady—to share his bed.
    Richard looked at Lucinda. In his place, Stephen wouldn’t hesitate to invite Lucinda into his tent to share his pallet of furs. He wouldn’t care what his men thought, or that she had a small son curled up at her side, or that her ankle pained her. Or that she might have a husband. Stephen would note only that his loins grew heavy with desire, and that the woman seemed to share the pull of physical attraction.
    So why do I hesitate?
    Lucinda looked at him then. She studied him, her violet eyes drawing him in, inviting him to linger and learn her secrets.
    If he learned her secrets, she might learn his.
    He acknowledged her with a slight nod, then stepped back and closed the tent flap.

Chapter Three
    “H e is truly wondrous,” Philip said.
    “That he is,” Richard agreed, giving a silver disk on the horse’s bridle a last buff with the sleeve of his silver-trimmed, black silk tunic. On this last morning of his journey, he’d made a considerable effort to ensure his entrance into Westminster would be impressive.
    Satisfied with the horse’s appearance, and his own, Richard gave the destrier a pat on his gleaming black neck.
    “Has he a name?” Philip asked.
    “Odin.”
    When another question didn’t immediately follow, Richard looked down. Philip stood unusually still for a boy of his age, his hands clasped behind his back, his bottom lip sucked in, pure awe on his face. The boy yearned to touch the horse, just as Richard, as a child of about the same age, had once stood beside his father admiring one of the beasts, wishing the same wish, wary of getting too near the horse’s hooves.
    Richard put his hands out in invitation. The boyhesitated but couldn’t resist. Philip put one arm around Richard’s neck and with the other reached out to stroke Odin’s neck. Sheer delight beamed from Philip’s face.
    “Odin is an odd name,” Philip said.
    “Have you never heard of Odin, the Viking god of war?”.
    Philip’s small brow scrunched. “There is another god besides God?”
    “So the Vikings believe. They worship many gods.”
    “Who are Vikings?”
    Every Norman’s heritage was ripe with Viking ancestry. Before the Normans had conquered England, the Vikings had