The Everlasting Covenant Read Online Free PDF

from her more often than he liked. He knew that only he and old Minerva ever spoiled her.
    Ferris had been bothered by more than one old lord about this pretty little maid, but had feared to tell his wife. Marcella seemed unconcerned with her children ’ s feelings and might have swiftly married Anne to the first lucrative offer. And yet Anne had so many visible attributes that Ferris often wondered why his wife put so much energy into the marriage of their other daughter. It often seemed as though Marcella could not ac knowledge their youngest except to push her aside. His wife ’ s treatment of Anne hurt him deeply.
    “ I will walk with you to your bower, petite, ” Ferris said, holding out his hand to her.
    Marcella grasped her to retrieve her jewelry. “ Mind your manners, Anne, or you will be punished. ”
    “ Yes, madam, ” she said. Ferris frowned at his wife.
    Anne walked down the dark gallery with her father. The hour was still early and few people were astir. When they had traveled some distance from Marcella ’ s bedchamber, Ferris paused.
    “ Marriage to the earl is not the worst that could befall you, lass. ”
    She smiled up at him. It pained her that her father, so kind and gentle, might suffer for trying to protect her. “ I know, Father. The earl seems a good man. ”
    “ Then you will go to him willingly? ”
    “ Yes, Father. If that is your desire. ”
    Ferris sighed deeply, a troubled look coming into his eyes. “ Anne . .. lass ... you must not .. . ahem, you must let these matters of marriage rest with your parents. Do not give your love to a young swain of your choice. One whom ... we can not approve for you. ”
    “ No, Father, ” she said, looking down at the floor.
    “ Do not pin your hopes on things that can never be. ”
    Her cheeks grew warm and she stared at the floor. Could he know? But, if he knew, he would punish her. Ferris Gifford might be the least passionate where the feud was concerned, but he had never hidden the fact that he despised Lord deFrayne.
    Ferris lifted her chin with a finger, forcing her to look into his eyes. “ We do not always love wisely, child. I must tell you this, this one time only. If it occurs to you to give your heart to the wrong man, you do not face only a life of ruin for yourse lf, but you well could ru in the family who has reared you and the family that will follow as your heirs. Much ill can come from such a mistake, Anne -- pain, fighting, poverty, even death. Marriage to Brennan Forbes will keep you well, make you rich, and, I trust, he will do everything in his power to make you happy. ”
    “ If you wish me to marry him, I shall, my lord, ” she said, knowing it was a lie and knowing, too, that Ferris Gifford must have seen Dylan smile at her.
    “ I wish it, lass. He is the duke ’ s man and the Duke of York will wear the crown of England one day. Perhaps soon. ”
    “ Papa, ” she said in a surprised whisper, touching his hand. “ Do you plot against the -- ”
    “ Hush, child, ” Ferris warned. “ Let us just say that your mar riage to the earl and other matters of negotiation will restore this family to its former wealth and importance, if all goes well. Now, if you hurry, you can still get to mass. Very few will rise for mass this morning, ” he said, his tone secretive. “ No one else from our family will be seen there. ” He bent to kiss her forehead. “ May I trust you, Anne, to do right by your old father now? ”
    She rose on her toes to kiss his cheek, saddened by his request. Was it a plea to resist Dylan ’ s affection and go placidly to the earl ’ s marriage bed? “ I love you, Papa, ” she said, turning from him to go directly to the chapel.
    Her throat ached and tears threatened. Her father would be crushed by her betrayal, but betray him she must, for she could never l ove any man as she loved Dylan – not her father, and certainly not Lord Forbes, however kind and decent he was. Nothing could make her