The Order of the Lily Read Online Free PDF Page B

time ago.’ He plucked a switch that lay upon the bed chest and swished it through the air. ‘You are under my roof, and I will have your obedience.’
    â€˜Arnaud, no! Please!’ cried Margot. ‘She meant no harm. She does not understand.’
    â€˜Gillet will hear of this,’ gasped Cécile, her courage rapidly waning beneath Arnaud’s manic glare.
    â€˜As well he might,’ drawled Arnaud, ‘but he, at least, was raised to understand the order of things. It would seem that you have yet to learn. Clearly Armagnac did not teach his women their place.’ He advanced slowly, flicking the rod, and both women backed away, moving crablike towards the door. ‘Stay where you are, wife.’
    â€˜Run, Cécile!’ Margot pushed her friend and, terrified now, Cécile leaped for the open space. Arnaud was quicker. The rod struck her shoulder, tearing her sleeve and biting into flesh. She cried out in pain. He hurtled her into the hallway but with the instinct of a trapped animal Cécile clawed at his face, raking her nails deep down one cheek. Arnaud fell back with a howl. Cécile’s chest heaved in fear as she watched him wipe the blood from his torn skin. He studied his fingers in disbelief, the muscle beneath his eye twitching in a madness of its own.
    â€˜You vicious, little bitch!’ he roared. ‘How dare you defy me.’
    He lunged at her and they tumbled against the railing like two drunkards, the wood splintering dangerously beneath the force. Cécile screamed, her arms flailing to protect her face as Arnaud wielded the rod, over and over. She fell to her knees and scrambled on all fours, past the stairwell, trying to reach the safety of her chamber. There sounded a wild, unearthly shriek as Margot threw herself at Arnaud. He twisted, bellowing like a demon, and threw her off. With an ear-splitting scream, she pitched headfirst down the stairs.

    The next few hours were the worst in Cécile’s life. She was locked into her chamber where she paced relentlessly, shed-ding countless tears as the tormented howls of a woman echoed down the hall. That Margot had survived the fall was a miracle in itself but the pains of an early labour had begun immediately. Cécile fell to her knees beside her bed, her fists clenched, her stomach in knots.
    â€˜God please help us! Please let Margot and her babe survive.’ Her lash-beaten shoulders shook as she wept. ‘Gillet, please come. If the babe dies it will be my fault, and I am afraid. Arnaud will show no mercy. Oh God, someone save me from this Hell!’
    â€˜Mademoiselle d’Armagnac?’ The door rattled and Veronique’s voice sounded thickly from the other side. Cécile jumped up as the door was unlocked and the maid’s pale face appeared in the gap. ‘Veronique, how is she? How is Margot? Oh, my Lord! Forgive me. This is all my fault.’
    â€˜Hush. Calm yourself, Mademoiselle.’ Veronique pressed her finger to her lips and lowered her voice. ‘The Madame progresses well and her injuries are blessedly minor, considering the fall she took. But that devil of a husband will not leave her side. She is to have no peace at all. Not even in her delivery hour.’ Veronique spat in disgust. ‘He is a beast in human skin! For every month Madame did not conceive, he broke her little finger as penance for her disobedience.’
    â€˜Oh, my Lord!’
    Veronique nodded. ‘Oui, always the same finger so that it would not heal. It was to be a constant reminder.’ The maid collapsed onto a nearby stool and crossed herself. ‘Holy Mary, mother of God, protect us for what is to come.’ She peeped up at Cécile. ‘Madame has sent me to warn you. She fears the worst and wishes for you to be safe.’
    â€˜The worst?’ bellowed Cécile. ‘What could be worse than this?’
    Veronique grabbed Cécile’s sleeve, her voice