Unending Love Read Online Free PDF Page A

from his bright blue eyes could melt steel. But
today, those eyes were puzzled as he looked to David.
    “My lord,” he said, pointing into the bailey. 
“There is a man with an instrument in the bailey who swears he will not leave
this place until he speaks with Lady Adalind.”
    David cleared his throat softly, straining to
look around Maddoc’s bulk to see the man he was speaking of.  He could see an
expensive horse, tacked in expensive gear, at the base of the stairs but not
much else.  He put an arm out, pushing Maddoc out of the way to see a very
round and tall man standing at the base of the stairs. 
    David had to make a conscious effort to keep
from reacting.  The man was not young by any means, dressed in some kind of red
silk tunic that was so frilly and fine that it looked like a woman’s surcoat. 
He had matching red hose and black boots with a peculiar pointy toe that was
about a foot long.  It was extremely odd.  On his head he wore an elaborate hat
with silk streamers and big peacock feathers sticking out of it, and in his
hand he held what looked to be a heavy and expensive citole .  David
could only catch a glimpse of it before the man swung it up against his chest
and began to strum.
    “My lord,” he called, rather dramatically,
punctuating his statement with a few chords. “I have come seeking the Lady
Adalind de Aston. Would you be her father, good sir?”
    David tried not to let his jaw drop at all of
the ridiculous fanfare. “I am her grandfather,” he replied. “Her father is
dead.  What is it that you want?”
    Eynsford smiled brightly, as if he had just
landed upon extremely good fortune, and began to strum away at the guitar-like
instrument that had been imported all the way from Italy.  It was elaborately
carved and painted in shades of red and yellow. His stubby fingers licked the thick
gut strings with flourish.
     
    “Lady, lady, my fair and beautiful maid,
    Lady Adalind of virtue, most beautiful flower.
    My heart beats for you, my soul to sing,
    Be mine, fairest lady, and fulfill my every
desire.”
     
    When he was finished, he looked rather proud of
himself, as if he had just accomplished something rare and great, but David was
having a difficult time controlling himself. It was the worst thing he’d ever
heard, sung off-key in the most terrible voice possible. David was coming to
quickly see what had Adalind so upset, for the man was truly a pathetic example
of an ostensibly normal male.  In fact, he was rather a joke.
    David didn’t dare look at Maddoc, who was
standing beside him. If the man even gave a hint of a grin, David would lose
his composure for sure. Struggling with all he possessed not to break out in
laughter, he cleared his throat softly and descended the steps towards the
wayward suitor.
    “What is your name?” David asked.
    “Eynsford du Lesseps,” the man replied grandly.
“My father is Baron Wallingford.  He has spoken most highly of you and your
brother, my lord. It is a distinct honor to meet you and my father sends word
that it would please him greatly if our two families were united by marriage. 
I have come to ask you for Adalind’s hand in marriage, my lord.”
    David was having trouble looking at the big
buffoon with the crooked, toothy grin. Over my dead body, he thought.  He
could see that the man needed to be handled gently, especially since he was
invoking his father’s name this early in the conversation. It was a strategic
move. Again, he cleared his throat softly for lack of a better action, thinking
quickly on how to discourage the eager man.  There was truthfully only one
thing to do to end this pursuit before it gained any momentum.  He would make
his own strategic move.
    “It would indeed be agreeable to be linked to
your family by marriage,” he began, “but I am afraid that Adalind is already
spoken for.”
    The big, toothy grin immediately fell. “ Spoken for?” Eynsford repeated, shocked. “But… but that