WhatLiesBeneath Read Online Free PDF

and wrote about their romantic liaison in a
secret diary, which was later made public as a means of humiliation when her
father discovered the illicit relationship. Instead, the book inspired scores
of other young women to seek out passionate affairs with men below their social
stratum.” Fond memories made Amanda smile. “It was the first piece of historic
literature I ever read. Because Honoria’s father had so many copies made, it
isn’t worth as much as other volumes from that period.”
    “I wasn’t aware books were mass-produced in the Middle
Ages,” Will said.
    “Oh they weren’t. According to historians, Honoria’s father
was so incensed at his daughter’s promiscuity that he spent most of his fortune
having the original diary copied by hand. He then distributed those books as a
warning to other fathers and daughters.”
    “Whatever happened to the young woman and her lover?”
    “Later editions of the book include an epilogue that may or
may not be true. Honoria was banished to a convent, and the peasant was flogged
almost to death and banished from the village. A sympathetic band of minstrels
rescued him. A year later, Honoria disappeared from the convent. Although they
were never seen again, troubadours of the day performed a wildly popular song
about a similar pair of desperate lovers ‘borne north on the wings of a dove’.”
Amanda sighed. “Given the enormous pressure on social rankings and disparity
between the classes during that period, it’s doubtful they lived happily ever
after.”
    “A blinkered ending like that hardly makes it sound like a
fairy tale,” Will said.
    “Blinkered? What does that mean?”
    “Narrow-minded.” He grinned. “Even a bloke like me knows
true love is supposed to overcome everything. Too bad Honoria and her fella
weren’t born a few centuries later. No one would bat an eye at them today.”
    Amanda thought of Jericho, with his ponytail, body art and
biker wardrobe. Would her colleagues react as innocuously as Will implied if,
by some quirk of fate, she struck up a relationship with him? As compelling as
she found the tattoo artist, she doubted even her friends and family would have
trouble not reacting to his unconventional livelihood and appearance.
    She imagined the reaction would be much the same if she
showed up on the back of his Harley at some bar on the outskirts of town where
ink and leather were de rigueur .
    “There’s no way of knowing with certainty how the story
ended,” Amanda said. “Still, Honoria’s account of the affair is one of the most
lyrical and poignant confessions I’ve ever read. It’s the kind of love every
young girl dreams of experiencing.”
    “Ah, the dreamy-eyed romantic reveals herself,” Will teased.
“Have you discovered such a passion yet?”
    Remembering the instinctive way her body and mind reacted to
Jericho, an embarrassed flush heated her cheeks and she laughed
self-consciously. “You make me sound like a naïve young schoolgirl. As much as
I want to be carried away by desire, I believe there has to be more than
passion for a relationship to succeed.”
    Her comment seemed to pique Will’s interest, for his gaze
intensified. “And what would that entail?”
    She thought of Jericho and her compulsive attraction to him.
Instantly her nipples pebbled and her belly flip-flopped. “Chemistry is
important but you also need compatibility, shared values, common interests and
similar goals in life. I’m not willing to give up my career or having a family
one day, no matter how great the sex is.”
    “Then you’d better hold out for a gentleman who can provide
all three.” Will looked pleased. “I’m all for working mums.”
    There was no misunderstanding his pointed remark, but it was
more unsettling than flattering. Amanda genuinely liked the Brit. If graphic
images of Jericho weren’t glued to the back of her eyelids, maybe she wouldn’t
feel so conflicted.
    She reminded herself tonight’s outing with