When Love Awaits Read Online Free PDF Page B

do us honor, my lord,” Leonie said coldly. “Seat yourselves by the fire and I will see to refreshment.”
    William was confused by her icy manner. “What is amiss, dear heart? You are not pleased with your husband?”
    The endearment sent a stab through Leonie’s heart, but shock followed that. “Husband?”
    “You play, Leonie,” Judith interjected. “You know your father means the man you will marry on the morrow.”
    “What?”
    “Do not feign innocence, Leonie,” Judith replied wearily. “The banns have been posted. The marriageis by the king’s order. You know your father sent you notice as soon as the king’s messenger came.” She turned to her husband. “Is that not so, William?” William played right into the performance by looking thoroughly bewildered. “Do not say you forgot to send word to her! The poor girl has only this day to prepare! Oh, William, how could you forget such a thing!”
    Sir Guibert was as shocked as Leonie, but he couldn’t allow his mind to whirl, as Leonie’s was doing. Guibert’s life would change now, just as hers would. Her husband would be her lord and master. Guibert and Leonie’s other vassals would be asked to renew their oath to her at the wedding, an act that signified their accepting her husband. There was no question of whether Guibert would renew his oath to Leonie. Whether he approved her husband or not, he could never forsake her. But her other vassals might choose to leave her.
    “Who is my lady’s husband?” Guibert asked, and Judith smiled, feeling the worst was over. “You will be pleased to know that he is your neighbor, the new lord of Kempston.”
    In the shocked silence that followed, Guibert looked at Leonie, to see all the color leaving her face. She said not a word. He knew why. She could not refuse the king’s will, no matter how she felt about it. And it was time she married, Guibert thought. He had long thought so. She would get used to the match. She would have to.
    Leonie wordlessly turned and fled the hall. Closing herself in her room, she threw herself on her bed and sobbed tears of self-pity. Her father felt so little for her that he could wait to tell her of her wedding until the day before it was to happen. Did he care nothingfor her? What had become of the loving man who had been a real father once?
    She finally remembered that she was not alone and looked around. Her wide-eyed maids had never seen her cry before. Roughly, she wiped her face, angry that she had given in to emotions so childishly. Anger was a boon, bringing her spirit back.
    She sent the maids to the kitchen with orders about dinner, then sat by her hearth, glad to be alone to think. She knew why the king was interfering in her life. He wasn’t concerned over her unmarried state. His interference had been requested by the Black Wolf. She was certain of that, but she could not guess what the man wanted of her.
    It had been nearly a month since the burning of the woodcutter’s hut, and Leonie had ordered that no more of her people venture onto Crewel land. The man’s troubles had ceased, hadn’t they? If they had not, she might think that he wanted to marry her in order to end those troubles. But since there had been peace for a month, that could not be his reason. It was true she had a handsome dowry, but most alliances were made for the aid they would bring as well as for money, and her father’s aid could not be counted on. So that was not the Black Wolf’s reason. And the lord of Kempston had never seen her, so there was no reason to be found there either. Why did he want her…?
    Leonie gasped as Alain Montigny’s words came back to her. “I must leave. I have heard enough about the Black Wolf to know I cannot stay and resist his taking possession of my land. He would kill me. He would not care that I am innocent of the crimes he believes me guilty of.”
    “What crimes?” Leonie had asked, frantic.
    “What matter the crimes!” Alain cried. “The