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The other man turned, a look of satisfaction on his face as the boar crashed onto its side "Lord of Gladwythe, you speak of? Verily, the man has an oddness about him Mayhap ’tis because of his parents’ death…findin’ them like that would have to touch anyone’s mind"

"What of his parents’ death?"

Bartholo fro Dirick his full attention now that the hunt was over "He was naught more than a boy when his papa and mama jumped to their death from a tower at Gladwythe"

"He found the hands it looked, and landed thusly in the bailey at Gladwythe"

Dirick stared at hi down his back The pieces slipped into place and he felt the blood drain frodon, are you well?" asked Bartholoo" Dirick wheeled Nick around, his heart sla in his chest He drove his heels into Nick’s sides, leaning forward over the stallion’s neck, urging the horse on "Tell the king I’ve found him!" he shouted over his shoulder as horse and h the brush

He felt the saddle slip as Nick leapt over a tree trunk, and before he could think, its girth loosened, then gave way and suddenly, he was falling, falling

His last thought before he hit the ground was that he had been sabotaged

Maris opened the heavy gold box and gasped, sinking onto her bed

"’Tis beauteous!" she exclaiold links froled randomly from the necklet that would wrap around her neck at least thrice Each jeas set in an ornate, filigreed hasp, each one different and a work of art in its own right

"’Tis a wondrous bride’s gift," said Madelyne with a twinkle in her eye "Lord Dirick is a generous groom"

"Aye" Maris looked down at the small chest that rested in her lap The box itself was a lovely gift, and along with the bejeweled necklet it held bespoke of the value Dirick placed upon his bride She could not hold back a smile of pure joy Mayhap he did care for her as old rope back into the chest Delivered by one of her own olden ribbon and sprigs of rosemary, lemon verbena, and violets Maris sniffed the s with the herbs, on top of the necklet, and closed the chest Her stoht, she would lie with Dirick, would feel his lips and hands over her body, would mate with him and feel his skin next to hers, would become his Anticipation sent a shiver down her spine

Today, she would one, and in their place was co to Dirick, with Dirick, and would live with him, bear his children and rule their lands at his side Maris took a deep breath, hardly able to credit the fact that she elcoht against it for so long

An urgent knocking on the door drew her fro, and Maris and the other ladies watched expectantly as a maidservant went to answer it

"My Lady Maris," Michael d’Arcy nearly burst into the room when the door opened "There has been an accident! ’Tis your betrothed husband!"

Maris jumped froed in her throat, and she was di a cloak around her shoulders

Michael shook his head soberly "Maris, I do not know They are su the physicians to hi the hunt They are afraid to move him You must come withto quiet the tension and fear thruh her veins "I must fetch the medicines from my chamber," she told Michael as they started down the hall

"Nay, there is no time He has called for you to come to his side, and ’tis best that you come with me now…Maris, ’tis no small hurt, and he wishes to speak with you"

The fear in her rew and she found herself hardly able to breathe To lose love so soon after finding it would beso closely upon the heels of her father’s death

Maris clenched her fist in the folds of her skirt as she was propelled along by Michael’s very firrip She would not think about that possibility She would not

At the stables, she was faintly surprised to find Hickory saddled and ready, with Victor holding the reins "Co her into the saddle

Michael ed Maris and Victor ahead of hih the entryway, over the drawbridge, and away froed from a corner of the bailey just after Maris and her escort passed by His face was creased with concern as he hurried into the stable and selected a horse under the watchful eye of thein the direction in which she’d disappeared

At last, he was given the reins and he vaulted into the saddle With a loud "Hah!" he whipped the stallion and thundered through the bailey and across the drawbridge, following the path of the two men and the woman he loved

Dirick forced his eyes open fro aura There was soent…

Voices reached his ears, as if froht heand curled in the low part of his back<ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>