Here Be Dragons - 1 by Sharon Penman (best ebook reader android TXT) 📗
- Author: Sharon Penman
Book online «Here Be Dragons - 1 by Sharon Penman (best ebook reader android TXT) 📗». Author Sharon Penman
39jnen who sold their swords to the highest bidder. In the past he had permitted, even encouraged, familiarity, dicing and drinking with them, treating them as intimates. But tonight he had no desire for their company*and he found himself resenting the way they were making free with what was his, Lupescaire helping himself to the wine while Martin Algais backed Lucy into a corner, laughing at her ineffectual attempts to fend off his roving hands."I do not recall summoning you," John said irritably, as Lupescaire handed him a brimming wine cup."The talk amongst our men is that the old King is in a bad way. You did see him, my lord; how does he, in truth?"John could not, in fairness, fault them for their concern; their future, like his own, rose and fell with each labored breath Henry drew. But they were servants, companions, handpicked hirelingsnot confidants."Well enough," he said, had his cup halfway to his mouth when Lucy screamed.His hand jerked, and wine splashed onto the bed, splattered his tunic. John jumped to his feet with an oath. "Damn your soul, Martin, look at this!" He stared down at the wine spill in disgust, then turned to glare at Algais."Must you ever have your hand up a woman's skirts? If you want to tumble a wench, you can damned well do it someplace else than in my chamber. Let that girl be, and get a servant up here to change these bedcovers."But Algais did not move. Holding the weeping girl with one hand, with the other he reached for the neck of her gown, jerked until the material tore, baring her breasts."Did you not hear me?" John demanded, astonished. "I told you to let the girl alone.""Why?" Algais sounded sullen, defiant. "We've shared women before; why not now?"Lupescaire put his wine cup down, eyes suddenly aglitter, cutting from John toAlgais and back again. John's mouth went dry; never had either of them dared to defy him before. "Because I say so, Martin. You take what I choose to give you, no more and no less."Algais had very pale eyes, an unblinking, feral stare. But after a few frozen breaths, he loosened his hold on Lucy. "You want me to ask? Then I'm asking. Ihave taken a fancy to this one; let me have her for an hour."It would be so easy to agree, a face-saving solution for them both, and John was very tempted; he'd never had a stomach for confrontation. But he knew better, knew it had to be all or nothing with a man like Martin Algais."No," he said.
40f41Algais's fingers clenched, dug into Lucy's upper arm, and she sobbed anew. But then he pushed her away.John's breathing slowed, steadied. "Go down to the great hall," he said. "Send a servant up to me. You need not come back after. I've no use for you tonight."He'd won. They did as he bade, if not docile, at least unrebelling. John moved to the table, poured the last of the wine with a shaking hand. He knew them for what they were, his pet wolves, but he'd never thought they might turn on him. He knew why, of course. For the same reason that Geoffrey had suddenly dared to voice his dislike. The scent of blood was in the air.Lucy was still sobbing, and he snapped, "Will you stop your whimpering, girl?You were not hurt, after all!" But as he turned toward her, he saw that was not true. There was an angry red welt upon her left breast; there would soon be an exceedingly ugly bruise."Do not cry, lass," he said, more gently, and then she was on her knees before him, clinging to his legs, weeping incoherently. It was some moments before he could make sense of her sobbing, before he realized that she was feverishly, hysterically
Comments (0)