Read Online Coins and Daggers by Patrice Hannah - Free Book Online Page B

felon but a felon.” Ulric arched a nonchalant brow, studying his
prospective moves. “And you’ve noticed?”
    “ You mean, you haven’t?” Same
pawn progressed on-wards.
    Ulric shook his head and fingered the head
of his black knight. “I admit, the wench looks rather...clean.”
    “And a bit easy on the eyes too.”
    Ulric glanced up abruptly to meet Edwin’s
penetrating gaze. His friend was trifling with him and he knew it.
Tempering the sudden possessiveness that was coursing in his blood,
he landed his knight two places up and one to the left, blocking
Edwin’s chance at taking his silly pawn. “A pretty little thief,
then.”
    “If I weren’t betrothed, I’d take a chance
at her.”
    Ulric almost
spat crumbs all over his desk. “You are not betrothed and you most
assuredly will not seek favors from my
felon.”
    Edwin smiled and leaned back in his seat,
hands entwined behind his head as his smirk developed into a
full-blown grin. One bearing keen similarities to that of a cat who
had just found the cream pot.
    “ Ah. So now she’s your
felon.”
    “I am officially calling it so.” Ulric eyed
his friend and then returned his gaze to the game. Edwin was
wandering on a path that he had no right to and that was what
concerned Ulric the most. While Edwin had always been a sensible
fellow, his seldom need to push boundaries had never provoked Ulric
until now. “Now, shall we return to the game?”
    Edwin obliged, leaning forward and studying
his pieces. “More than happy to, dear friend. But I must warn you
as I’ve warned you before, you are up for a bitter loss.”
    Forty-five minutes later Ulric won the game,
with a tray empty of biscuits and a mere rook guarding his
king.

Nine
     
     
    “ I may have
tossed about a bit in bed last night,” Ryia said, eyeing her lady’s
maid sheepishly. “It’s all in knots, I fear.”
    “No worries, milady. My own had been quite a
work this morn as well.”
    As if with relief, Lady Ryia’s shoulders
fell from their tensed state and a giggle surfaced from her. “Dear
God, you are too comforting.”
    Behind her, her lady’s maid smiled as she
gently untangled a blue ribbon from the end of Her Ladyship’s
unraveling single plait. Combing her fingers through the braid,
Audelia then began brushing through it, ends first. Her Ladyship
had lovely hair, much like that of a dear friend. Much like
Jocelyn’s, to be exact. A friend Audelia had not seen in many
months but still wished to perhaps meet with again if God were to
permit it. Such desires, as she well knew, were not practical at
all...for she’d heard that Jocelyn Bardeen had been wed off to the
nephew of her own benefactor only a week after Audelia had left
Madame de Lucci’s clutches. Finding her friend’s home was quite
easy but speaking with her would be the difficult task, indeed.
Plus, it would be at the risk of exposing herself lest the Madame
was searching for her.
    As she ran the brush through Her Ladyship’s
hair one last time, Audelia swallowed her own self-pity and prayed
silently that Jocelyn was alright.
    “Any suggestions on your hair-do, milady?”
she almost choked out.
    Lady Ryia shifted on the stool at her vanity
and scrunched up her pretty face in thought. “I’d forgotten how
casual it can be here at Chastelle Manor. And I daresay, I’d loved
that very much as a girl. Perhaps a single braid will do, don’t you
think?”
    Audelia’s brows rose with surprise. “A-Are
you certain, milady?”
    “Quite certain.” Lady Ryia smiled at her
through the looking-glass. “I hope you hadn’t thought of me as a
pompous lady who had not a clue of how to relax and tone things
down a bit.”
    Laughter bubbled at the corner of Audelia’s
lips. “Not at all.”
    “Good. But do tell me...”
    “Milady?”
    Audelia felt Lady Ryia’s fingers close over
hers suddenly, stilling her on the course of beginning the plait.
Their gazes clashed unwaveringly in the looking glass. “What had
you