Connie Mason Read Online Free

seem troubled, my child.”
    Startled, Mariah looked up at Father Francis, the resident priest. “I didn’t hear you, Father.” She concentrated on her clasped hands, embarrassed to be caught thinking impure thoughts in a holy place.
    “You were lost in prayer, my lady.” He gazed at her, as if he himself were deeply troubled.
    Father Francis had come to Mildenhall many years ago; he was here when she had arrived to live with Edmond. Though he was old and not as spry as he used tobe, his keen intelligence and sharp eyes missed naught that went on at Mildenhall.
    “I just spoke with Lord Edmond, Lady Mariah.”
    Mariah’s attention sharpened. She watched him with trepidation as he began to pace back and forth in front of her. “Is something wrong, Father?”
    “Lord Edmond told me about the stranger Edwina is nursing back to health.”
    “What did he say?”
Surely Edmond didn’t tell him what he wants me to do, did he?
    “We discussed the possibility of Lord Edmond’s dying without an heir, and what it would mean to you.”
    She clutched her throat. “Dear Lord, what did he tell you?”
    The priest swung around, his brown robes swirling about his skinny legs. “Everything.”
    She hid her face in her hands. “Oh, no. You must forgive Edmond! He is worried about me and Mildenhall. I did not for one moment countenance committing such a grave sin.”
    Father Francis continued his pacing. “Edmond is right about many things. Osgood is a cruel man. Our people will not fare well under his guidance.” He whirled to face her. “Mildenhall will fall into ruin.”
    He fell to his knees beside Mariah. “God forgive me,” he implored. “Never have I been so challenged in my faith. What Edmond suggests is a sin, yet I cannot condemn his reasoning or fault his judgment, for it is sound. Mildenhall needs an heir to survive, and Edmond cannot give you one.”
    Mariah leapt to her feet. “I must go.”
    “I will pray on this dilemma,” Father Francis said, waving her off.
    Mariah all but ran out the door. Had the world gone mad? How could a man of God condone adultery? Yet . . . yet, the priest had all but encouraged her to seduce the nameless man who had come to them. A laugh caught in her throat. As if she knew how to seduce a man. Her steps slowed. Would he welcome her attention should she offer it?
    Edwina hailed Mariah in the great hall. Mariah stopped and waited for the healer. “What is it, Edwina? Is there a problem with your patient?”
    “Nay, he is progressing well, milady. I just left him. He asked about you. He wanted to know how your husband had died.”
    “What did you tell him?”
    “Naught. ’Tis for you to decide whether or not you will make the sacrifice for Mildenhall.”
    “Aye, it
is
my decision, my sacrifice,” Mariah agreed. She walked away, her mind in turmoil. Without realizing where she was headed, she found herself climbing the stairs to the solar and entering the injured man’s chamber.
    Falcon was restless. He had asked Edwina for a looking glass. She had brought him a silver tray, polished to a high sheen. He had gazed upon his face for the first time and seen a stranger—a man with no past and no future.
    Earlier today, a manservant had scraped the hair from Falcon’s face. He had hoped he would recognize his face without hair. A familiar feature, mayhap. He had seen naught but a man with odd golden eyes, dark hair, twin slashes of black eyebrows and generous lips. Though hisnose was somewhat long, the dimple in his chin softened his harsh features.
    He had found a scar above his left eyebrow and another to the right of the dimple. And he didn’t remember how he’d come by either of them! Earlier he had discovered scars on his left thigh and right knee. The only thing he could deduce from his findings was that he was a fighting man, which would also account for his muscular build.
    Falcon had never felt more alone or desperate, or at least he thought he hadn’t. And then