Guardians of the Keep: Book Two of the Bridge of D'Arnath Read Online Free Page B

But I would
    have wagered my life on it. “If Tomas had been allowed to think on his own, he would have known that
    I’d never take such a risk lightly. He might have tried to understand what I told him about my husband
    and his people. Whatever else, I think he believed me at the end. Will you summon the boy?”
    Philomena tossed the lock of hair onto her coverlet and picked up her mirror, first polishing it with a
    lace handkerchief and then observing her pretty face twisted into a flirtatious pout. “He might not come.
    He was so much nicer when he was small and the nurse would bring him to us for an hour in the evening.
    We would dandle him about and then send him off to bed. Now he says such awful things when he’s
    angry, and he’s angry so often and for no reason.” She pursed her lips, pinched her cheeks, and
    smoothed the skin over her brows, but she also dispatched one of the maids to find the young duke and
    tell him his mama most urgently requested him to wait on her.
    Philomena continued her self-absorbed activities while we waited. I wandered to the window, unsure
    of how to broach the subject of the rents. Managing Philomena would be a full-time study. I was
    delighted that I didn’t have to cope with her for more than a day.
    The expansive view from the window behind the heavy draperies was serenely beautiful. The southern
    face of Comigor fronted wheat fields, a golden ocean that lapped at the stone walls and stretched into the
    midday haze as far as I could see to east and south.
    A glance over my shoulder confirmed that the hissing sound was Philomena’s aunt whispering
    vehemently in the duchess’s ear. Philomena was not so circumspect with her replies. “She was not the
    sorcerer. She was only married to one—” When she found my eye on her, the old woman paled and
    stepped away from the bed. Astonishing how many people believed that marrying a sorcerer must surely
    imbue a woman with magical powers of her own. I had often wished that to be the case. “—and he’s
    long dead.”
    More time passed. Philomena tapped her teeth with the corner of the silver mirror. “I think you should
    give the ring to me,” she said abruptly.
    I perched on the narrow window seat, where I could both enjoy the prospect and keep an eye on the
    bedchamber. “I’ll give it only to its proper owner.”
    “Why would you care who has it? He’s too young to wear it, and I can take it from him as soon as
    you leave.”
    “If I give it to him, and you take it away, then he will know who has it and who does not. There’ll be
    no misunderstanding.” I trusted Philomena no further than I could see her.
    Philomena sulked until the boy strode into the room. “Gerick, my darling boy. Have you come to
    brighten your poor mama’s day?”
    Philomena didn’t wait for an answer, and the boy didn’t seem inclined to provide one. I didn’t think
    his answer would be to his mother’s liking anyway. His thin face was contemptuous and aloof, and I
    would have thought he cared about nothing in the world, except that he so studiously avoided looking at
    me. Though I stood in a direct line with the door, he proceeded directly to his mother’s bedside and
    allowed her to peck him on the cheek.
    “Gerick, this woman has brought you something that belongs to you. She insists on giving it directly to
    you, as is her right, but Mama must keep it for you until you come of age.”
    The boy turned to me and bowed politely, his eyes devoid of emotion, even curiosity. I waited for
    Philomena to make a proper introduction, but she said nothing more. So I motioned for the boy to join
    me on a settle padded with thin red velvet cushions. He positioned himself, stiff as a starched collar, in the
    farthest corner of the bench.
    “I was with your father when he died,” I said. The boy’s eyes grew large, their chilly disdain melted in
    an instant. “I want to tell you something of that day. . . .”
    I had prepared carefully what I