Siege Of the Heart Read Online Free

two fistfuls of Hugh’s surcoat and shoved him back a few paces. Hugh’s heel caught on a half-frozen clod of dirt, and he fell back. Laughter sounded, but a harsh command silenced the Englishmen on the walls.
    Alex loomed over him. “I care not what the stable boy did,” he said through his teeth. “I care only that you have single-handedly threatened our mission here.”
    Hugh’s gaze fell. “I just reacted—”
    “And nearly got us all killed.”
    “It will not happen again.”
    Alex battled back a fresh surge of embarrassment and anger. He took a deep breath. “Do not make me regret taking you into my service.”
    Hugh swallowed and nodded.
    Alex stood back as Hugh struggled to his feet. “You will see to our horses’ stabling personally since you are so concerned.”
    He waited as Hugh slunk off to the stables before returning his attention to the Dumont servant. “Please accept my apology for this unfortunate misunderstanding.”
    The woman gave him a jerky nod. “The boy was more scared than hurt.”
    Perhaps all was not lost. Alex inclined his head. “It is kind of you to say so.”
    She hesitated, then squared her shoulders. “Let me show you where you’ll be staying.”
    As Alex followed her to the main hall, he threw a look over his shoulder. His gaze caught on the gray-haired knight still up on the walls. The Englishman stared after them, an unreadable look on his face.
    Bloodshed had been prevented this day, true, but Alex would need to watch his back.
    * * * *
    Alex set down his eating dagger and looked along the high table. Despite the difficulties earlier, his comrades seemed to be in good spirits, with food, wine, and revelry flowing. If only the rest of the dinner guests were so cheerful. Sharp looks were aimed his way whenever the Englishmen and women thought his attention elsewhere. Distrust imbued the air, as thick as the smoke curling up from the fire in the center of the room. What else could he expect?
    “Alex.” Jerome put a hand on his arm.
    “I am sorry,” Alex said. “I was not attending.”
    “ Non , I gathered not,” Jerome said with a grin. He followed Alex’s gaze over the main hall. “It is an excellent castle.”
    The hall was soundly built, timber reinforced with stone. Horsemen on a hunt leapt across thick tapestries that kept out a great deal of winter’s chill. Fresh rushes graced the floor and crumbs of feasts past had been swept clear from the tables long before the start of the meal. A well-kept home, and goodly-sized. Alex had been given a room in the living quarters located over the hall, while household staff made use of rooms off the kitchens. And the nearby lodgings for Dumont’s men-at-arms were large enough to house the rest of Alex’s men.
    He leaned back as a serving girl set a platter of venison on the table. “ Merci ,” he said, eyeing her closely.
    The girl’s mouth fell open before she simply nodded and gave a short curtsy. He frowned as she backed away from the table and hurried off.
    “What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you are disappointed she did not swoon at your attentions,” Jerome said with a laugh.
    “Nothing of the sort. I was merely seeing if she recognized the word.”
    “Matilde told us the staff only speak English. We’re lucky she knows as much French as she does.” Jerome pointed to the old woman who had greeted them in the courtyard, now bustling around the room, directing servants. “She said her father was a merchant of sorts, and she learned French as a child before coming to serve the Dumonts.”
    “Yes, but is that not odd? I would think Lord Dumont would have retained a few French-speaking servants.”
    Hugh looked up from his cup. Still chastened when he had returned from his duties in the stables, his shield bearer had been quiet for much of the meal. “Are you suggesting they are refusing to talk to us?”
    Alex nodded. “I can understand their defiance, but it bodes ill for our presence in England.”