Unending Love Read Online Free Page B

the
bustle.  There was a crowd of people in the ward, so much so that she truly had
no idea what her sister was referring to.
    “What is it?” she asked. “What is your trouble?”
    Adalind’s gaze lingered on the bailey and a [J5]   certain point of reference before gathering her
skirts and dashing inside.  Confused, perhaps even bewildered,Willow followed.
     
    ***
     
    “What did you say his name was?” David asked.
    Adalind’s expression suggested that she had a
sour stomach. “Eynsford du Lesseps,” she said. “He is the son of Baron
Wallingford of Preston Castle in Oxfordshire. Papa, I want nothing to do with
him. Please send him away.”
    David eyed his granddaughter, who looked rather
distressed.  She had come charging in to the great hall of Canterbury not a
minute before, upset about something. Now David was coming to understand what
had her so worked up. Another suitor. He snapped his fingers at the
nearest servant and ordered the entry door bolted until he could get to the bottom
of things.  The servant went on the run.
    “What about this man, Addie?” he asked. “What do
you know about him?”
    She shook her head, frustrated. “He is not
unkind,” she said, “but he is a bore. Papa, he is a horrid bore and he plays a citole worse than anyone I have ever heard. All he wants to do is sing sonnets to me.
And his voice; terrible! I will go mad if you allow him to remain here, I
surely will.”
    “The man is an entertainer?”
    She shook her head again. “Nay,” she replied, increasingly
agitated. “He is a knight, but he is a very unaccomplished one. All he wants to
do is sing songs and give recitations to anyone who will listen. I have seen
him get up in front of a room full of people and declare his interest in me. 
It was the most humiliating moment of my life.”
    David fought off the urge to grin.  He could see
that Adalind was sincerely distressed.  Moving from his position near the
hearth where he was trying to warm his hands in the cold early morning hour, he
came over to the feasting table where his granddaughters were sitting on a
well-worn bench.  He sat between her and Willow.
    “I will not allow anyone to remain if you do not
wish it,” he said quietly. “But I know Baron Wallingford. He is an ally to both
me and your Uncle Christopher.  Before I chase his son away with nary an
explanation, I should at least be hospitable to the man. I do not want it
getting back to the father that I was rude. Can you understand that?”
    Adalind was looking at her hands. Miserably, she
nodded and David put his arm around her shoulders, kissing her on the head.
    “At least allow me to sup with him tonight and
then I will send the man on his way tomorrow,” he said. “You do not even have
to come to the meal if you do not want to. You can stay to your rooms until he
is gone.”
    Adalind’s head shot up, her green eyes full of
gratitude. “Oh, thank you, Papa,” she said, hugging him tightly. “Thank
you so much.”
    David smiled at her, patting her cheek as he
stood up from the bench. “You and your sister can sup in your chamber tonight,”
he said. “But I should probably go outside and greet the son of an ally. If I
am going to run the man off tomorrow, then I should at least be cordial to him today.”
    Adalind breathed a sigh of relief. She was about
to reply when there was a loud knocking at the entry to the keep. In fact, it
was a heavy banging that threatened to knock the door down. Thinking it was
Eynsford in all of his minstrel glory, Adalind made a face but David was
obliged to answer it, especially now that he knew the situation.  He had the
hovering servant lift the heavy iron bolt and shove it out of the way.  The big
door creaked open.
    Maddoc was standing in the doorway.  Dressed in
mail, a heavy tunic, heavy gloves, and enormous leather boots, he appeared
every inch the intimidating and warring knight. Maddoc simply had that look
about him, as if a single glance