Virginia Henley Read Online Free Page A

that Jeffrey was only her half brother. Then that thought led to another—that she had three little half sisters at Westminster, all royal princesses. To her dismay, she found herself curtseying to Sir Bryan as she excused herself. Then she murmured under her breath, “Silly girl, he’s addled your brains!”
    Her feet dragged as she walked toward the walled garden and entered through the little ornamental gate. He stood by a rosebush, and she searched desperately for words. But he spoke first.
    “Joanna has told me that you know all.”
    “Joanna?” she echoed. “How can you bear to utter her name?” she asked in an agonized voice.
    “My dear one, Joanna never deceived me in any way. I knew she carried you when we wed. She has been a good wife to me all these years, and the year after you were born, she gave me my son. No man could ask for more.” He said it honestly, and she knew his words were sincere. At last she dared to raise her eyes to his, and she saw love there, clearly written. “You have been a good father to me. I shall always think of you as my father.”
    “And you will always be my daughter,” he said simply. He held his arms wide, and she went into them, not caring that tears slipped down her cheeks. She whispered,“I was afraid to face you, but you are such a good man. You have eased my way, as always.”
    Slightly embarrassed, he quickly changed the subject. “Come, I must bid Edward godspeed. Then we’ll have a closer look at that Arabian. Have you a name in mind?”
    “How about Mecca?” she smiled.
    “Well, it’s certainly a name to live up to.”

Alice handed Roseanna a small parchment. “My lady, a certain knight bade me give you this.”
    Roseanna took it curiously, asking, “Which knight?” But as her eyes fell upon the lines, she knew it was from Sir Bryan.
    Moon, moon shining bright
White and silvered over,
All night long you shed your light
Upon her sleeping bower.
    Oh, that my lady dreams of me
Would be my desire,
Though I know well this cannot be
Yet still my heart’s afire.
    Her pulse quickened. “Very pretty,” she told Alice, trying not to let her excitement show too obviously.
So,
she thought privately,
he feels as I do.
The thought pleased her inordinately. What a lovely day this was! Only yesterday everything had seemed clouded, and nowthis day seemed shining; it felt as if it were a new beginning. And perhaps it was.
    Everyone noticed that Roseanna was preoccupied. Her thoughts had carried her off to some secret place; she answered with sighs when she was spoken to.
    When she took her place for the evening meal in the great hall, which seemed empty after the crowds of yesterday, she found a white rose lying beside her plate. She took it up, cupped its delicate beauty, and buried her nose in its heady perfume. She smiled and felt positively light-headed from its fragrance.
    She raised her eyes to search the hall and like a magnet found the face she sought. She smiled brilliantly; then, overcome with sudden shyness, which was most unlike her, she lowered her eyes to her plate. When the meal was over, from the corner of her eye she saw Sir Bryan leave the hall. She felt a small pang of disappointment that he had not waited until she rose so they could have the excuse of leaving together. However, as she walked from the dining hall through the archway that led to the courtyard, she saw that he awaited her, and her heart lifted dizzily. Her footsteps slowed, and he fell in beside her. They strolled across the courtyard, sending the pigeons and doves flying up to the eaves.
    “Did you mind my sending you a verse?” he asked tentatively.
    “I thought it very pretty,” she began. Then she asked, “Do you have more?”
    He laughed happily. “I’ll send one each day, now that I know you won’t scorn me.” He hesitated, “Lady Roseanna, you are so beautiful. You must have scores of knights pouring their hearts out to you.” It sounded like a question.
    “No,