The Everlasting Covenant Read Online Free Page A

sister. Minerva ’ s snores were uninterrupted and Divina was peacefully dreaming of some knight who had flirted with her at the feast. Anne let her memories turn into dreams as she drifted off to sleep, the sun already struggling to rise as she laid down her head. This tournament was the finest thing God could give her, for five days would be spent here. And if she were clever and careful, each night she could spend precious moments in Dylan ’ s arms.
    Her eyes had barely closed when she was rudely jostled. “ Anne, wake up. Wake up. ” The snappish demands could come only from her mother, and Anne opened her eyes slowly, the early morning light searing.
    “ Madam? ” she questioned sleepily, confused. “ Is it .. . have I missed mass? ”
    “ No, silly wench, it is early. Dress yourself carefully and come to my chamber. Hurry now. ”
    Anne sat up unsteadily. “ Is something amiss? Is there some trouble? ”
    Marcella ’ s brow was furrowed unhappily as she looked at her daughter, but her eyes were alive with intense concentration. Anne had seen this look in her mother ’ s eyes before, for Marcella was adept at plotting. The fear that she was caught and in trouble fled while she wondered at her mother ’ s new conspiracy and how it could possibly include her.
    “ Naught amiss for you, lass. It seems you ’ ve caught the eye of one or two contestants in the lists and it happens a man of some wealth who is a friend to the Duke of York is interested in you. ”
    “ Me? But -- ”
    “ I have already confirmed that it is not Divina he seeks. Hurry now. He will come to our chamber this morn and you will meet him. ”
    Anne ’ s eyes grew round. “ Madam? ”
    Marcella rose above her pallet, her glittering eyes bearing down on her daughter, her smile strained. Anne tried to un derstand the expression. She assumed that the prospect of a marriage to this friend of the duke ’ s pleased Marcella, but that the betrothed would be Anne and not Divina did not. “ I said, dress yourself prettily. Your father has a suitor for you to meet. ”
    “ But madam, the convent! The sisters! ”
    “ It appears you will be more useful as a bride. Now hurry. And do not be impudent. If all goes well, you will soon be married, and our family will profit by the match. ”
     

 
     
     
    Chapter Two
     
    Ferris Gifford looked as though he had been dragged too early from his rest by the same impatient demands that had aroused Anne. Dark circles from a night of high revelry hung under his eyes and he slouched in his chair with a horn of cool ale to ease his head. He straightened slightly as Anne entered, and as he looked at his youngest child his eyes began to glow. He patted the stool beside him, and with a nervous smile she perched there.
    “ Could you have chosen no better gown? ” Marcella ques tioned.
    Anne looked down at the mauve velvet. A trousseau is not sewn for a girl preparing to enter the cloister, and the dress was a year old and tight-fitting. Her hem was too high and her breasts strained at the bodice. The sleeves rose above her wrists. “ It is one of my best, madam, ” she said quietly.
    “ Could you have used one of Divina ’ s, then? ”
    “ But, madam, you told me never to touch her things. And she does not share them freely. ” A girl destined to the convent did not need fancy clothes, but a girl in search of a husband required a more elaborate wardrobe. Anne ’ s wardrobe consisted of old dresses handed down from her sister and taken in to fit, for Divina was much larger; a new gown was rare.
    “ Well, ” Marcella huffed, “ in this instance -- ”
    “ Leave the lass be, ” Ferris gruffly ordered. “ There is no more beautiful woman in all the world, as the Earl of Ayliffe ’ s notice will attest. ”
    “ The Earl of Ayliffe? ” Anne whispered, looking at her father.
    Marcella was busily searching through her coffer, her back to her husband and daughter, and Ferris ’ s words were soft and