Arial Burnz [Bonded By Blood Midnight Conquest (epub)

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.“Davina.” Her mother Lilias pressed a hand to Davina’s arm, then gestured toward a tent in the distance.“Myrna and I will be at that tent.I mean to get your father a gift before he and your brother return.Stay close to Rosselyn and do not wander off.”“Aye, M’ma.” Watching her mother and Myrna join arms and stroll off, Davina clenched her jaw to contain her excitement.Rosselyn stood with her mouth agape.Davina cleared her throat.“If you wish to stand here and stare after our mothers, then you will do so by yourself.I, for one, am not going to miss out on this rare opportunity to explore my freedom.” Davina turned and scampered in the opposite direction to put some distance between her and her mother.Rosselyn scurried to catch up, and linked arms with Davina.“As your handmaid and entrusted guardian, need I remind you she said not to wander off?”“Can you believe she left us to explore?” Giddiness bubbled up inside Davina and giggles spurted through her hands as she covered her mouth.“Do you not get enough exploring while you visit with your brother at court?” Rosselyn tucked a stray, chestnut curl under her coif.“Bah!” Davina scoffed, imitating her brother’s favored exclamation.“Court is a horrible place to be, I have learned.The women backbite each other, supposedly friends, and all they ever talk about is the tossing of skirts and secret meetings with bonnie lads in the garden.” Heat rose to Davina’s face at her bold proclamation.Rosselyn giggled.“Davina Stewart, you’re blushing! And as you should! Your mother would take a strap to you if she heard you say such things.”“At court, M’ma keeps me close at hand, so nay, I don’t explore much there, either.I shall revel in my freedom this night!” Davina laughed.The glee vanished over the realization of how she must sound.“Oh, don’t misunderstand me.I adore M’ma, but…”“Aye, she hardly ever allows you out of her reach, let alone her sight.” Rosselyn was two years older than Davina’s thirteen and had grown up in their household.Naturally, she fell into the role of Davina’s handmaid since her mother, Myrna, was Lilias’s handmaid.Though Rosselyn served her station well, Davina loved the older girl more like a sister.Borrowing her mother’s idea, Davina dragged Rosselyn along to peruse the wares of the tents, searching to buy gifts for her family.A particularly fine boot dagger caught her eye.The Gypsy pulled the small blade from the sheath.“A splendid blade for a lady such as yourself,” he pressured.“Oh, ‘tis not for me, but for my brother,” Davina countered.“Ah, a fine weapon to tuck into his boot! See the silver inlaid designs down the blade?”“‘Tis truly silver?” Davina lifted the boot dagger and studied the decorative, Celtic designs swirling down the narrow blade.“Aye! A work of art.” When he told her the price, she squirmed.“Real silver, I promise.”She handed the blade back, but the silversmith wouldn’t take it.He glanced around, and then conspiratorially whispered a lower price.Not much lower, but enough.Davina surrendered her coin.Rosselyn tugged on Davina’s sleeve.“Look, Davina,” she said pointing to an aging woman.The Gypsy had a long silver braid and a scarlet scarf covering her head.The woman beckoned to them.She sat beside a canvas tent painted with an impressive scene of a fair-haired woman sitting behind a table displaying a spread of tablets.Stars, moons and other strange symbols Davina didn’t recognize floated around the woman’s cascading blonde hair.“What are her services, do you suppose?” Davina whispered in awe.Rosselyn glanced across the circle of tents and wagons toward their mothers.Lilias and Myrna stood before an array of ribbons draped over the arms of a man.Grabbing Davina’s hand, a wide grin spread on Rosselyn’s thin lips and a sparkle of mischief touched her hazel eyes.“Come!”Davina struggled to keep up as Rosselyn tugged at her hand, and they ran until they stood breathless before the Gypsy woman.“Eager to have your fortune told, I see,” the Gypsy chimed in her lovely French accent, and waved a wrinkled hand toward the tent flap.“Only one at a time, s’il vous plaît.”“You go first, Roz,” Davina encouraged.Rosselyn stepped toward the tent opening, and then stopped.Turning back she glanced between Davina and the Gypsy.“She is not to go anywhere.” Diverting her eyes back to Davina, she pointed a scolding finger.“You stay right here, you understand? Your mother will have my head on a pike if you wander off without me.”The woman grasped Davina’s hand and rubbed it affectionately with her warm touch.“Fear not, mademoiselle, I will guard her with my life as we share some tea.” Ushering Davina to a small stool beside the fire, Rosselyn seemed content with this arrangement and rushed into the tent, anxious for her session.“You enjoy tea, oui?” The woman glanced at Davina’s palm.“I am Amice.”“My name is Davina,” she answered in French [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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