Free The Deed by Lynsay Sands

appeared to be in his Great Hall,
     snoring loudly enough to raise the roof. It seemed everyone had fully enjoyed his wedding
     celebrations. Except him, of course. Which only managed to irritate him more. They had
     probably gone through a lake of ale to drink themselves into the stupors they were all
     enjoying on the Great Hall floor. His ale and his Great Hall floor.
    Anger rising with each thought crossing his mind, Amaury strode back into the cluttered
     hall, perched his hands on his hips, spread his feet, and bellowed, Where is my wife?! The
     only response he got for his trouble was the stirring of one or two of the drunken louts
     at his feet. Furious now, Amaury marched straight out of the castle again. Gathering a
     pail along the way, he strode to the stables and filled it with water from the trough for
     the horses, then returned to the Great Hall.
    While his first bellow had not garnered much attention, his second one, accompanied by a
     wash of water from the pail that he splashed across the floors occupants in a wide arc,
     certainly reaped more attention.
    The women woke up with squeals of protest and shock, the men with curses as they grabbed
     for their swords. Amaury waited until the hall had fallen back into near silence as
     everyone realized who had so rudely awakened them. Then he spoke in a deadly quiet voice.
     Now, if yer all ready to listen. I would know where my wife has got to!
    The silence that met his words was emphasized by blinks of surprise that told him what he
     should have already known by their unconscious conditions. None of these people knew where
     his wife had gone.
    Sighing, he frowned slightly. Well, know any of you of something she does, or a place she
     goes every morning?
    Mass.
    It was the plain-faced Maude who spoke the word, and Amaury turned to her gratefully as he
     recalled that she was his wifes maid. He had opened his mouth to respond to that when a
     man to the side commented, Aye, but Father Gumpter is away just now. There will be no Mass.
    Maude shrugged. The Bishop could hold one.
    Nay. Amaury shook his head before they could carry the conversation further. I checked the
     church. She is not there. Neither is the bishop, he added with a frown, his gaze now
     moving over the sea of faces in search of that good mans visage. He wasnt there, of
     course. It seemed no one he sought was apt to be present this morning. For instance, Blake
     was missing as well. Amaury had noted that while searching for his wife, more than aware
     that the man was inordinately attractive to women. Though he refused to admit to himself
     the suspicions that that knowledge raised.
    He was grateful he never voiced the suspicions in his head, even to himself, when Blake
     suddenly crawled out from beneath the long table they had all been seated at the night
     before, a buxom blonde at his heels.
    Getting to his feet, his friend straightened his clothes with a show of great dignity,
     then aided his companion to her feet before turning to face Amaury. Ah, awake I see,
     friend, he called cheerfully, crossing the room as if nothing at all were amiss and Lord
     Amaury came bellowing into rooms every morning splashing water everywhere.
    My wife is missing.
    Blake raised his eyes at that announcement, and glanced about the room as if expecting an
     answer there before suggesting, Mayhap she is at
    She is not at the chapel. I checked there.
    Ah, well... He thought quickly. Where is her cousin?
    Amaurys eyes widened at that, for he had not thought to look for her cousin. Now he
     scanned the crowd quickly. Where is Rolfe?
    He frowned at the congregated people so hard that it took a moment for a pretty young
     serving girl to find the courage to step forward and murmur her answer.
    I cannot hear ye! Amaury roared irritably, making the poor girl jump.
    Swallowing, she took another hesitant step forward and cleared her voice before speaking a
     bit louder. He slept near