Free Lord of Midnight by Jo Beverley

can read everything for herself.”
    Nils went over to present them. “Lady, you have here the king’s commands for you and for this place, Lord Renald’s right of possession, and the betrothal agreement. The latter requires only the bride’s signature and that of witnesses.”
    “How presumptuous.”
    Lord Renald answered that. “The king has a right to presume obedience, Lady Claire. Do you deny it?”
    From the tightening of her lips, Nils suspected that Claire of Summerbourne would deny King Henry anything she could, and he knew his lord was right to fear folly from these people. But at least she lowered her eyes and guarded her tongue for now.
    Nils saw her hands tremble as she unrolled the soft parchment, and felt true pity for her. What would it be like for a lady to have to marry a stranger, and such a stranger? And she did not know the worst of it yet.
    She read the documents aloud for her mother and grandmother, and in a clear, steady voice. A remarkable woman, Claire of Summerbourne. It was a shame, really.
    Claire fought back tears as she read the first document, the one that declared her father traitor, and all his property attaindered. Had it been written before or after his death? She hoped he had never heard the words.
    In the second, Summerbourne and all attached estates, rights, and duties were given to “the king’s right trusty servant, Renald de Lisle, knight and champion.”
    Champion. She glanced up to find Renald de Lisle watching her. If stone had eyes, they would look like that.
    Hastily, she looked down again, but the word jangled in her head like an alarm bell. Champion meant that he could be called upon to fight in the king’s name in single combat. It told of his quality as a fighter, but it also told her that he was a true blooded sword. She could see for herself that he was soulless.
    Her whole body began to tremble at the thought of such a man owning Summerbourne. It was almost sacrilege.
    Though her eyes blurred, she sucked in a deep breath and continued. “Because of past kindness between Lord Clarence of Summerbourne and Henry, now King of England…”—
as well to call it past, foul friend
.
    “…the king in his mercy commands Lord Renald of Summerbourne to take the said Clarence’s dependents under his care as if they were his own. For this purpose, Lord Renald is permitted and commanded to choose one of the three maids of Summerbourne and take her to wife without delay.”
    That was the end. Claire looked up at him. “Permitted to choose, my lord? Why pretend that we have the choice?”
    “Summerbourne may choose the bride.”
    “Not by this document. This gives
you
the choice.”
    “And I pass it on. It matters not to me.”
    Claire rolled the parchments, trying to find a hint of untruth in that flat statement. There was none. He truly didn’t care which maiden was his bride.
    Ludicrous to feel insulted, but she did. Her sacrifice, or the sacrifice of one of her aunts, meant nothing to the man.
    The king’s will was clear, however. De Lisle must marry one of them, and “without delay.” What did that mean? She doubted a month or even a week would fit.
    But a day? Surely they had at least a day.
    It shouldn’t take even that long to persuade Felice.
    Though cold, Renald de Lisle wasn’t a brute of a man, and he must stand high in the king’s favor. Yes, thought Claire, aware of persuading herself, he was a gift from heaven for Felice. She would only have to get a good look at him to appreciate it.
    But a jolt of alarm shot through her.
    Felice was out in the camp and Claire and de Lisle were here in the castle! What if he wanted the ceremony before he’d let the hostages back in?
Keep a calm head, Claire
.
    She looked up, hoping her panic didn’t show. “I do see that the king expects speedy action., my lord. But surely we are allowed a little time to grieve.”
    What was he thinking? She had no idea. She longed for a spontaneous word or gesture by which to