Free The Falcon and the Flower by Virginia Henley Page B

delicate.”
    Dryly he murmured, “A moment ago I was impotent.” As they stared each other down, each knew they had the measure of the other.
    “I need my grandaughter to carry on my work. She is a novitiate, a true adept. She must remain virgin so that her powers will be a hundredfold greater than mine. Your desire for her is totally selfish,” she finished accusingly.
    “So is yours,” he stated bluntly.
    They stood like two dogs with hackles raised, neither willing to back down by as much as a hairsbreadth. Falcon took the offensive, knowing no other way. “Her virginity is compromised since she spent the night in my bed, so her value as a ’white witch’ or whatever it is you wish to exploit her as will drop considerably once the gossip starts.”
    “I believe her to still be a pure and innocent maiden in spite of the sojourn in your bed,” hissed Estelle.
    “Ah, but after laying eyes upon me, would anyone else?” he challenged.
    There was a small silence while Dame Winwood gathered her scattered thoughts for a counterattack. “My answer is still no, and I have the support of her father to back up my decision.”
    “Au contraire, madame
, I have William’s blessing!” he pointed out.
    “Why would he do such a thing?” she demanded in outrage.
    “Perhaps so that no scandal will touch his daughter. An honorable marriage is infinitely preferable to the risk of producing a bastard child.”
    Estelle waved away the suggestion languidly as if it were no more trouble than a gnat. “I have a full stock of abortificants, so do not think to trap the girl that way.”
    They were at a stalemate. It was an even match— thrust and parry … parry and thrust. She decided to disabuse him of the notion that William would support him against her. “William apparently thinks the sun shines from your arse, but I do assure you my influence upon him is greater than yours. He will cast his vote with mine and they will both be an emphatic
no.
His lust killed my daughter and he has never forgiven himself; I rule William through his guilt!” Estelle decided to give him the coup d’état. “You are a most reckless man to tangle with me, young Lord de Burgh. My magic spells and curses are so powerful they make wise men tremble.” Her eyes gleamed with triumph as she stood before him in all her majestic glory.
    His dark eyes burned into hers a full five minutes. Then very deliberately he took his dagger from its sheath, laid it on the table between them and delivered his own ultimatum. In a measured voice he said, “Superstition and fear are unknown to me, madame. However, I too am capable of magic. If you deny me this marriage I will make you disappear from the face of the earth without trace.”
    As they looked at each other, she knew she had met her match. Grudgingly she admitted to herself that he was a magnificent man, and, God’s nightgown, they were few and far between. It was a unique experience for her to encounter a male who did not fear her occult power. She saw that William was wise to align himself with a young man of such absolute strength of body and purpose. He would make a better ally than enemy, and awise woman would use it to her advantage. Her agile mind took one step forward to offer a delaying tactic—a compromise. She could always retreat one step back if the opportunity ever presented itself. Estelle broke the pregnant silence. “A betrothal,” she offered, and Falcon knew the magnitude of the sacrifice she was making. “A betrothal,” he agreed grudgingly.

Chapter 6
    Because of William’s imminent departure, he immediately drew up a betrothal contract under the close scrutiny of Dame Estelle and de Burgh in his small study off the solar. When the three interested parties were satisfied, Jasmine was sent for, almost as an afterthought.
    When the servant summoned her to her father, Jasmine thought it was to bid him good-bye. She knew his ship was being readied to take him to France where