Free Sapphire - Book 2 by Elizabeth Rose Page B

“And I have reconsidered and
want you off my land as well, so don’t bother coming
back.”
    “So be it,” snapped the baron. “Then I’ll just
collect my wife and tomorrow we’ll be on our way.”
    He stepped forward, but Roe pulled his sword
and held it in front of the man.
    “Egads, Roe, what are you doing?” shouted
Henry. “You are acting like the man is our enemy when he is really
our alliance.”
    “You’ll not take Sapphire anywhere,” he told
him, “as she no longer wishes to be near you.”
    “I’m married to her, Sexton,” snarled the
baron, “or have you forgotten?”
    “I haven’t forgotten the tales she tells me
how you’ve beaten her and also taken every woman you could to your
bed. That doesn’t sound like marriage to me. That sounds like a man
so desperate, he’d do anything to get what he wanted. What is it
you want, Lydd? And Uncle,” he said, nodding toward Henry, “why
were you so fast to say I was dead and hand over my betrothed
without sending a messenger over the channel to find out? It seems
to me you never even discussed the new marriage with Earl
Blackpool, Sapphire’s father.”
    “There was no need,” said Henry. “We had the
dowry and the girl, so why make waves by sending her
back?”
    “We?” asked Roe. “So are you saying that you
have acquired part of Sapphire’s dowry as well?”
    “’ Twas an agreement I had with the
baron,” he admitted.
    “An agreement that seems odd to me. Odd that
you, Baron Lydd would allow someone to take half of what you felt
was rightfully yours.”
    “What are you saying, Sexton?” growled the
baron. “Just say it already and stop with your feeble
games.”
    Roe slowly replaced his sword at this side.
“What all did the dowry include?” He needed to know. Neither of the
men said anything. “I will send a missive to Blackpool tomorrow and
schedule a meeting with the earl to discuss what has transpired
here.”
    “Stop it, Sheffield,” said the baron, sounding
defeated. “If you want the girl, take her, but I am not returning
any of the dowry.”
    “So noble of you to offer me something that
was mine all along. But tell me, how do you propose we get the
marriage annulled? And why are you so willing to give her up when a
moment ago you told me I couldn’t have her?”
    “Let’s discuss this in the morning,” said
Henry, placing his hand on Roe’s shoulder.
    “Nay!” Roe pushed it off. He then looked over
at the dockmen. “Keep a close eye on every ship and every sailor
and every piece of cargo upon it that comes or goes from the port
of Rye. I will be contacting the baron of the Cinque Ports and will
discuss this matter with him immediately.”
    “He is gone and will not return for several
weeks,” said Godfrey. “And he is joined by many of the portsmen and
crews of the ships that protect the channel as they have started on
their journey to Yarmouth for the annual herring festival,” he told
him.
    “Damn, that’s right,” said Roe. “Then I’ll
have to wait, but tell the dockmen, merchants and the sheepherders
too, that I’ll be looking into this personally and hopefully have
answers for them soon.”
    “Aye milord, thank you milord.” The men bowed
and Roe dismissed them with a wave of his hand and they hurried
away.
    “You’ve not heard the last of me,” snarled the
baron, storming across the great hall.
    “Roe, the baron will look into the matter. And
the barons of the Cinque Ports are in charge of the ports, not you.
Just let them investigate, and don’t get involved,” warned
Henry.
    “If I wait, it may be too late,” he told him.
“And I have a feeling I know just the place to start
looking.”

Chapter 7

     
    Sapphire awoke early, having had the best
night sleep in a long time. She turned over in Roe’s bed and
stretched her arms above her head lazily.
    “Good morning, my lady,” said her handmaiden,
who had slept on the pallet at the foot of her bed. “’Tis a
beautiful morning,