Free So Speaks the Heart by Johanna Lindsey

obviously thought she was a serf, and he still must think so. Send her away with him.”
    â€œShe will deny it once they are alone again,” Druoda whispered in return.
    â€œShe has probably done that already, but he did not believe her. He thinks her a thief and a liar, so you need only confirm his beliefs. Call her a liar. Make all the excuses you must so that he will take her away and not bring her back.”
    â€œHildegard, you are a wonder!” Druoda hissed gleefully.
    â€œFirst, get him out of this room quickly before he sees that there is no virgin blood on the pallet.”
    â€œWhat!”
    â€œIt seems Brigitte has dallied before this.”
    Druoda stood stiffly, raging inside. Brigitte had fooled them all. Druoda supposed it was fortunate that this had happened, for Wilhelm d’Arsnay would have annulled the marriage as soon as he discovered the truth about his bride. Hildegard’s suggestion was perfect. Brigitte would become a serf, and the Norman would take her away.
    â€œGet to my chamber, Brigitte, and wait for me there,” Druoda snapped.
    Brigitte’s head came up sharply. “What of him?”
    â€œDo as you are told!”
    Without hesitating further, Brigitte picked up her bag of food from the floor and walked stiffly out of the room.
    Druoda followed her to the door, waiting there until the knight’s curiosity overcame his silence. She hadn’t long to wait.
    â€œWhat will you do to her?”
    Druoda ignored his question and in her most imperious manner, looked about the room in disgust. “It stinks of lust here,” she said distastefully, and abruptly left the room.
    Rowland took off after her, stopping her as soon as she reached the hall below. “I asked what you will do. She has other faults, I know, but she is innocent of all blame here. Do not hurt her.”
    â€œI know who is to blame,” Druoda said slowly, her eyes condemning him.
    â€œAn honest mistake, lady. You did promise me a woman for the night, unless I remember that incorrectly.”
    Druoda sighed impatiently. “You should have waited for the girl I intended, not taken this one, whose only value was her innocence.”
    â€œA serf’s value is not measured by virtue.”
    â€œThis one’s was. She is a teller of tales—a liar, to speak plainly.”
    â€œWhat will you do with her?”
    â€œI will do nothing with her at all. She is yours now, bound with my blessing.”
    Rowland shook his head slowly. “No, lady, I do not want her.”
    â€œYou wanted her well enough last night,” she reminded him sharply. “I had a lord far from here who was willing to take her simply because she was innocent. Now that is no longer possible, but I will not have her here. If you do not take her, I will have her stoned for the whore you have made of her. I am within my rights as her mistress to do so.”
    â€œSurely you cannot do such a thing.”
    â€œYou do not understand, Sir Rowland.” Druoda thought quickly. “That girl was my brother’s weakness. He was enamored of her and treated her as he would a lady. That is why she is so troublesome. She thinks herself above her station. She was born a serf, but my brother’s attentions made her vain.”
    â€œIf your brother loves her, then she should be here when he returns.”
    â€œAnd have him learn that the man he sent here in good faith has raped her? He was saving her for himself,” Druoda said slyly. “Quintin is a fool when it comes to that girl. I did not want to admit this,for it shames me, but my brother contemplates marriage to her. I must get her away from here. I can’t have that girl here when he returns and risk his marrying a serf. You take her—and make sure she never returns here—or I shall kill her.”
    Rowland knew himself entirely helpless, trapped with a servant he did not need, who would be a hindrance to him on his