Free Beloved Abductor by June Francis Page B

have brought you another dose of Edmund’s poison! If it does not kill you, it should cure you!’ Dickon twinkled at her and pulled a stool up to the bed. ‘He has gone to see a sick child, the daughter of a friend. Nell is busy in the buttery, and so I decided to take on this task. A pleasant one, I might add.’
    Felicia’s cheeks dimpled. ‘That is most kind of you. I am not used to lying abed, and even when I was in my cousin’s ...’ She paused, uncertain how to continue, wondering if Edmund had told Master Mortimer more than he had told his sister.
    ‘Your cousin?’ prodded Dickon, stretching out his legs.
    ‘I... I have two cousins,’ said Felicia brightly, clasping her hands on the coverlet. ‘Joan ... and Philip,’ she went on hurriedly, sensing from the glint in Dickon’s eyes that he had heard of Philip. ‘Joan lives with me at Meriet. She is my mother’s sister’s daughter—but her parents are both dead. Father invited her to come to live with us before he died. She is like a sister to me, and I miss her greatly.’ She fell silent, realising she was getting on to dangerous ground again.
    ‘Why does she not travel with you?’ asked Dickon, thinking that when Mistress Meriet blushed she was exceedingly pretty.
    ‘Because ...’ She let out an impatient breath. ‘Because, Master Mortimer, when my brother and father were killed at the Battle of Lewes, my cousin Philip took me to live with him and his wife. He was determined to cut me off from all those who would support me. Has ...’ Her hands twisted on the coverlet. ‘Has Master Edmund told you what he believes of me? I think he might have, from the look on your face.’
    Dickon’s expression softened. ‘I cannot believe you a murderer’s accomplice.’ He leaned forward and patted Felicia’s hand.
    She swallowed the sudden lump in her throat. ‘I thank you for those kind words. Master Edmund still doubts me.’
    ‘Edmund has been through much lately.’ Dickon squeezed her hand comfortingly.
    ‘But he is oblivious of all that that is seemly or chivalrous!’ Felicia’s sapphire eyes widened with entreaty. ‘Master Mortimer, do you think ...’ A sound at the door caused her to pause and she gave a startled look in its direction and her eyes met Edmund’s which were as hard as flint.
    ‘I see you are getting better acquainted with each other,’ he said in a clipped voice.
    Dickon turned his head and smiled. ‘I brought Mistress Meriet her potion.’ He raised Felicia’s hand to his lips and kissed it with obvious pleasure. ‘She is my guest. I thought I should come and see if she has all she needs.’
    ‘Of course.’ Edmund leaned against the door-jamb and folded his arms across his chest.
    Dickon hesitated. ‘I shall have to leave now, as I have a customer to see to. Mistress Meriet, perhaps I can come and see you again later?’
    ‘I would like that,’ murmured Felicia, dimpling at him as she withdrew her hand from his grasp. She stared at Edmund defiantly as Dickon left the bedchamber.

 
    Chapter Five
     
    Edmund shut the door firmly behind Dickon before turning to face Felicia. There was a flush on his cheekbones. ‘If you propose, Mistress Meriet, to try your tricks on Dickon, I advise you to think again! He has broken more hearts than you would credit. He was a minstrel in his younger days before he decided to settle down and take life more seriously, and he knows exactly how to woo a lady! I doubt the woman exists who could captivate him, however alluring.’
    ‘If he is up to all the tricks, I do not know why you need to worry about your friend!’ retorted Felicia.
    ‘He has a soft heart.’ There was a sardonic twist to Edmund’s mouth as he strolled forward and rested his hands on the carved wooden foot of the bed. ‘Did you look at him out of those beautiful eyes of yours and plead your cause?’
    ‘He believes me innocent of Matilda’s blood,’ she said angrily, ‘which is more than you do! And if I