Free Claimed & Seduced by Shelley Munro Page A

snapped.
    Jarlath pulled change from his pocket—two gold coins plus several bronze ones and flung them into the server’s outstretched hand. “Bring my change. Cristop, sit.”
    The man tugged his short, pointy beard and sniffed disdainfully but trotted off to deliver their order to the kitchen.
    Jarlath focused on Cristop. “Are they all like this?”
    The youth’s lips quirked. “Might have cause.”
    “Why?”
    “Sometimes I be hungry.”
    “The soup kitchens?”
    “They charge.”
    They were meant to be free. Jarlath made a mental note to ask Ellard. No, rather than ask his friend he’d go in disguise and investigate himself. Perhaps it was possible to do good instead of blindly following the path his parents had set him.
    The server returned with their order and thumped the serving platters on their table. He thrust Jarlath’s change at him, paused while waiting for a tip. Jarlath ignored him and the man stomped off to serve another table of diners.
    “Is all this for me?” Cristop asked, his tone one of disbelief.
    “Yes, eat up now. You’ll need your strength to carry my packages.”
    Jarlath had no need to shop since he owned the latest gadgets and replicators, but shop he would to appease this young man’s pride. He picked up a roasted fowl leg and bit into the crispy skin. The meat tasted even more delicious than it smelled.
    “Good choice,” Jarlath said and crammed more meat into his mouth. He studied the crowd and did a double take when he recognized Keira and her maid. He blinked, sure he’d imagined Keira’s pretty face, but no—it was her. A wide smile took possession of his mouth, so big his lips protested. His pulse jumped, a sensation he recognized as nerves taking grip.
    Damn, he wanted her. One kiss hadn’t been nearly enough.

Chapter Five
    “W ait here,” he said to Cristop. “I see someone I know.” Jarlath jumped to his feet and hoofed it to catch her. “Keira.”
    Both Keira and her maid froze, and when Keira whirled fear shone in her green-flecked eyes.
    “Keira, it’s me,” Jarlath said, wanting to allay her distress even as he wondered the cause of this reaction in both women.
    “Jarlath, what are you doing here?” Keira whispered.
    “I’m having dinner and shopping,” Jarlath said. “Would you and Hortese like to join me and my companion? I ordered a lot of food and fear I’ll never manage to eat half of it.”
    “No,” Keira said.
    “We’d like that,” Hortese said and pinched her mistress on the arm when it seemed she would argue.
    “This way,” Jarlath said and guided the women to his table. “Cristop, this is Keira and Hortese. They are joining us for dinner. Can you manage to secure two more chairs?”
    “Really that’s not necess—” Keira began then yelped when Hortese pinched her again. “Will you stop that?”
    “Take these seats,” Jarlath said. “Ah, my helper is back already. Excellent.” If there was one thing Jarlath was good at it was social chitchat. Since birth, his parents and tutors had drilled him in the art of putting people at ease. Normally the duty irritated him and the giggly females gave him headaches. In this case, using his skill was a pleasure, but he could tell something was bothering Keira.
    “This fowl is delicious,” Hortese said. “Try some, Keira. It’s even better than Hilda’s.”
    Keira’s mouth dropped open. “Sacrilege!”
    Cristop tipped his head and his dreads flopped over his nose. He jerked his head the other way, and they resettled. “I told you meal be good.”
    Amusement simmered inside Jarlath at Cristop’s smugness. “You did,” he agreed. “Are you ladies shopping tonight or do you have your stall set up?”
    The two women exchanged a fleeting look, full of silent communication.
    “Shopping,” Keira said.
    “Good,” Jarlath said. “Once we’ve finished our meal we can shop together.” He leaned toward Keira. “You can help cement my disguise. No one would expect to see me