Free Sweet Enchantress by Parris Afton Bonds Page A

surrounding her.
    “ Your condolences?”
    "The rumors circulating at the papal palace say that you no longer administer in the Justice Room.” Her meaningful glance took in the soldiers posted at the great door. "How disastrous for you, alone here with no family!”
    Dominique focused on a deep breath to gain inner control. Esclarmonde bleached her energies. "The rumors report a situation that is only temporary. After your long journey, you must be tired, both of you. Unfortunately, the English soldiers have requisitioned almost all the rooms, but—”
    "But Captain Bedford will see to it that suites are relinquished for our illustrious guests,” Paxton interjected evenly, coming up behind her. Arthur padded along just as silently in his trail. How much had the man overheard?
    She was struck by the similarity between him and Francis. While both wore nondescript colors, their presence nonetheless demanded the eye. The two were tall, with Paxton brawnier while Francis was more sinewy. Both exuded restrained power. But that of Francis's had a refined quality, like his profile, and Paxton's was . . . what? Blunt. They were like the sword, she decided. Francis its blade and Paxton its haft, both parts used equally well upon a field of combat
    Paxton turned his attention upon her, and she fortified herself against his wrath. Francis ’s observant eye measured the situation. With his ecclesiastical diplomacy, he smoothly diverted the Englishman. "Lord Paxton, my sister, the Lady Esclarmonde.”
    Esclarmonde dipped her head respectfully, then tilted it just enough that she was able to deliver a smile that revealed perfect teeth. Dominique had to content herself with the good fortune promised by her own pair of slightly spaced front teeth. As it was, her good fortune did not appear imminently on the horizon.
    As she should have expected, Paxton had not forgotten her. "Your presence at the high table is desired this evening, mistress.”
    Simply that. The framing of his order left no room for declining. She raged against the position into which he was maneuvering her. Raged, knowing all the while that such destructive thoughts would only be her own undoing.
    By the time the cathedral bells sounded the vesper hour a nd dinner, she had had time to establish an element of inner peace, infinitesimal though it was.
    The dinner was not exactly an ordeal. Minstrels played lulling music from the gallery above. Recently arrived guests overflowed the high table. Francis was an entrancing conversationalist and eased the strain between Dominique and Paxton. Eloquent, Francis was fluent in several languages. He directed his glib wit toward Paxton now, much of which she was sure would go over the soldier’s head. “The forests of Montlimoux are renowned for their boar hunting—and more.”
    “ Oh?” Paxton drawled.
    Dominique held her breath for the repartee that was surely forthcoming.
    “Is not your king a devotee of the Arthurian tradition? Then surely you should inform him of a forest north of here. It lies at the heart of Celtic legend.” Francis leaned forward, his blue eyes deep with dark fires. “’Tis said to be the original home of Merlin the Enchanter.” Paxton lifted a skeptical brow, and Francis laughed. "A rational man I behold. Excellent. As for myself, I suppose I am a man of differing sentiments—a renegade monk, a notorious libertine, and a troubadour at heart."
    Which was precisely why Dominique loved him. He was his own man and not the Church ’s.
    “‘ A singer of songs whose sound is damnation?’ ” Paxton asked.
    His pronouncement startled everyone at the table. He shrugged and said, “ A quote, I forget from whence.”
    Francis smiled easily. “ From St. Augustine perhaps? I believed the good man also said, ‘God, give me chastity, but not yet.’” Everyone chuckled at his scholastic subtlety, and the rest of the dinner returned to its former geniality. Francis was disarmingly charming, never