Hostage Bride (29 page)
Authors: Anne Herries
‘I am ready,’ she said and smiled.
‘So you are wed to him.’ Angelina looked at Rosamunde, a glint of envy in her eyes when they met in the hall as the guests mingled for the wedding breakfast. ‘You know that you owe your good fortune to me. Had I not sent you to him, you would still be my servant.’
‘I know that I owe my good fortune to the bargain we made,’ Rosamunde said, looking her cousin directly in the eye. ‘But do not pretend that you did it for my sake. You believed that Lord Mornay was an evil man and sent me to pay the price he demanded in your stead.’
Angelina looked uncomfortable. ‘Had I known the old Lord Mornay was dead, I should have gone myself. You do not know how fortunate you are, cousin. Your husband is rich, while mine…’ She stopped and pulled a wry face. ‘You still owe me money. You had the other half of the ransom money and my horses.’
‘Raphael holds the money for your father,’ Rosamunde said firmly. ‘As for the horses—I think there was a little matter of fifty gold talents that
you
promised to pay
me.
If you pay me what you owe me, I will return the horses.’
‘You know I cannot,’ Angelina said with a sour look. ‘You have so much—surely you could give me what is mine?’
‘The horses belong to Raphael now. He is my lord and everything I have is his. You may ask him for them, if you wish,’ Rosamunde said without feeling any pity for her selfish kinswoman.
Angelina turned away. She had already tried to charm her cousin’s betrothed and the cold, withering look Raphael had given her had made her flinch.
‘I wish I had never taken you in,’ she said spitefully. ‘I should have sent you back to your father at the start. I gave you gowns and food, and how have you repaid me?’
‘You treated me as a servant. I shall gladly return the gowns you gave me, for I never wear them,’ Rosamunde said placidly.
‘I suppose he gives you all you want,’ Angelina said
bitterly and looked for her husband. ‘I am leaving now. Do not come to me if things go wrong for you.’
‘No, cousin, I shall not.’
Rosamunde watched as her cousin walked from the hall, then turned to look out of the window at the gardens.
‘Has she gone?’ Rosamunde turned to see Raphael looking at her. ‘I heard what she said to you, my love. Was she always as unkind to you?’
‘Yes. I think she is jealous. Sir Thomas may not be all she thought him.’ She smiled.
‘She has only what she deserves,’ he stated. He walked towards her and took her into his arms. He gazed down at her, searching her face for signs of distress. ‘Has she upset you?’
‘No. Nothing Angelina could say would hurt me now,’ she assured her new husband.
‘I am glad,’ he said and bent his head to kiss her softly on the lips. ‘Are you ready to go home, my love?’
‘Oh yes,’ she said and smiled up at him. ‘My father is as well here in his own bed as he would be with us. I know he is being cared for and all he wants is for me to be happy.’
‘It will be my privilege to see that you are happy now—and for the rest of our lives,’ he said fervently, then he kissed her passionately.
ISBN-13: 9781460349625
HOSTAGE BRIDE
© Anne Herries 2011
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