Read Bewitching in Boots for Free Online

château.”
    “Fifty men?” Tristan grabbed his cane and struggled to his feet. “Where did they come from?”
    Gabriel and Richard exchanged looks.
    “You tell him,” Gabriel suggested.
    “No, I’d rather you be the bearer of bad news.”
    Tristan didn’t like where this was going. “Will someone tell me what is going on?”
    Gabriel cleared his throat. “Very well. The workers are here at the behest of the Duchesse de Roussel.”
    “ What ?” He couldn’t have heard correctly.
    “There’s more,” Richard advised, then turned to Gabriel. “Go on, tell him.”
    “I’m trying to do that. But I keep getting inter—”
    “Get on with it!” Tristan’s ire was beginning to mount; he sensed he wasn’t going to like what he was about to hear.
    Gabriel gave a nod. “Since you are in such a fine mood, I can’t wait to tell you the rest.” His sarcasm only served to grate on Tristan’s taunt nerves. “We were a tad mistaken when we told you earlier that the Duchesse de Roussel had left.”
    Tristan’s stomach clenched. “ Merde . You jest.”
    “No. I don’t. It turns out, she took it upon herself to change rooms,” Gabriel continued. “You see when we saw that the Musketeers and the trunks were gone, we assumed the Duchesse and her sister had left—permanently. We were unaware that their trunks were moved to the west wing.”
    “The west wing? Where my . . . our rooms are?”
    Gabriel sauntered over to him and placed a hand on Tristan’s shoulder. “Precisely.”
    Tristan tightened his jaw. “Where is the Duchesse now?”
    His brother shrugged. “Who knows? She’s out and about with her entourage. In the meantime, we are having some lovely repairs done to our château.” He smiled.
    By the looks on his uncle’s and brother’s faces, they were pleased.
    Tristan was ready to strangle the King’s favorite child. The woman was beyond intrusive. She knew no boundaries.
    The sound of horses’ hooves striking the cobblestones in the courtyard grabbed his attention. He rushed out of the library and down the tapestry-lined hall.
    The moment Tristan entered the vestibule, he froze. So did his breathing.
    Standing on the opposite side of the grand entrance, talking to her sister and her maid, Elisabeth was in a yellow gown embellished with golden bows. Her tantalizing form was outlined so enticingly, his mouth went dry.
    As though she felt his gaze, she turned and smiled when she saw him. Immediately, she approached. Her dark hair adorned with small golden bows was perfectly coiffed, long silky curls he wanted to touch. His hungry gaze devoured her, moving down to her décolletage, enjoying the sweet little bounce of her breasts with each step she took.
    Her bedazzling smile was still on her lovely face when she reached him. She looked like an angel.
    She folded her hands before her. “Good day, gentlemen.”
    He peeled his eyes off her and looked beside him. Dieu , he’d been so transfixed, he hadn’t even realized his brother and uncle flanked him.
    They exchanged pleasantries, while Tristan, for the first time in his life, was speechless.
    “I hope you don’t mind that I left for a bit of an outing,” she said to him. “I purchased something for you in the town.” She motioned to her maid and sister.
    The moment the maid handed Elisabeth the wooden box she carried, Claire gave a giggle then quickly looked down, covering her mouth with her fingertips.
    Elisabeth handed him the box and opened the lid for him. Filling the box were numerous silk scarves.
    “They’re for later,” Elisabeth said.
    His gaze shot up to hers. She was smiling still and with a wink, sauntered away, heading toward the staircase that led to the west wing. Another giggle erupted from Claire before she quickly fell in step with her sister and servant.
    Jésus-Christ . The scarves were for binding—her. He hadn’t scared her away. She’d called his bluff.
    She meant to stay .
    Gabriel sifted his hand through the