Read By Arrangement for Free Online Page A

“You are playing badly today,” she said.
    They sat by a window in Isabele's bedchamber. The princess had gone to visit a friend in another part of Westminster, and Lady Idonia had accompanied her.
    Christiana tried to concentrate on the game and not think about her betrothal three days earlier. In particular she worked hard not to reflect on David de Abyndon, but his intense eyes and warm touch kept intruding on her memory in a distressing way. He had handled the ceremony and dinner very kindly, almost sympathetically. With one stunning exception.
    “You never told me what it was like getting betrothed,” Joan said.
    Christiana shrugged. “I don't remember much. I was most unsettled.”
    Joan tossed her blond curls and her eyes twinkled. “What was the kiss like? It looked like a wonderful kiss.”
    Christiana stared at the chessmen scattered on the board. She had been working especially hard not to think about that kiss.
    What should she say to Joan? What could she say? How could she explain that only the most necessary part of her had paid attention to either the mass or the pledge? That she had deliberately dulled her mind so that she would get through the morning without panicking. That she had filled her heart with Stephen and the trust and knowledge of his love, and that the whole scene in the church had only been a restless dream that would quickly fade.
    Until there had been that hand on her face in a gesture of intimacy, forcing her awake as surely as a shake during the night. A voice commanding her to look reality in the face. An embrace and a kiss of masterful possession.
    What was that kiss like? Confusing. Frightening. Longer than necessary. Long enough to make clear that one of them intended to treat this betrothal seriously.
    The sensation of a streak of warmth flowing through her body licked at her memory. She shifted restlessly and forced all of her attention on the chess game.
    Aye, she did not want to think or talk about that kiss very much at all. “It was nice enough.”
    At least that part of this travesty was over. Now she had only to wait for Stephen to come.
    “Have you ever been kissed before?” Joan asked.
    Christiana wished that she could confide in her friend, but Joan was a notorious gossip. It had, of course, crossed her mind that if Joan did gossip, and Morvan learned about Stephen, then maybe her brother would encourage the Percys to change their mind. She had immediately felt guilty for that unworthy thought. After all, she didn't want Stephenoffering for her at the point of a sword. That wouldn't be necessary anyway.
    The memory of Stephen's mouth crushing hers fluttered in her mind. David's kiss hadn't been at all like that, but then they had been standing in a church in front of a king and a priest. Still …nay, she didn't want to think about that kiss. “I have been kissed before. Frankly, didn't like it. I think that I am one of those women who doesn't.”
    Joan's expression contained a touch of pity. “He is very handsome,” she said after a pause. “If you have to marry a merchant, he may as well be a rich and handsome one.”
    Christiana knew that Joan echoed the opinion of the whole court. Poor Christiana. A sweet girl. Too bad about the King giving her to a common merchant, but at least he is rich and handsome. It reminded her of the encouraging sympathy offered to a maimed knight. Too bad that you will never walk right again, but at least you are not dead.
    “Lady Elizabeth buys from him, you know,” Joan added very casually. “And Lady Agnes and a few others.”
    Joan always managed to find out such things. In the last week she had probably learned all there was to know in Westminster about David de Abyndon. She would drop tidbits like this here and there as it suited her.
    “They prefer to go to his shop, which is quite wonderful. You really should have come with us, Christiana. He brings in silks from Italy and as far away as India. There are tailors there