Read Cursed in the Blood: A Catherine LeVendeur Mystery for Free Online Page A

hair. She moved to avoid him and fell off her stool.
    Hubert glared at them both. “You are both too old for that sort of nonsense,” he warned. “Solomon, no one is going to take you for a serious merchant’s representative if you are seen pulling your cousin’s braids. And, Catherine, you should remember that you’re a married woman and keep those braids covered.”
    “Yes, Father.” Catherine was tempted to pull her skirt up to cover her hair but decided that age did indeed bring wisdom and resisted the impulse.
    “Now, have we finished with the school room long enough to plan what you’ll need to take with you?”
    Solomon and Catherine folded their hands like children and prepared to behave.
     
    Everything was finally ready. Gifts assembled and wrapped. Clothing chosen and packed. Guards hired for as far as Boulogne, and Samonie convinced to let Willa go along as nursemaid to James, a decision that Catherine was infinitely grateful for.
    “I truly couldn’t bear to be parted from him,” she told Edgar as they prepared for bed the last night before going. “But I don’t think I could manage to take care of him on my own.”
    “I still think we should bring a wet nurse as well,” Edgar said. “What if the travel causes your milk to stop flowing?”
    “You know how I feel about that,” she answered “All the authorities agree that a child needs to be fed by its own mother. Saint Ida found that a wet nurse had fed one of her sons and made him vomit the foreign milk. But it was too late; the other two sons became kings but Eustace was only a count.”
    “I’m sure that proves something,” Edgar said. “But James has little chance of becoming even a count, in any case.”
    “Edgar.” Catherine started to speak, then stopped and looked at the floor. Edgar realized that the subject was about to change radically.
    “Catherine? What is it now? I know you.” He bent down and took her chin in his hand, forcing her to look up. “Something is gnawing at you and you won’t be content until it’s been stopped. Now, what is it?”
    She closed her eyes, her lips twisted in embarrassment.
    “It’s just that you still seem unhappy about my coming with you … . I keep wondering what there could be in Scotland that you don’t want me to see, and … it really doesn’t matter if you … especially before we met.” She sighed again.
    Edgar’s sigh echoed hers. “Catherine,” he started, trying to keep the exasperation out of his voice, “if that’s what you’re worrying about, don’t. I left no bastards behind at home, no women pinning for me and no one I want to return for. Why don’t you trust me?”
    “I do trust you,” she answered. “It’s myself I doubt. What do I have to keep you here but your own sense of honor? The past few years have been so hard for you. You gave up everything for me.”
    “Stulta carissima!” Edgar hugged her tightly. “How many ways do I have to say it? I gave up nothing for you. I found everything, more than I ever dreamed possible on this earth. I love you sacreli-giously. I adore our son. I want no life other than with you. There is nothing calling me back to Scotland but duty. Is that clear? Now, please stop moping.”
    She had buried her face in his tunic. When she looked back up at him, the imprint of his sliver brooch was on her cheek.
    “I know I’m being foolish,” she said. “But I also know there’s a lot you haven’t told me and I have the feeling that there’s something your brother isn’t telling us, either. Whatever it is, we need to be together to face it.”
    “And James?” Edgar countered. “Would you risk him, as well?”
    “It would kill me to leave him,” Catherine said. “And I must go with you. So we’ll have to have faith that the Holy Apostle who granted us the miracle of his birth will continue to watch over him.”
    “It may be that it’s because of James that I even considered obeying my father’s command to