Read Daughters of the Dagger 04 - Amethyst for Free Online Page A

what’s your point?”
    “My point is that you have no respect for women, and I am willing to bet you make your own mother sit below the salt when she comes to visit.”
    His face turned to stone at that comment and his eyes darkened. “My mother is dead, so she won’t be visiting any time soon. So don’t you worry your pretty little head about it.”
    “Oh, I’m sorry,” she said, feeling suddenly insensitive. “I had no idea. Why didn’t you tell me this earlier when I told you my mother had passed on?”
    “ What does it matter?” She noticed a muscle twitch in his clenched jaw. She obviously struck a nerve with this conversation, and she realized she would have to find out more about the earl’s past. “Take the trencher,” he said, pushing it toward her. “I’m done with it anyway.” He finished off the last of the wine in the cup and banged it down on the table. “Cupbearer, refill the wine for my Master Assistant. I want her fed and well in her cups before she comes to the meeting.” He pushed back his chair and stood, towering over her. “After all, I’ll be counting on you for a little entertainment later, as I’m sure you’ll serve no other purpose at the meeting other than to be a distraction to my men.”
    With that, he stormed away across the hall. Amethyst took the cup from the cupbearer and raised it to her lips. That’s when she saw Sir G awain staring at her from his seat at the table. He got to his feet, bringing his own trencher over to her that had twice the amount of food on it than the one Lord Marcus left her.
    “He can be a real boor sometimes, my lady, but don’t tell him I said that or he’ll have my head.”
    “Thank you, Sir Gawain,” she said, taking the food he offered. “I have no idea why he’s so angry. All I did was mention his mother and it seemed to set him off.”
    “Take advice from someone who learned the hard way, my lady. Don’t mention his mother. Ever. That is, unless you want to see a grown man turn into some kind of beast.”
    “I don’t understand. What happened to make him act this way?”
    “Sir Gawain, join me as we’re heading for the meeting in the solar,” came Marcus’s growl from across the room.
    “Of course, my lord, I will be right there,” he answered.
    “And step away from my Master Ass istant, and let her eat.”
    Sir Gawain’s eyes traveled back down to Amethyst. “He also doesn’t like anyone looking at or even talking to his woman,” he said, winking at her. “He’s very possessive, if you know what I mean.”
    “I’m not his woman,” she spat. Then she wondered if the earl really considered her his woman. She didn’t think so. After all, he treated her terribly.
    “Master Assistant, are you going to sit here eating all night, or are you going to join us in the solar at the meeting?” Marcus was standing in front of them at the dais, and just as Sir Gawain said, he seemed jealous indeed that another man was showing her some interest. He reached out and grabbed the trencher from in front of her just as she was going to take her first bite, and threw it to the rushes on the floor. Two of his hounds rushed over and eagerly devoured it.
    “What are you doing?” she gasped. “I’ve yet to eat a bite.”
    “The scraps are given to my hounds. Besides, the meal is over. Now, since you are working for me, I demand you stop making eyes at Sir Gawain and follow us to the solar for the meeting at once.” He headed away quickly and Sir Gawain followed.
    “I’m not making eyes at anyone, and remember I’m working for free,” she muttered under her breath, but he was already halfway across the room and didn’t hear her.
    “Amethyst, what happened?” Her uncle rushed up to her wit h a concerned look upon his face. The castle plans were rolled up and tucked under his arm. The master carpenter and several workers followed Lord Marcus out of the great hall, and Clement glanced nervously from her to the entourage