Lady Thief - By Rizzo Rosko Page 0,9

handled his discipline, personally I might add, I would not have trusted such a thing with anyone else. As he is now your property you may wish to handle him as you see fit.”

Marianne tensed when the offer was put on the table and spun her head to Archer, who lifted his head and let his mouth fall open.

“Father, you cannot sell him!”

“Be silent you stupid girl,” Holton raised the back of his hand to her.

“There will be none of that,” William interjected, raising his own hand for peace and lowering it when it was attained, a gentle smile lifting his lips. “Remember that tonight I have been reunited with my bride. I am pleased and expect all others to be as well.”

His eyes met hers and Marianne was so caught by the sincerity of his words that for a moment she believed he was telling the truth.

Then his eyes grew cold and they turned back to her father. “Now, about our arrangement,”

“My lord, I brought what I could,” Sir Holton waved his hand towards the sacs of coins, gold frames wrapped in cloth, rings and every exotic spice that was available to him, which sat in a useless heap on the floor.

The Holton manor had been stripped nearly bare of all things fine to pay for Marianne’s dowry. The green gown she wore was the last of her finery, with only her plainest of clothing packed into her luggage, and this was only because her father did not want them to present himself as a pauper to William.

Still, they both knew it would hardly be enough.

Holton pointed his hand in Archer’s direction, but did not look at him, though he sneered dramatically when he spoke of him. “I would offer you this servant, not sell, as compensation for the trouble you have had to endure at his wretched, deceiving hands. His father made the finest arrows so he has some skill in that trade, but his specialty lies with the horses. He can sleep with them as well if you like. Or you may dispose of him.”

Marianne shrieked. “Father!”

He did not flinch at the high pitch produced so closely to his ear, nor did he look at her. Marianne was left with the helpless notion that no matter how much she yelled or begged, Archer’s fate was entirely out of her hands.

William turned to Archer, and Marianne’s heart fell into her stomach while he considered it.

She silently prayed, though for what she was unaware. Should Lord Gray turn Archer away he would have no home to go to as he was obviously no longer welcome to work at Holton House.

And if he stayed here, what then? How would he be treated? Lord Gray had sworn on his honor in a church that he would pretend those men had never existed should he see them again, but it was quite difficult to pretend in this situation, if he ever had any intention of keeping his word, that is.

Lord Gray tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Despite my suspicious nature, which you will find forgivable as you wish to give me a servant who has participated in my abduction, and whom you have called a treacherous villain, I shall accept him. He sounds as if he can be of use. I will not ‘dispose’ of him, however.”

Marianne shrieked inside her head for joy and anguish, and Archer continued to open and close his mouth, as if the words he wanted had been sucked from his body. Eventually he resigned himself to the rueful fact that he could not speak against his betters and lowered his head.

Holton grew two inches taller. “Understandable, milord, very understandable. You are very generous in your kindness. Now, just between the two of us, my lord,” Marianne’s father freely walked around the table and approached Gray with the air of an old friend, and without permission as well.

Marianne was not sure of their manner towards each other, especially when Lord Gray was so friendly earlier. Whatever friendliness was there had evidently been a show put on for the servants, because now he seemed appalled that Marianne’s father could do such a thing as kneel down and put his fatherly arm around William’s noble shoulder.

Holton hardly seemed to notice. “I know that Archer somehow tricked my daughter into this scheme, villain that he is. He confessed as much. There must have been more people involved, but no one in my household will speak of such things despite my best efforts.”

Marianne