Twilight Magic Read Online Free Page B

they’d gone dry. “What I must tell you . . . that is, confess . . . well, I believe you do not wish to hang an innocent man.”
    On the edge of his awareness, Darian saw the king’s eyebrow arch upward. Bishop Henry left his post by the litter to stand at King Stephen’s side. Even as his instincts distrusted her uninvited and suspect intrusion, Darian noticed the lady’s eyes were the deep, soft brown of a doe, and just as wide open and luminous.
    But where a doe’s eyes shone with innocence, Emma’s were veiled. She didn’t look at him, intent on the king, who motioned her forward.
    So many questions flew through Darian’s mind, he couldn’t sort them all during the few steps Emma took to stand a respectable distance from the king. He knew, however, that she couldn’t possibly know where he’d been last night. No respectable lady would dare visit Southwark after nightfall when whores and drunkards ruled the night. And above all, Emma impressed him as a lady gifted with intelligence.
    She might, however, know who had stolen his dagger. A possibility. A damn miracle, even.
    “Confessions should be heard in private, my child,” the bishop commented, his tone no less condescending than the king’s. “I would be most willing to step aside and hear whatever troubles you so deeply.”
    Darian almost snickered aloud at Henry’s obviously self-serving offer.
    Emma graciously bowed her head. “I thank you, Lord Bishop, but what I must say should be heard by all in attendance.” Then she squared her shoulders, took a long, fortifying breath, and rushed on. “Darian of Bruges is innocent of murder, Sire. He does not tell you of his whereabouts last night because he wishes to protect...me.”
    The implication slowly sank in, and Darian could only stand shocked at what she’d done.
    The guards released him abruptly, a welcome occurrence, though he feared the reprieve wouldn’t last.
    Sweet Jesu, by suggesting they’d been together last night, Lady Emma shed doubt on his guilt, but at a high price to her already tattered reputation.
    Why did she lie? For what reason did she interfere? Truly, she had nothing to gain—or did she? She must! No noblewoman would come forward to save a commoner, and a foreign commoner at that, unless she stood to gain... something. But what?
    Whatever her reason, he couldn’t allow her to become entangled in his affairs. Certes, her lie would only make matters worse when the truth came to light.
    Darian opened his mouth to refute her; Earl William’s hand clamped down hard on his forearm, the order clear.
Hush!
Darian found himself obeying out of sheer habit of following the earl’s orders.
    The king looked suspicious, as well he should. “Lady Emma, do we understand you correctly? You say you bear witness to Darian’s whereabouts last night?”
    Emma nodded.
    “All night?”
    A blush bloomed on her cheekbones as she nodded again.
    Murmurs from the crowd weren’t complimentary. Darian leaned toward William, who still held tight to his arm, and whispered, “This is madness. The lady lies.”
    “So let her.”
    “This is wrong.”
    William rolled his eyes. “Wrong or no, she gives you your freedom. God’s bones, Darian, allow the lady to have her way!”
    Sensible advice, but it irked him to stand there and allow a woman to
save
him from being punished for a crime he didn’t commit!
    The murmurs grew louder and more damning. Harlot. Whore. Fornicator. Hellfire, the woman didn’t deserve their condemnation! And Bishop Henry could well demand she fast for a year as penance. Why the devil did she place herself in such a position?
    Bishop Henry, his countenance as dark and threatening as a storm cloud, raised a silencing hand. Not until the crowd quieted did he ask of Emma, “Where?”
    To Darian’s unwarranted amusement, Lady Emma de Leon insolently raised an eyebrow.
    “Does it matter?”
    “Answer!”
    “The queen’s solar.”
    A gasp rose from the crowd and the bishop