Sapphire - Book 2 by Elizabeth Rose Page B

but I don’t want to,” protested the
girl.
    “You don’t?” asked Sapphire in surprise.
“Why not? You cannot tell me you love the man after what he
did?”
    “Nay, I don’t,” she admitted. “And I think
it no secret he likes to bed many women and beat upon them
all.”
    “I’m so sorry,” said Sapphire, laying a hand
on the girl’s shoulder. “So then, why do you want to stay married
to the man?”
    “Because, my lady, as his wife I will
inherit at least one third of his lands and estate if he should
die. And I know the man has many enemies, so my hope is to be able
to keep the marshland for my brothers’ sheep to graze if he should
somehow die or be killed.”
    “How are your brothers faring?” asked
Sapphire curiously. “Has the wool brought them any money at all
lately?”
    “Nay, my lady,” she admitted. “Smugglers
have stolen their last two shipments and my brothers do not even
have the tax money due to the baron. I look for him now to plead
with him not to punish my brothers or take their flock from them
because of their ill luck.”
    The door opened and a priest walked in.
    “Father Gerard,” said Father Geoffrey. “Do
you remember marrying this young lady to the baron of Lydd six
months ago?”
    The man looked at the girl and smiled. “How
are you Alice?” he asked. “Or should I say Baroness? Yes,” he
informed him. “I married her to the baron with only these two men
as witnesses six months ago. And as far as I know, he has never
even taken the poor lass to the castle to live the life she is
entitled as his wife.”
    “Then that settles it,” said Father
Geoffrey, dropping the parchment into the burning fire on the
hearth. “Sapphire, I have enough proof that the baron has wronged
you. I can’t say what will happen to him when he shows up, but I
can tell you the church will not condone polygamy. But as far as
God and the church are concerned, you have never been married to
the baron at all. As of this day, Lady Sapphire, you are unmarried,
as your marriage has been annulled.”
    Sapphire watched the signed marriage
parchment disappear and go up in smoke. With it went the sense of a
doomed life and a weight was lifted off her shoulders, freeing her
and making her feel so happy she could have shouted out. And though
the church would now consider her as never having been married, she
knew the emotional and mental scars left by this man would never go
away.
    “Thank you,” she said, nodding to the
priest. Then she looked at Roe and smiled. “Thank you as well, Lord
Sexton.”
    His eyes twinkled and a smile lit up his
face. Then he ushered the priest to the door and directed the rest
of the guests there as well.
    “You are all invited to join us in the great
hall for a bite to eat. And thank you, Father Geoffrey, as well as
you, Baroness,” Roe said nodding to Alice, “as you have made
several people very happy today. And I assure you, Lady Alice that
you and your brothers have naught to worry about. As I plan on
capturing the smugglers who stole your wool shipment and placing
them behind bars for a long, long time.”

Chapter 10

     
    Sapphire walked to the great hall with Roe
at her side. He held out his arm and escorted her, with his mother
and uncle right behind them.
    “I am so happy,” she told him as they walked
up to the dais. “I feel as if my life is not so dreary after
all.”
    “I noticed you cannot stop smiling,” he told
her, nodding to his men and other occupants of the hall as they
settled themselves upon the padded chairs made for the lord and
lady of the castle. “Father Geoffrey and Father Gerard, please join
us at the dais,” he instructed.
    When they were settled, Father Geoffrey led
the prayer for the meal, but when they were about to start eating,
Roe stood up and called the hall to attention.
    “What are you doing?” asked Sapphire,
feeling as if she already knew.
    “I want everyone to know you are no longer
that bastard’s wife,” he said