Page 72 of Sweet Mead for Lady Martine

“If I agree to let you marry my daughter, it’s only if you move to the castle with her,” said Madoc.

“Father, don’t do that,” begged Martine.

“Nay, he’s right,” said David. “Lord Madoc, I promise to move to the castle if you’ll let me marry your daughter.”

“You’re going to give up the inn then?” asked Martine in shock.

“I’ll give it to my family. That is, if Lord Corbett allows it.” David looked over to Corbett.

“As long as the rent is paid up, I don’t care who sleeps and works here,” said Corbett.

“Speaking of that. Where is Cinnamon?” asked David.

The dog started barking and growling again, alerting all of them that the whore was trying to sneak out the front door.

“Let go of my leg you mangy mutt,” snapped the whore, trying to slap the dog away.

“If I agree to let you two marry, can we go back to Blake Castle to finish this celebration?” asked Madoc with a smile.

“Does that mean yes, Father?” Martine squeezed David’s hand.

“Corbett, you’re never going to clear the family name,” Madoc told his brother.

“What does that mean?” asked David.

“It means, yes, David Stone,” said Madoc. “I give you permission to marry my daughter, Martine.”

“Thank you, my lord.” David took Madoc’s hand and pumped it furiously. “This has made me the happiest man in the world.”

“Thank you, Father!” Martine wrapped her arms around her father’s chest, giving him a big hug.

“What about the whore?” asked Dirk.

“She needs to be imprisoned for thievery,” said Uncle Joe.

Oldrich pulled the dog off of Cinnamon, taking her into his arms. “Please, my lords. I’d like to plea for this woman’s life.”

“Oldrich?” Ava came down the stairs. “What’s going on?”

“Ava, I want to bring Cinnamon home to live with us,” said Oldrich.

“The whore?” Ava laughed, but no one joined her. “Oh. You’re serious?”

“Yes,” said Oldrich. “I think she is misunderstood. It might be good for her to start a new life in a new town.”

“I agree,” said Cinnamon, obviously just not wanting to go to prison.

“That’s not the way this works,” stated Corbett. “Because of what she did, she’ll either rot in the dungeon, or mayhap end up hanging from a rope to pay for her wicked deeds.”

“Nay, please, my lord.” Cinnamon dropped to her knees and held her hands as if in prayer. “I will confess to everything and return all that I’ve stolen if you’ll just pardon me and let me leave here with Oldrich.”

“I don’t want her living with us,” said Ava, but no one paid any attention to her.

“It’s fitting to see you grovel like a dog,” said David. Just as the words left his mouth, Patch started humping the whore’s leg.

Rook was the first to burst out in laughter. Soon everyone, even those in the kitchen who had just joined them, were laughing, enjoying the show.

“David,” said Lord Corbett. “I’ll make sure the deed to your inn is returned, since I can see now what happened. I know you have the money to pay off your debt.”