Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 111355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
“Is it another headache?” Cree asked without an ounce of concern.
“Yes, my lord,” Bree said.
“I will not have the healer wade through a raging snowstorm to the keep for nothing more than a headache.” Bree went to say something and Cree raised his hand. “There is nothing more to say. Go.”
Bree turned and fled.
“She’s a pretty thing,” Sloan said filling his tankard with ale.
“Too timid.”
“You never know, those quiet ones can prove not at all docile.”
“Is that all you think about is bedding women?” Cree snapped.
“What else is there?” Sloan said with a laugh
“Love,” Kirk McClusky said raising his tankard.
Sloan shook his head. “No thank you. I’ve seen the consequences of falling in love and I prefer not to suffer them.”
Kirk let loose with a boisterous laugh. “What makes you think you’ll have a choice? Once love hits, you’re done for, you’re finished; she has your heart and there isn’t anything you wouldn’t do for her.”
“Never,” Sloan protested.
“You just sealed your fate, lad,” Kirk said hoisting his tankard high once again. “Now love will get you good.”
The teasing continued, Cree laughing along with the others as Kirk and Sloan voiced their strong opinions on the subject of love. His thoughts however wandered to Dawn and how he felt about her. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for her, but there were also things he couldn’t do. He had a duty that love could not even amend. And why was he even thinking of love? Was it because he detested being separated from Dawn? He missed her badly even when they were separated for only a few hours. He loved the feel of her in his arms, the way she molded herself around him when they slept and how she forever responded so eagerly to his every kiss and touch.
“The timid one returns,” Sloan whispered and Cree could almost hear him smile, though when he looked to Sloan his smile was fading and his jaw turned tight in anger.
Cree knew he wasn’t going to like what he was about to see. He turned his eyes on Bree once again standing timidly in front of the dais and had to stop himself from pounding the table in anger, for his actions no doubt would frighten the already fearful lass. Her right eye was bruised and swollen and there was a fresh welt on her cheek from a hit that had to have been delivered with brutal force.
“Who did this to you?” Cree demanded.
“I spoke out of turn, my lord. It was my fault,” Bree said.
Cree was aware that she wasn’t defending Lucerne, but rather protecting herself, for if she spoke against the lady she would suffer for it and that angered him even more.
“Lady Lucerne insists that the healer be brought to her and that I am not to return without the woman,” Bree said with a bravery spurred by fear.
Cree stood and turned to Sloan. He had helped treat many a wounded warrior on the battle field so Cree felt confident in leaving Bree in Sloan’s care. “See to her while I speak with Lucerne.”
Bree’s eyes turned wide. “No, my lord, please I beg you. My lady will be furious if you arrive unannounced at her bed chamber door.”
“My lady doesn’t set the rules here; I do.” And with that said Cree walked out of the Great Hall and made his way up the stone staircase, his temper mounting with each step he climbed.
Lucerne deserved a good thrashing but he would not raise his hand to a woman. His memories were too vivid of what had been done to his mother and he would not cause a woman to suffer such abuse.
Cree didn’t bother to knock on her door. This was his keep and it was time she realized that. He walked right in slamming the door behind him.
Lucerne was so shocked she could do nothing but stare at him for a moment and then she let loose with her temper. “How dare you enter my bed chamber without so much as a knock. You will apologize, my lord, for your rude and barbaric behavior.”
He walked over to the bed where she sat ensconced like a queen, bolstered by numerous pillows and wearing a dark green velvet robe, a soft green wool nightdress beneath. He reached down, grabbed her wrist and yanked her out of bed.
She stumbled, gasped, and looked ready to kill him. “How dare—”
Cree took hold of both her wrists and yanked her hard against him. “I dare to do anything I wish in my home. You seem to forget that you are yet my wife and when you are you will not issues orders like a tyrant and you will never, never raise your hand to any servant or peasant again.”
Her eyes turned wide and tears rushed to fill them. Cree wasn’t surprised to see them, he had actually expected them. She was the type of woman who would use tears to her advantage and to control.