Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Noticing that her bread was gone, he reached out and snagged her another piece, placing it on her plate so she could have it along with the rest of the soup in her bowl. He joined the conversation surrounding his sister.
“I was fine, Mama,” she said. “Chip was with me.” A shrug. “He was inside, but he was there.”
“Chip isn’t good enough protection for you,” Falcon growled. “And inside is not close enough to step in if it’s needed.”
“It was my fault,” Rosamunde piped in, bringing all focus to her. “I was there at the home to drop off two boys I’d discovered out on their own. I knew of Lady St. Martin and this particular place and had asked her to meet me.” She licked her lips. “To try and ensure the boys were able to stay instead of being left out on the street in this weather.”
Bryn knew that was nothing but a lie and yet, that she would do something like this to protect his sister, struck at another chord deep in his chest.
She placed her spoon down in the bowl and settled her hands in her lap. He saw her eyeing the remainder of the food in front of her on the table before she sighed quietly and glanced back at his parents. “Thank you for your hospitality. I should be heading home.”
His parents shared a look before nodding. “It’s been a pleasure to meet you.” Both rose and the rest of the table followed suit.
He stood back and watched her say farewell to his mother, his father, then Falcon. His sister gave her a hug and they whispered to one another for a moment. He waited, not so patiently, for her to look at him.
Those guileless green eyes locked onto him the barest of moments before she stepped closer to him. Again, all he wanted to do was touch…her. Everywhere.
“Thank you, my lord, for saving me.”
“Bryn.”
Her brow furrowed for a moment.
“Call me Bryn.”
She shook her head, even as her lips said his name silently.
Yes, he had a new goal. Have her scream his name. Preferably while he was deep inside her or had his head locked between her thighs.
“I’ll escort you home.” He shook his head. “No arguing with me, it’s too dam…blasted cold for you to walk.” Without taking his eyes from her features, he waved to Weeks, who hovered near with her worn coat and helped her put it on. Seconds later a maid was there as well, as it wouldn’t do to be improper with a woman he’d just met.
Well, maybe it would do but that’s not what I should be thinking about right now.
A shared look with Falcon and he guided her out the door to the waiting carriage. She didn’t speak on the way home after telling him where to take her.
The nearer they got to her place, the more she withdrew into herself and, if he wasn’t mistaken, which he wasn’t, she began to shake. The maid riding along didn’t speak and did well to blend into the background.
Bryn didn’t like this development at all.
When the vehicle rocked to a halt, he hopped out before reaching his hand back to help her down. No mistaking people stealing peeks out of the front windows. The front door opened and a man Bryn pegged as her father moved from behind the man who’d opened the door.
“Rosamunde, where have you been and who are you with?”
She tried to pull from his grasp but he refused until she was securely on the ground. Then Bryn faced the older man as he walked her up to the door. No footman, he noticed.
“Lord Barberaton, I’m St. Martin. Your daughter spent the day with my sister and we are escorting her home as it’s too cold for her to walk.” He couldn’t help the reprimand in his tone, even as he waved back to where the maid could be seen in the carriage.
“Your father is Lord Heartstone?”
A succinct nod. “He is.” Glancing down to the woman he was loath to leave, Bryn smiled. “Good to see you again. I know my sister loves spending time with you. Have a great day.” A look to the father. “My lord.”
Walking away was the hardest thing he’d ever done. The door clicked behind them and he pushed thoughts of her from his mind. He had a trip to plan. Even so, there was no denying the screaming his soul did, telling him to go back, pick her up and toss her over his shoulder to never let her go again.
Chapter Four
Her mother stood there when she entered the house along with her father. Unlike her father however, nothing but pure hatred streamed from her mother. Rosamunde couldn’t help but compare this home to the one she’d just left. Even though they’d not been happy with Keely, there had been nothing but love. Sure, that could have been different the moment she was out of the house, but she hadn’t got that feeling from either parent.