Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Dru smiled at her husband and hurried to Lady Agatha.
The elderly man stepped beside Knox. “Your wife has a kind and good soul. You are lucky to have her.” He chuckled. “Remember that the next time she gets herself into trouble.”
CHAPTER 10
“Travel is dusty and causes endless aches,” Lady Agatha said as she opened the door to a bedchamber and stepped aside. “So, I had a tub prepared where you can rid yourself of the dust and ease your aches. There’s wine as well.” She pointed to the jug and tankards on the small table. “If you need assistance—”
“We will do fine on our own,” Knox said, “and thank you for your thoughtfulness.”
“I almost forgot,” Lady Agatha said as she went to leave. “Those items you requested, Knox, are on the bed. Sleep well.”
Dru walked over to the bed and one look had her turning an angry glare on Knox. “I don’t take charity.”
“I paid for those garments,” Knox informed her, slipping out of his shirt. “I won’t have my wife looking like a poor waif. Now strip and get into the tub while the water is warm enough.”
His command had her ignoring the garments and protesting. “I’ll not strip in front of you.”
“How often must I remind you that you are not only my wife but that we have seen each other naked already? We have nothing to hide from each other.”
Dru shook her head firmly. “I don’t care. It doesn’t feel right.”
“Fine. I’ll turn around until you are safely beneath the water.” He turned. “Don’t take long.”
Dru wasn’t going to deny herself the pleasure of a warm bath, so she quickly agreed. “Aye. I’ll hurry.”
And she did, rushing out of her garments and boots and climbing into the large tub. The heated water welcomed her, rushing around her as she submerged herself to her neck.
“You can turn around now,” she said and saw that Knox had gone to the table to fill a tankard of wine, his back to her the whole time.
He turned—two tankards in his hands. “Wine?”
She went to stretch her hand out and stopped. “I should hurry and wash so the water will at least have some warmth left in it for you.”
Knox held the tankard out to her. “Take your time. I do not intend to linger in the tub.”
Dru smiled and stretched her arm out to take the tankard from him. She took a sip and rested her head back, closing her eyes. She feared she would never know such pleasure again and the memories it brought back hurt her heart. She’d been loved, so loved, and she missed that.
“Lady Agatha had little to share about Cerise, Autumn’s mum,” Knox said, sitting on one of the two chairs at the small table to slip off his boots.
“I disagree,” Dru said. “She may have only known her briefly and before she became Lord Torrance’s father’s mistress, but it gives us some insight into the woman.”
“Aye, it does, and I can understand why Lord Torrance’s father was drawn to her and why she was his favorite mistress. From the sounds of it, Cerise was beautiful, kind, caring, with a smile that never faltered. I could see such a woman wanting to protect her daughter from being forced into an unwanted relationship just as she had been.”
“Aye. Most would feel the woman’s daughter was good for nothing else.”
Dru’s remark was edged with sorrow and he cast a quick glance at her and saw what he could swear were tears pooled in her eyes.
“Are you all right, Dru?” he asked with concern.
She turned her head and sniffled. “I’m good. Why wouldn’t I be?” She sniffled again and went right on talking. “So, if Cerise was that kind and caring, she probably sent her daughter far away so she could have a chance of living a decent life. This whole search could be nothing more than a waste of time.”
“Not to me. I will find her whether she is alive or dead. I want that land and the freedom that comes with it.”
“It will bring you no freedom. Lord Torrance may grant you some land, though it will never truly be yours, and it will come at a much higher cost. Lord Torrance is like his father. He gives with one hand and takes with the other.” She held out her tankard. “One more and then I will wash.”
Knox refilled her tankard, giving her words thought. She was right about Lord Torrance. He took more than he gave, and he wasn’t a tolerant man. He expected complete obedience. He had heard that Torrance had recently wed and that he treated his new bride badly.
He cast a glance at Dru, fighting to keep her eyes open as she washed, her tankard already empty and discarded to the floor. A husband’s duty was to protect his wife, not treat her badly. Though Dru could frustrate him at times, he never thought of raising his hand to her. Besides, she had good instincts, and she spoke openly to him, often not weighing her words. She was right about Lord Torrance. He didn’t trust him, but he had to take the chance at the offered land, or he would forever regret it.