Read Online A Love For All Seasons by Denise Domning - Free Book Online Page B

dropped Puss to the floor and set tight fists on her hips.
    As the kitten skittered away to chase after mice and shadows, Master Walter's daughter leaned toward him, her skin reddening until her freckles stood out as pale, cool spots. "I am the mistress here! You are not being respectful. Everyone must be respectful of me."
    Merchant's daughter or no, she was younger than he. No babe in arms was going to lord over him. "Respectful! Hah!" He paused a beat then threw out the comment that always destroyed the village lasses. "You are so nasty, I think no man will want to marry you."
    This lass only lifted her chin, her lips again curving into that superior smile. "I will so wed. I am already betrothed to Katel."
    Rob shrugged as if unaffected by her claim, all the while hiding his surprise. She was only a little girl. How could she know whom she would marry? In Blacklea no one thought of wedding until they were ready to start their own families. Stanrudde was, indeed, a strange place. Even more disturbing was the realization that her retort left him both weaponless and defenseless against her. Rob sorted desperately through his muddled thoughts for some way to put her in her place. When he'd found it, he smiled and raised a haughty brow.
    "I am surprised he wants you. You are ugly, and your nose is too big."
    Hurt far deeper than he'd intended flashed across her face. She set a hand atop the bridge of her nose, a much smaller version of the merchant's great, arching beak, as if to shield it from his eyes. "Papa says I have a nose of authority." Her voice was low and uncertain as if she'd been teased about this many times.
    Regret destroyed Rob's moment of triumph. He'd only meant to bludgeon her into submission, not draw her heart's blood. He shrugged then offered an olive branch. "It's not that big and, mayhap, I do remember you gave me water when I ailed."
    Puss meowed, the frightened sound coming from the nearby tabletop. With a frantic cry, Johanna leapt from her stool. Rob lifted himself up on his elbows until he could see. The kitten dangled over the edge of a large bowl on the tabletop. Before Johanna could reach it, the bowl rolled over the table's edge, crockery shattering around the cat.
    With a wordless cry of horror, the master's daughter snatched up the dripping creature and turned on Rob. Her expression twisted in fear. "That was curded cheese for the morrow. If Philip learns Puss did this, he'll tell Papa, and Papa will take Puss from me. You must say you did this," she demanded.
    "What?" he croaked, surprise making him tumble back onto his mattress. He liked the cat, but not enough to be punished for what Puss had done.
    Johanna crouched down next to him. "You have to help. I'll die without my cat, I love him so. Say you were rising and stumbled into the table, please?" This time there was more pleading than command in her voice.
    Rob frowned in consideration. Although he didn't much like to lie, Johanna was the master's daughter. Setting his jaw, Rob lowered his brows into the expression Papa had taught him to use when bargaining. "What do I get for taking your beating?"
    "There’ll be no beating. If you help me, I vow to share Puss with you."
    He shook his head. True, she might not be beaten for a broken bowl, but there was no guarantee the same would apply to him, were he to claim responsibility. Sharing the cat wasn't enough reward for the risk involved, and she knew it.
    Johanna's eyes filled with tears. "I'll never again say you are my servant," she offered, suddenly sounding as young and helpless as Gretta. A teardrop dribbled down her cheek, and her lips began to tremble. "You'll be my friend, this I swear."
    Even as the thought of friendship with a girl made Rob grimace in disgust, his long habit of protecting his sister wouldn't let him refuse her. Ah well, what could it hurt to let her think on him as her friend? He caught himself. Except if some other lad knew of it.
    He offered her a nod. "As long as