bleeding the day you fell, he would have thrashed you.
He said someone should have years ago.”
“What? A thrashing? He must be out of his mind.”
Elise nodded. “Father was so aggrieved he spluttered when he talked and turned red. Mother was so afeared he would swoon she threw a cup of ale in his face.” Elise heaved a gusty sigh as she rushed up the stairs.
No one had laid a hand on Lydia since she was four years old. She had slipped away from her parents and tried to crawl inside a suit of armor at Blackthorn’s museum to find the man hidden there. Everyone had come running when they heard the crash of collapsing armor. Her father had swatted her bottom once, not because of the armor, but to impress on her never to wander off on her own again.
When she passed through the heavy door of the solar, she took a deep breath and tried to calm herself.
Elise sat on a cushioned bench and began to pluck the strings of a harp, and when Elise started to sing, Lydia realized she knew the words. She began to sing along with her.
Elise’s earlier comment about her singing with Galan had surprised her. Her attempts to sing had been a joke between her and her parents. Her words cracked like an adolescent boy. From the time she was a child, whenever she heard beautiful voices, she felt that a giant hand had squeezed her heart.
But today, the notes came out strong and sure, without a waver or a squawk.
58
Sophia Johnson
Happiness surged through her, as if someone had returned a rare and valuable gift lost for many centuries. When Elise began another melody, Lydia again was familiar with the song, but felt she hadn’t heard it for a very long time. As her confidence grew, her clear soprano increased in volume.
They lingered in the solar for the remainder of the day.
When they returned to their room, handmaids were there filling the tub. The two buxom young women giggled and talked about the knights they had helped to bathe earlier.
“I was ta help the dark lord. He would but let me soap his back,” one said wistfully. “He scrubbed like he would wash the skin from his body. He grumbled about Saxons and their prissy noses. When he stood for me to rinse him, he turned so I could not see his male member.” She giggled and wriggled her eyebrows.
“Ha. Ye’d best stay clear of that one. The other man seems eager enough ta share his lovin’,” her companion said.
“Aye. I made sure soap got in the dark lord’s eyes so I could take a look. He has a fearsome scar from the hair of his maleness down a hand width inside his thigh! Someone must have been jealous of sech a huge tarse and ballocks and tried ta rid him of them.”
“Lucky you were out of his reach when he wiped his eyes.
He was right angered,” her companion replied.
Picturing Damron naked, complete with scars and soapy water trailing down his body, made Lydia catch her breath. “Don’t you dare get attracted to him,” she mumbled to herself.
“Oh, cousin! I would never be so brave,” Elise whispered behind her.
“Brianna still acts strangely.” Damron paced his sleeping chamber like a caged beast. “David reported she searched every floor, opened doors and looked under furniture to study
ALWAYS MINE
59
it. After their ride, the women secluded themselves in the solar. He believes her voice is unusual. I will have her sing for me. Mayhap she has redeemin’ qualities I havena yet seen.”
Connor quickly defended her. “She has many good qualities. She is kindness itself to everyone, has loving patience with Elise, and always smells sweetly of roses and heather.”
“Were I ye, I wouldna let myself be so close as to catch her scent. Ye could end with blood on yer pretty face.”
Connor shrugged and grinned. “One of her best qualities is her spirit. She is no timid creature who cringes when you scowl. If you push her too far, you are the one likely to have a bloody face,”
he teased as he cuffed Damron on the shoulder.
Damron scoffed
He said someone should have years ago.”
“What? A thrashing? He must be out of his mind.”
Elise nodded. “Father was so aggrieved he spluttered when he talked and turned red. Mother was so afeared he would swoon she threw a cup of ale in his face.” Elise heaved a gusty sigh as she rushed up the stairs.
No one had laid a hand on Lydia since she was four years old. She had slipped away from her parents and tried to crawl inside a suit of armor at Blackthorn’s museum to find the man hidden there. Everyone had come running when they heard the crash of collapsing armor. Her father had swatted her bottom once, not because of the armor, but to impress on her never to wander off on her own again.
When she passed through the heavy door of the solar, she took a deep breath and tried to calm herself.
Elise sat on a cushioned bench and began to pluck the strings of a harp, and when Elise started to sing, Lydia realized she knew the words. She began to sing along with her.
Elise’s earlier comment about her singing with Galan had surprised her. Her attempts to sing had been a joke between her and her parents. Her words cracked like an adolescent boy. From the time she was a child, whenever she heard beautiful voices, she felt that a giant hand had squeezed her heart.
But today, the notes came out strong and sure, without a waver or a squawk.
58
Sophia Johnson
Happiness surged through her, as if someone had returned a rare and valuable gift lost for many centuries. When Elise began another melody, Lydia again was familiar with the song, but felt she hadn’t heard it for a very long time. As her confidence grew, her clear soprano increased in volume.
They lingered in the solar for the remainder of the day.
When they returned to their room, handmaids were there filling the tub. The two buxom young women giggled and talked about the knights they had helped to bathe earlier.
“I was ta help the dark lord. He would but let me soap his back,” one said wistfully. “He scrubbed like he would wash the skin from his body. He grumbled about Saxons and their prissy noses. When he stood for me to rinse him, he turned so I could not see his male member.” She giggled and wriggled her eyebrows.
“Ha. Ye’d best stay clear of that one. The other man seems eager enough ta share his lovin’,” her companion said.
“Aye. I made sure soap got in the dark lord’s eyes so I could take a look. He has a fearsome scar from the hair of his maleness down a hand width inside his thigh! Someone must have been jealous of sech a huge tarse and ballocks and tried ta rid him of them.”
“Lucky you were out of his reach when he wiped his eyes.
He was right angered,” her companion replied.
Picturing Damron naked, complete with scars and soapy water trailing down his body, made Lydia catch her breath. “Don’t you dare get attracted to him,” she mumbled to herself.
“Oh, cousin! I would never be so brave,” Elise whispered behind her.
“Brianna still acts strangely.” Damron paced his sleeping chamber like a caged beast. “David reported she searched every floor, opened doors and looked under furniture to study
ALWAYS MINE
59
it. After their ride, the women secluded themselves in the solar. He believes her voice is unusual. I will have her sing for me. Mayhap she has redeemin’ qualities I havena yet seen.”
Connor quickly defended her. “She has many good qualities. She is kindness itself to everyone, has loving patience with Elise, and always smells sweetly of roses and heather.”
“Were I ye, I wouldna let myself be so close as to catch her scent. Ye could end with blood on yer pretty face.”
Connor shrugged and grinned. “One of her best qualities is her spirit. She is no timid creature who cringes when you scowl. If you push her too far, you are the one likely to have a bloody face,”
he teased as he cuffed Damron on the shoulder.
Damron scoffed
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