Read Online Boyett-Compo, Charlotte - Wyndmaster 1 by The Wyndmaster's Lady (Samhain) - Free Book Online Page B

Sierran stated.
    She removed her hand from under his neck. “Behave,” she ordered, but her lips twitched. Before she
    could pull her hand away, he took it in his and brought it to his lips.
    “Thank you, wench,” he said softly. “I am in your debt.”
    “Celeste,” she reminded, feeling that kiss all the way to her toes. “My name is Celeste.”
    "Celeste," Sierran repeated and half-smiled. "Not wench."
    "Not wench," she agreed, returning his smile. She looked momentarily flustered, then cleared her throat.
    “I…I will see to your back once you have finished your bath,” she said. “Be careful with him, Vargas.”
    “Celeste, have you eaten?” Sierran asked as she started for the door, stumbling against the rolling pitch
    of the ship.
    She looked back at him. “Why do you ask?”
    “Your stomach is rumbling,” he said then glanced up at Mac. “Get her something to eat.”
    “Aye, Commander,” Mac said. He set the basin of water on the night stand bolted to the floor by the
    bunk then ushered Celeste from the cabin.
    “A right pretty lady,” Vargas observed.
    “She is,” Sierran agreed.
    “Be a shame to spoil something as fresh as her, wouldn’t it?” He put his meaty hands on the waistband
    of Sierran’s pants and began tugging them down, avoiding looking at his commander’s privates.
    Sierran frowned. “You think that’s what I’m intending to do?” He ground his teeth to keep from
    groaning.
    “Don’t know what you’re intending,” Vargas said. “Just making a comment, Commander.”
    “A comment based on your opinion, which is…?”
    “Well, now since you asked,” Vargas said as he slipped the pants from Sierran’s feet and folded them
    before laying them aside, “I’m thinking it strange a young woman of her age ain’t married or in the least
    betrothed.” He turned to the washbasin to soap a cloth.
    “How do you know she isn’t?” Sierran closed his eyes for Vargas began running the warm washcloth
    down his hips.
    “You know me and Mac wouldn’t have broken into that castle without knowing everything about it and
    the people in it that we could learn,” Vargas said. “I believe it was you who taught us that.”
    “So what did you learn?”
    “The lady was as much a prisoner in that evil place as you were. The Dungeon Master did not allow
    suitors to come courting her and she was never allowed to be alone with any male save himself. He chose
    her clothes for her, what books she could read, how she could spend her idle time, and even picked
    what food she could have to eat. It was reported he once told a crony that he wanted to keep his
    daughter as pure as the day she was born, unsullied by any man’s touch. He has made arrangements for
    his daughter to be taken to St. Carolus Convent when he dies and I know you’ve heard rumors of that
    vile place.”
    Sierran opened his eyes to stare at the ceiling. “Aye, I’ve heard it is more a prison than a convent.”
    "Aye, well the estate will go to the daughter with the nuns having the run of it to keep the daughter well
    taken care of."
    "As if they'd care what happens to her once they have their greedy hands on such a rich holding," Sierran
    commented.
    “Lord Charles never intended for his daughter to have any kind of freedom and as I see it, we’re doing
    her a favor by removing her from under his care.”
    “No wonder he was screaming his head off at her being near us,” Sierran said. He closed his eyes again
    as Vargas washed that part of him that sent chills of discomfort through his entire body.
    “I can just imagine what he thinks we’re doing to her,” Vargas said with a chuckle. He was staring at the
    wall and not at where his hands were.
    “And you’ve no doubt encouraged those thoughts of his,” Sierran said.
    “He tortured you so we’re torturing him. Can you ease over to your stomach, Commander, so I can
    wash your back?”
    It took some doing, but Sierran managed. The pain wasn’t quite as